Shoppers Are Tossing Their Sponges for This Durable $7 Japanese Scrub Brush That Lasts Years

Everyone has their preferences for washing produce. Some like to use the same kitchen sponges they use on dirty dishes; others have a brush with a soap-dispensing handle. Many simply prefer rinsing fruits and veggies off in a colander. In any case, you definitely shouldn’t skip washing entirely — since produce usually comes from the ground, it often contains dirt, bugs, and even pesticides. There’s really no perfect answer as far as kitchen tools go, beyond the method that consistently works for you and yields clean, healthy food.

Shoppers have been turning to a new tool for their produce-cleaning needs. Enter: the Tawashi vegetable scrub brush, which is only $7 and has shoppers abandoning their old cleaning tactics and dirty sponges.

Tawashi Vegetable Scrub Brush

The Tawashi scrub brush might, from a distance, look more like something you’d hang on your door during the holidays, but it’s quickly revealed to be a pretty genius, even revolutionary kitchen tool. The small, handheld brush — it’s only 4.4 inches long — uses hard plastic bristles, which last a long time and stand up to dirt, dust, and whatever else is on your produce. The small size is a great benefit because many fruits and vegetables have plenty of contours and curves, making a small, agile brush that can be easily manipulated by the fingers actually perfect for cleaning them. This brush even has a tiny hook, so you can hang it to dry.

One home cook said they’ve had three Tawashi brushes over time, estimating they get around two years of daily use on vegetables and dishes. They asserted that this was the best brush they have ever owned. “Never had bristles breaking off,” they said. “It becomes a part of my hand, just like a good knife or any good tool.” Another shopper said they found the Tawashi lasted three years, and unlike sponges, never smelled and barely wore down.

By comparison, sponges should be replaced at least once a month. Multiple popular sponge brands sell them for around $1 each, meaning you would spend at least $36 over three years. That alone seems like a great reason to switch — think of all the things you could do with an extra $30! (Our writers and editors have some good ideas.)

Check out the Tawashi brush while it’s only $7. By our math, it’s only 20% of what you’ll spend on regular sponges, not to mention that many shoppers find its quality far, far superior. At that price, why wouldn’t you want to see what the hype is all about?

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At the time of publication, the price was $7.