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Best washing-up sponges 2026, tried and tested
Yes, washing-up sponges are small things, but they're important, too – nobody likes a soggy, stinky or disintegrating sponge.
To find the best washing-up sponges, we tested a range from the most popular brands, including Fairy, Marigold, Sponge Daddy, Spontex and more. We've also tested the popular Seep sponge, which is marketed as a more eco-friendly option.
We found two sponges that were good enough to be Best Buys, one of which is also Great Value.
How our tests find you the best
Cleaning
Every sponge is given its chance to impress and see how well it can clean up bits of stubborn food.
Handling
When using the sponges, we consider how they feel in the hand, because nobody wants to hold a sponge that's too coarse.
Durability
You'll want to avoid a sponge that disintegrates or breaks apart, so we check for this by rubbing each one many times against a rough surface.
We also test ...
the smell and cleanliness of every single sponge, as well as how well they absorb liquids.
The washing-up sponges we tested
The biggest brands and the most popular washing-up sponges are listed below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the washing-up sponges test results.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
| Washing-up sponge | Price | Score | Cleaning power | Ease of handling | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableGet Digital access £9.99 per month, cancel at any time. Already a member? | 87% | ||||
| 84% | |||||
| 80% | |||||
| 76% | |||||
| 76% | |||||
| 71% | |||||
| 64% | |||||
| 63% | |||||
| 61% | |||||
| 50% |
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Date tested: April 2026. Page last checked: May 2026. We're not able to show every retailer, and lower prices may be available.
Cleaning power score is an average of the sponge's scores for cleaning (1) dried Weetabix from bowls and (2) dried scrambled eggs from frying pans.
All the washing-up sponges we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best washing-up sponges from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below
Fairy Max Power Teardrop Scourer
Marigold Cleaning Me Softly
Mr. Siga Cellulose Scrub Sponge
Scrub Daddy Sponge Daddy
Scrub Daddy Scrub Mommy
No sponge is complete without the right washing-up liquid to get the best out of it. Check out the best and worst washing-up liquids
Scrub Daddy Original
Seep Eco Sponge Scourer
SOL Heavy Duty Silicone washing up sponges
Spontex Easy Sponge Scourer
Spontex The Essentials
How we test washing-up sponges
We buy the bestselling and most-searched-for washing-up sponges from UK retailers. We buy every washing-up sponge we test – no freebies from manufacturers – meaning our reviews are honest and unbiased.
Cleaning power
For this test, we prepare bowls with Weetabix and let them dry a bit before cleaning. The same is done for scrambled eggs in frying pans.
Each sponge gets five attempts to remove the dried food residue. The best can clear away the food in as few as two attempts, while the worst fail to remove it completely after all five tries.
Ease of handling
When testing each sponge, we pay attention to how comfortable it feels in the hand, how easily it compresses to reach tight spaces, and whether it provides a secure grip. The best sponges feel soft and flexible, making them easy to shape and manoeuvre as needed. The worst feel too hard and abrasive, with very little give or bounce.
Absorption
We place each sponge in a bowl of water and measure how much it absorbs by comparing its weight before and after soaking. The best sponges hold more than twice as much water as the worst.
Smell and cleanliness
We use each sponge to clean dried cereal and dried scrambled egg during our test. We give every sponge a quick rinse within a set time limit to remove as many food particles as possible. The following day, we check to see how much residue remains and whether any odour has developed. The best sponges are easy to clean and stay fresh, while poorer ones trap food particles deep inside, contributing to unpleasant smells.
Durability
At the end of the test, we rub each sponge against sandpaper repeatedly to see how well it withstands wear and tear. The worst become torn and misshapen, while the better ones remain intact, and the very best look almost untouched by the test.
Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent
What's the most sanitary sponge to wash your dishes?
We found that sponges with tougher scourers tend to smell worse, as it's more difficult to wash away any bits of food that get caught in their coarse textures.
Log in or join Which? to find out which sponges remained cleaner and smelled better than the others.
Are washing-up sponges compostable?
Mostly, no. The majority are made from plastic-based materials that don't break down naturally, so they can't go in the compost. Standard kitchen sponges usually belong in the general waste once they're worn out.
That said, some eco-friendly alternatives can be composted (see below), as long as they don't contain plastic or synthetic coatings. Check the packaging to be sure.
Tired of washing up by hand? Check out our dishwasher reviews
Can I buy eco-friendly or plastic-free washing-up sponges?
Yes – they're usually made from natural materials such as cellulose, loofah (derived from the Luffa plant) or coconut fibre instead of plastic-based foam.
The material matters because traditional kitchen sponges can shed microplastics as they wear down, especially the abrasive scouring side. Microplastics are very persistent in the environment and studies suggest they can cause significant harm to organisms they come into contact with.
Plant-based alternatives won't shed plastic and may often be compostable at the end of their life (though check first).
Olivia Howes, Senior sustainability writer at Which? says: "While ideally you'd choose a plastic-free sponge, it's also important to consider durability when choosing what to buy. Choosing a product that needs replacing less frequently and does the job well is ultimately more sustainable that choosing a product that doesn't last."
The eco-friendly sponges we tested
We tested two washing-up sponges that are marketed as eco-friendly: the Seep Eco Sponge Scourer and the Mr. Siga Cellulose Scrub Sponge.
Log in or join Which? to find out how these scored, and which is the better of the two.