It is useful to have a good and efficient dishwashing scrub brush in every kitchen! However, many options are either fully made of plastic or have elements of plastic in them, which is not only increases plastic pollution when thrown away, but also often releases micro plastics into the water system when using them.

Fortunately, several eco-dishwashing brush alternatives are starting to replace the plastic dishwashing brush in the kitchen. Although many people are still unaware of these natural fibre dish brush options.

Many natural fibre dish brushes have a head made of coir or coconut fibres which are sometimes slightly curved to allow cleaning small inner surfaces like that of a tall glass or bottle, they also normally have wooden handles keeping them strong yet compostable. These eco-dishwashing brushes look aggressive but when used correctly are quite gentle on your pots and pans.

The natural coir skillet brush that we recommend are also safe and clean to use, as well as being resistant to high temperatures and corrosion. The coir, which is extracted from mature coconuts husks, make good brush bristles being one of the thickest and strongest natural fibres. They can be dyed for aesthetic purposes, but you would normally find these undyed in their natural brown colour.

These coir natural fibre dish brushes are also long lasting. Their natural qualities keep them resistant to water and microbial degradation, these eco -dishwashing brushes can be used with almost any liquid surface cleaners and should not change colour due to their natural properties.

Coir fibre eco-dishwashing brushes are useful for scrubbing vegetables, fruits, plates, mugs, pots, and pans and generally do not scratch glass surfaces.

As coir fibres are also made into brushes for floor tiles, brushes for cleaning gardening tools and laundry brushes for garments, so you could also use them for this, although maybe not while still using them for your dishes!

Ensure that these natural fibre dish brushes are kept dry in between use and they will not easily rot, in fact caring for the natural coir skillet brush is quite simple. Just wash the bristles with soap and water, removing all foreign objects that adhered to the fibres, then simply hang the brush to dry.

If you forget to dry and moulds start to grow on the coir fibres, they can simply be sterilized by placing them in a preheated oven to 180°F for 30 minutes. If microwave oven is used in the process, heat-sterilize the coir for 3 to 5 minutes only.

These eco-dishwashing brushes are biodegradable, the wooden handle also is compostable, and the coir bristles will also degrade back down, the wire used to hold the coir fibres will first have to be removed and can often be put in metal recycling. So much better than the plastic options!

So, click here to see some options of these.