favorite hand dish washing implement?

[vacuumfreeeke]

Just wondering what your favorite tool is to help you get through the drudgery of hand washing dishes. Before I got my portable dishwashe a year ago this month, I bought two things that I thought I would like. One was the Dawn dish brush. Anyone else have one of these things? I *hated* it! It ate batteries, wasn't very powerful, and I had to hold the button to make it work.

One tool that I liked A LOT was called the Powder (or Power, maybe) Puff and I got it from Wal-mart. It has a long hadle and a round sponge on the bottom. On the end of the sponge is a blue scrubbing pad. I ended up using this thing for all my dishwashing... plates, glasses, bowls, pots, and pans... everything but flatware. I bought a similar version at Publix for more money and it was awful. The sponge came off frequently, twisted when it did stay on, and held so much water it became heavy during use. Also, the much too long and curved handle made the Publix version difficult to use and store.

I've never been big on plastic scrubbies.

For metal scrubbies, I try to buy the Chore boy copper ones. They are getting harder and harder to find, and lately I've been resorting the the awful rusting aluminum ones.

So, anyone else have a hand washing implement they just love (or hate)?

)

 

[panthera]

nylon plastc

scrubbies. They are nylon net, quite firm and abrasive enough to remove burnt on stuff without scratching cast iron or Teflon.
Make life much easier.
Second favorite: Stainless steel scrubbies.
I use those green and red abrasive pads sparingly, they svratch far too easily.
All the above go in the dishwasher after every use.

 

[danemodsandy]

Blue 3M Scrubber

I'm no fan of green 3M scrubbers; they're far too abrasive for my taste. But since 3M came out with the blue ones, which don't scratch, I've enjoyed dishwashing nirvana. One side is a sponge, the other side is the blue Scotchbrite side, and that gives me pretty much whatever I need for a particular situation with a dirty dish.

Like any sponge, it needs to be sanitised often and replaced frequently. A bleach solution works best; putting these things in the microwave causes the Scotchbrite to overheat and burn.

 

[dirtybuck]

Mine are:

Tuffy, green pad, handled dish brush and dish cloth. If I have a large glass or tumbler that has milk film or some other notorious gunk, I put the dish cloth on the bottom, then insert the dish brush and turn a few times.

I use a sponge on occasion, but not very often.

 

[dirtybuck]

Sandy,

I'll have to try the blue 3M pad. Where did you buy yours and how much was it?

 

[toploader55]

I like to use

The Yellow Scotchbrite pads with the green nylon back. I only use SS cookware as it cleans well in the Machine.Personally I think that Silverstone or Teflon is way too toxic under High Heat, And they clean Stainless Sinks great as long as you go with the grain of the steel.

 

[jeffg]

The green "heavy duty" ScotchBrites are horribly abrasive. My partner ruined a $700 birdcage with one of them. It took the powdercoating right off. I wouldn't put one near stainless steel.

 

[MikeS]

Blue ScotchBrite For Me Too!

I'm also a fan of the blue ScotchBrite scrubber-sponge. It cleans well without scratching. When it starts getting a bit grungy, I toss it into the dishwasher and it comes out clean. If I can't find ScotchBrite, SOS makes a similar product that also works well. (The SOS brand is usually cheaper, too.)

 

[danemodsandy]

Dirtybuck- Blue 3M Pads

Dirtybuck:

The item I'm talking about is in most grocery stores these days, right next to the older, green Scotchbrite scrubbers. The green ones have green Scotchbrite and a yellow sponge side, and the new blue ones have blue Scotchbrite and a blue sponge side.

I use them on my vintage Farberware (along with Cameo stainless steel cleaner), and they do a great job of cleaning, plus the Cameo polishes over time. I've bought some Farberware pieces that were pretty scratched-up inside when I got them, but which now gleam.

Here's a pic of what you're looking for:

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

wow

I use those! I didn't know they were so popular though.

So, has anyone tried the Dawn dish brush?

 

[danemodsandy]

They're Popular, All Right..

...They just have to be the blue ones, not the green. The blue ones are softer than the green, and don't scratch like the green ones.

 

[maytagbear]

I use...

a good rubber scraper, a nylon bristle brush (replaced every year or so when the bristles spilt or frizz), and SOS/Brillo pads (whichever is cheaper that day, to me they are comparable), and Bon Ami powder.

I am SOOOOOOOOOOO grateful, however, to have my dishwasher.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[toggleswitch2]

Favorite impelement? A house -boy!

.....and for those times when the dishwasher is not fast or thorough enough, here we have the good old-fashioned dishpan.
Keeps the water from being run constantly as well.

For an etra treat take something like a Chinese-out soup container and put a bar of Ivory soap and a little bit of water in it. Makes a slurry that is FABULOUS to wash dishes with! feels great!

 

[toggleswitch2]

OOPSIE pic

 

[~sudsshane]

I guess I am a little old fashioned....

I use Handi-Wipes. They hold up well and one will last me about a month.

Here is a tip to disenfect your handi-wipes and sponges.
Put them in the microwave on high for one minute.
It will kill any germs present in your handi wipes or sponges

View attachment 6-10-2008-21-43-30--~sudsshane.jpg

 

[gansky1]

Yay for 3M - best company ever!

The blue Scotch-Brite pads are my new favorite! I have used the green ones for years and they are great for really grungy stuff that can take the abuse but the blue ones are great for dishes, pans, etc. that need something more than Normal Cycle in the KitchenAid. I also have a dish-brush that lives in the dishwasher for a quick swipe when needed. From years of cleaning houses and their kitchens, I have a deep, abiding revulsion for sponges of any kind so I never let them enter the house. Fortunately, the blue Scotch-Brites are available in the non-sponge version too.

I have almost completely switched to micro-fiber dish cloths and just got a package of micro-fiber hand towels for the kitchen. These get used for about one day and then into the laundry they go. The same with my flour-sack dish towels, once and into the wash.

 

[~sudsshane]

Greg~

I, too, love micro-fiber cloths for the granite counters and glass. They do a great job and will leave your glass streak-free.
The only thing I would recommend, and you probably already know this, is when you wash them, do not use fabric softener of any kind.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Funny but micro-fiber cloths have a strange "hand" to me and feel like they are cutting my skin.

Why no softener, BTW. Is it because they are minimally abosrbent to begin with?

Seriously, I'm not being funny/"cute"/sarcastic.

 

[gadgetgary]

Micro-Fiber

I use them to clean the fiberglass tub surround, mirrors, shower doors, faucets, appliance fronts, auto windshield, etc.

And with just water, no chemicals and no paper towels(Go Green~!)

And the micro-fiber dish towels do a fabulous job on drying those dishes that don't make it to the DW.

The feel is strange, but the work flawlessly. And yes, no bleach or fabric softener.

 

[volvoguy87]

Dishes.

I use sponges (and I periodically run them through the dishwasher on the top rack). My sponges are retired from dish duty when they wear, and are then used for counter wiping for awhile, and finally cleaning the bathroom before being tossed. I replace my sponges regularly, but for some reason we always retire the sponge after cleaning up after Thanksgiving, it's just not fit for dishes after that.

I also swear by copper wool. It won't rust, it lasts a lot longer than steel wool, and it's softer than steel, so it is less likely to scratch my pots and pans, although it will certainly scratch aluminum.

My favorite tool, however, is the dishwasher.

Are you coming to the party?
What party?
The retirement party... For the sponge!
Dave

 

[toggleswitch2]

Copper wool?

Brand name? link? pic?

safe for stainless steel?

TYVM.

 

[volvoguy87]

Most any brand of copper wool.

Chore Boy comes to mind.
I do use it on stainless steel, although it was somewhat scratched when I got it so it is difficult to tell if it is scratching more (I have poor eyesight). Copper is softer than steel (hence limited scratching).

I especially use it (lightly) on my cast iron skillet. I want to clean it without soap so I don't remove the seasoning and the copper wool, when used lightly, removes the gunk while leaving the seasoning mostly intact.

Try it and see if you like it,
Dave

http://www.amazon.com/Chore-Boy-Cop...?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1213156656&sr=1-12

 

[gansky1]

Microfiber

Sam's and Costco have had the 24 & 36 pack microfiber cloths for $12 or so. I've bought too many to count and have about 200+ in use now. I wash probably half of them every week. I've been doing them in the Duet HT, sanitary cycle and they come out beautiful. Never bleach or softener, but a pre-soak with STPP and sanitary wash with detergent. I love these cloths and all of my employees are hooked as well. I use them for glass, windows, etc. rarely but they are the best ever for general damp-rag cleaning and with a spritz of Pledge; the best dust-cloths ever. I used a couple today to wash the windows in the house - wet with Dawn "dishwater" and dried with flour-sack towels. They did an excellent job scrubbing the spring rains and dust from the glass.

I mentioned the hand towels - I love those as well, everything you touch is dry instantly. I think fabric softener would diminish the absorbency considerably but I use so little of it anyway that it hasn't been an issue.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11222798&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-US&s=1

 

[danemodsandy]

Oh, My!

"Sam's and Costco have had the 24 & 36 pack microfiber cloths for $12 or so. I've bought too many to count and have about 200+ in use now. I wash probably half of them every week."

Now I know why Greg's Stratoliner looked so clean....

 

[mattl]

Really old school...

Wow, I guess I'm really old school. Just some classic Dawn dish soap in the sink full of hot water. I use is a heavy cotton dishcloth ( I like the heavy waffle-weave ones that for some reason are very hard to find now) and SOS or Brillo. That's it.

Those two items have served me well for many years and I haven't found anything that beats them. I use it on my Calphlon and Stainless Steel pots and pans and they always look fine.

 

[toggleswitch2]

How is this product in terms of scratching?
Got it at an estate sale for free. Still made?

 

[tlee618]

My vote also goes for the microfiber towels. By far the very best cleaning cloths I have ever used. I spray the rag first with a light mist of water then with Endust or Pledge by far the very best way to dust and really get all of it IMHO. Greg recentely sent me a couple of the towels he is talking about and I have found them to be fantastic as well. I use the same method for windows that he does and always have great results. If you haven't tried these by all means do.