Review of dishwashing brushes, recommendations for use

If you don't have a dishwasher, you have to wash kitchen utensils by hand.

There are many devices that make the work of housewives easier; there are only two requirements for them: the dishes must be clean, the work must be quick and easy.

A properly selected special brush for washing dishes meets these conditions, plus it allows you to preserve your manicure and minimizes contact of the skin of your hands with household chemicals.

Benefits of use

It is wrong to think that dishes can be washed with anything. Sponges and wipes - graphite or microfiber - need to be changed frequently, otherwise they will turn into a breeding ground for bacteria.

This is facilitated by:

• humid environment;
• food residues absorbed into the material.

Another thing is brushes, which are easier to clean and dry. Feed hygiene, they have a number of additional advantages:

1. Durable – doesn’t need to be replaced as often as a sponge.
2. Convenience – you can choose the handle and shape of the working surface.
3. Long bristles cope with dirt in hard-to-reach places.
4. Easy to work with - there are products on sale with hairs of any hardness.
5. Saving household chemicals.
6. Safety – hand contact with detergents is reduced to a minimum.

What are they?

A dish brush is a kitchen tool consisting of a block with or without a handle and long, elastic bristles collected in a dense array. It is useful for housewives to at least imagine what models are on sale.

Material

The hairs should stick firmly to the body, not break even with hard surface treatment, but not damage the dishes. The area of ​​application of the tool depends on the material – it is clear that a soft brush will not clean a burnt frying pan, and an iron brush will rather scratch than wash a glass goblet.

Silicone

Modern soft, durable, elastic material. This brush is easy to keep clean and with minimal care it will never be sticky or greasy. Made from food grade silicone that does not retain bacteria.

Usage:

• for washing any surfaces;
• removes fresh food scraps well;
• removes tea stains.

Advantages:

• light stains can be washed off with just water;
• does not deform;
• lasts a long time;
• flexible bristles penetrate hard-to-reach places;
• does not leave scratches;
• fat does not stick to the product.

Flaws:

• it is difficult to deal with burnt dishes;
• dried food will have to be soaked.

Nylon (polyamide)

The most common and cheapest material of medium hardness. Suitable for primary cleaning of any dishes from heavy dirt.

Advantages:

• retains its shape for a long time;
• does not scratch the surface;
• removes dried food well without pre-soaking;
• After treatment, the dishes can be easily washed with a regular sponge.

Flaws:

• works less effectively on burnt surfaces than steel wool;
• additional effort is required to clean the brush from grease or food debris;
• Dishes with Teflon or other coatings should be washed carefully.

Natural bristles

Environmentally friendly material. Depending on the origin of the bristles, the properties and price of the tool differ:

1. Made from horsehair - soft, for delicate processing of dishes, expensive.
2. Boar bristles are hard, have performance characteristics similar to nylon, and are in the middle price range.

Metal

Effectively cleans any dirt, including old or burnt marks, but may scratch the surface.

• glass;
• thin;
• expensive plastic;
• with Teflon or other similar coating.

Plant fibers

Eco brushes, efficiency depends on the material:

1. Bamboo fiber is soft and cannot scrape off carbon deposits, but it absorbs fat well.
2. Agave bristles are stiff and suitable for glass and metal utensils.

Pens

The holder allows you to protect your skin and manicure from the effects of household chemicals and water, and easily wash dishes of any shape, including those with a narrow neck. This is especially important when cleaning kitchen appliances with cutting surfaces, such as a blender bowl.

Often there is a hole in the handle so that the product can be hung - this way it will dry faster. The brush with silicone pads on the handle is comfortable to hold; it does not slip, even if grease or detergent gets on the holder.

Form

For the convenience of washing dishes, brushes with different areas and shapes of the working surface are provided. They are:

• round;
• oval;
• rectangular;
• with a triangular tip;
• in the form of a brush or shaving brush;
• like a toothbrush;
• sandwich-like with hairs directed towards each other;
• resemble pipe cleaners.

With dispensers

It is convenient to use brushes that are filled with detergent before use. Household chemicals are poured into a hollow handle or a special container. This way the dishes will be washed faster, the soap solution is supplied to the bristles as needed, which reduces the likelihood of the skin of your hands coming into contact with an aggressive environment.

How to choose?

The brush should quickly and effectively remove dirt even in hard-to-reach places, without damaging the surface of the dishes. It will not be possible to choose one universal one for all types of dishes and types of dirt:

1. A product with metal hairs can only be used to scrub kitchen utensils with a surface that is difficult to damage. For example, from food grade stainless steel.
2. Cleaners are suitable for glasses, bottles, and jugs.
3. A large number of cutlery will help you quickly wash sandwich brushes.
4. It is recommended to treat expensive dishes with silicone or horsehair.
5. It is convenient to clean blender knives and food processor attachments with tools in the form of toothbrushes or brushes.

Otherwise wooden handle:

• takes a long time to dry;
• absorbs grease, dirt, foreign odors;
• cracks;
• with prolonged use it may begin to rot.

Top 5 best manufacturing companies

You can buy the first brush you come across, but for washing dishes it is better to buy proven brands. This way there is a guarantee that the products are made from safe materials and will last longer.

Joseph Joseph

A well-known manufacturer of tableware and kitchen utensils from the UK. You can buy in the company's online store brushes:

1. For cleaning knives and cutlery BladeBrush – 400 rub.
2. Palm Scrub with dispenser – 600 rub.
3. “Smart” Edge brush – 450 RUR.
4. CleanTech double-sided scrubbers – 300 rub.
5. Brush-Up brush – 400 rub.
6. Brush with a removable CleanTech attachment – ​​400 RUR.

IKEA

The Swedish home furnishings company Ikea has been on the market since 1943. You can buy on the company's website dish brushes:

1. Rinnig with a long handle and a round working surface – 80 RUR.
2. Antagen – rectangular, with a hook for hanging on a holder – 30 RUR.

Brabantia

The Dutch company has been operating in the household goods segment since 1919. The official Brabantia store in Russia offers dishwashing brushes:

1. Round with dispenser – 1900 rub.
2. On a handle with a suction cup – 1600 RUR.
3. Scraper brush – 2600 rub.

YORK

Polish brand that has been producing household goods since 1992. You can order in online stores brushes for washing dishes:

1. Venus Prestige with two types of bristles, rectangular base and rubberized handle – 160 RUR.
2. Venus, similar to the previous product, with a comfortable round head – 200 RUR.
3. Pepita – 125 rub.
4. Cleaners Prestige – 210 rub.
5. Bamboo Eco – 290 rub.

Smart Microfiber System

In Russia, this Swedish company is known as “White Cat”; it has been on the market for 25 years. You can buy from your regional representative brushes for washing dishes:

1. Natur series of different sizes - 780 and 1070 rubles.
2. Premium – 1170 rub.
3. With horsehair bristles – 750 rub.
4. New – 350 rub.

How to wash?

If there are a lot of dirty dishes, first you need to sort them and remove any remaining food with a napkin or silicone brush. If the food is dry or burnt, it is better to soak it.

Then they deal with cutlery. It is convenient to use sandwich brushes moistened with detergent. Then they move on to more contaminated dishes.

Useful tips

To make your homework easier:

1. It is better to wash dishes immediately after eating. If this is not possible, at least remove the remaining food with a silicone brush and soak it.
2. It is recommended to remove any remaining fat with newspaper first. This saves household chemicals and requires less effort.
3. Severe burnt marks are easier to remove with an iron or stiff nylon brush and cleaning powder rather than with gel.
4. For children's dishes, you should use separate tools and specialized household chemicals.
5. The best water temperature for washing greasy dishes is about 45° C.

The brushes themselves also need to be kept clean. When the work is finished:

• rinse thoroughly with hot running water;
• remove food debris stuck between the teeth;
• if necessary, wash off the fat with household chemicals;
• dry thoroughly;
• put away for storage.

Conclusion

Brushes make washing dishes much easier and are more durable and hygienic than sponges. They speed up work, save detergents, and protect the skin of your hands. A housewife should have several brushes made of different materials for different dishes in her arsenal.