How to Choose Kitchen Sponges and Scouring Pads (海綿菜瓜布) in Taiwan: Pot and Stove Type, Delicate Dish Type, and Materials
A pot that stays dirty after scrubbing, a cup you are afraid of scratching, and a scouring pad that starts to smell after a short time are often signs that you are using the wrong material. On the shop page the names for sponge, scouring pad, steel wool, and delicate type are many, and claims such as "super stain removal", "does not hurt tableware", and "antibacterial" sound attractive, but each type suits different things to wash, and how rough the scrubbing side is also differs a lot. This guide explains the 4 materials, 4 things to check, and what to remember when using and caring for them, so you can decide which one to buy.
First, Understand the 4 Common Materials of Kitchen Sponges and Scouring Pads
| Type | Features | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Sponge plus scouring pad (two layers) | One side is a sponge and the other is a scouring fiber layer. The sponge layer soaks up water and lathers easily, and the scouring layer scrubs off dirt, so one piece can do both bowls and pots. How rough and hard the fiber side is depends on the style, and they are commonly split into a rougher pot type and a more delicate tableware type | Homes that wash ordinary dishes and pots and want to handle most cleaning with one item |
| Delicate scouring pad | Softer and more durable. Some are labeled as containing no abrasive grit or corundum grit, and they are usually used on cups, dishes, and glassware. The cleaning power is gentler, so you need to scrub a few more times on thick burnt-on grease | People who often wash teacups, glasses, and porcelain and are afraid of scratches |
| Coarse fiber, steel wool | Strong scrubbing power, suited to removing burnt-on black marks and stubborn grease from iron pans, grills, and stoves. But they easily leave scratches on surfaces such as non-stick coatings, enamel, and polished stainless steel | People who often fry, cook, or grill, and have iron pans or grills to clean |
| Plain sponge, microfiber cloth | Good at soaking up water and lathering, and gentler on surfaces, suited to glass, plastic, non-stick, and coated cookware. They are usually not strong enough for dried-on burnt residue or thick grease | People with non-stick or coated cookware, or who mainly wash cups and dishes |
No single type is "the best". It depends on what you are washing, whether the surface has a coating, and how often you wash. A common approach in ordinary homes is to use a rougher type for pots, a delicate type for dishes and cups, and a soft sponge for coated cookware, and keeping them separate makes scratches less likely. This site only explains how to choose and is not product safety advice. Before you buy, go by the scope of use stated on the pack and the listing.
4 Things to Check When Choosing Kitchen Sponges and Scouring Pads
| What to check | What to look at |
|---|---|
| The items and surfaces it goes with | First work out what you mainly wash. Iron pans, stainless steel pots, grills, and stoves can take a rougher type. Teacups, glasses, and porcelain tableware need a delicate type. For non-stick and coated cookware, enamel, and polished surfaces, avoid coarse types and use a soft sponge or a type that says it is suitable |
| How rough the surface is, and the label | Look at whether the pack or listing says "for pots and stoves" or "for delicate tableware", and whether it says no abrasive grit or corundum grit. Some brands use colors to show how rough it is, but the meaning of a color differs between brands, so go by the text on the pack and not only the color |
| Durability, antibacterial claims, and care | Whether the sponge layer and scouring layer are bonded firmly, and whether the pad separates into layers or sheds fibers with use. Claims on the listing such as "durable and does not separate easily" and "antibacterial" are mostly the seller's or maker's description, and we have not tested them. Even if it says antibacterial, wringing it out after use and drying it in a ventilated place usually matters more for hygiene than the label |
| Count, and using them separately | A bulk pack suits using separate pieces for pots, dishes, and other areas, so you do not wash everything with one piece. Before you buy, divide the total price by the number of pieces to get the cost per piece, and think about how many you use in a month so you do not buy too many and let them get old |
What to Remember When Using and Caring for Them
- Test on a small area the first time you use it on a new item — If you are not sure of an item's material or whether it has a coating, try a light scrub in an inconspicuous spot first, and only clean the whole thing once you are sure it leaves no scratches.
- Do not use rough types on non-stick, coated cookware, or surfaces that scratch easily — Pot-type scouring pads usually scrub harder and easily scratch coatings, enamel, and polished surfaces. For these items, use a soft sponge or a type that the pack says is suitable.
- Do not use them to clean people or food — A kitchen scouring pad is a cleaning product for utensils, and listings mostly say it must not be used on people or food. Use it as the pack says.
- Rinse, wring out, and dry in a ventilated place after use — If it sits in water for a long time or stays in a damp corner, it is more likely to develop a smell and bacteria. Wringing it out and putting it where air can move matters more than anything else.
- Replace it when it is dirty, damaged, or smells, and do not keep using it — There is no standard replacement time, and it depends on how often you use it and its condition. If you see a smell, shedding, damage, or it still feels sticky after washing, replace it. Use separate pieces for utensils used for raw and cooked food, and for areas outside the kitchen.
Searching on Shopee Taiwan: Chinese Keywords and What They Mean
Shopee Taiwan uses Chinese, so searching in English usually returns nothing useful. Copy the keywords below and paste them into the Shopee search box.
| Keyword / text (Chinese) | Pinyin | Meaning | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 海綿菜瓜布 | hǎimián càiguābù | sponge with scouring pad | The most common search keyword |
| 菜瓜布 | càiguābù | scouring pad | A scrubbing fiber pad |
| 鍋具 爐具 | guōjù / lújù | pots / stoves | For burnt-on grease on pots and stoves |
| 細緻 餐具 | xìzhì / cānjù | delicate / tableware | For cups, dishes, and glassware |
| 不沾鍋 | bù zhān guō | non-stick pan | Avoid rough scouring pads on these |
| 鋼絲球 | gāngsī qiú | steel wool ball | Strong scrubbing, easily scratches surfaces |
| 金鋼砂 | jīngāng shā | corundum grit (abrasive) | Check that the pack says it has none if you want a gentle type |
| 刮傷 | guāshāng | scratch | What you want to avoid on coated surfaces |
| 量販包 | liàngfàn bāo | bulk pack | Work out the cost per piece |
| 耐用 | nàiyòng | durable | A claim from the listing, not tested by us |
| 月銷熱賣 | yuè xiāo rèmài | best sellers this month | A sorting option in Shopee Taiwan search results (the display name may change), useful for finding what many people buy |
Brand names on packaging are usually written in Chinese too. If you are not sure, use your phone's camera translation (for example Google Translate) on the packaging or the product page and compare it with the table above. This list is only a keyword guide, not an official translation, and the text on a product page may differ.
Show this to the shop staff, or paste it into the Shopee chat
請問這款可以用在不沾鍋嗎？
Qǐngwèn zhè kuǎn kěyǐ yòng zài bù zhān guō ma?
Can this one be used on a non-stick pan?
請問這是鍋具專用還是細緻餐具專用？
Qǐngwèn zhè shì guōjù zhuānyòng háishì xìzhì cānjù zhuānyòng?
Is this for pots or for delicate tableware?
請問一包有幾片？
Qǐngwèn yì bāo yǒu jǐ piàn?
How many pieces are in one pack?
3M Scotch-Brite Sponge Scouring Pad, 5+1 Bulk Pack for Pots and Stoves / Delicate Tableware and Teacups, 6 Pieces (Easy Buy Hardware store)
Shopee listing information (shown on October 12, 2026; prices and promotions may change): a Shopee Preferred shop, "Easy Buy Hardware (輕鬆購五金百貨)", with a shop rating of 5.0 and a chat response rate of 97%. This product has 55 sold and 27 reviews with a 5-star rating shown. In the buyer review tags, "fast shipping" appears 3 times, "good packaging" 2 times, and "good quality" 2 times (we only quote these and have not checked the reviews one by one). The sales and number of reviews for this item are fairly low, so keep that in mind as a reference. Product information (from the listing, not independently checked by us): brand 3M Scotch-Brite, a sponge scouring pad with a scouring layer plus a sponge layer, in a bulk pack of 6 pieces. The listing offers two versions to choose from: "stove / pot type" (a green scouring pad, which the listing says suits iron pans, stainless steel pots, stoves, and grills and can remove burnt-on black grease and food residue, for uncoated utensils), and "delicate tableware / teacup type" (a golden-velvet scouring pad, which the listing says has a formula without corundum grit and suits ceramic and glass teacups and ordinary tableware). The listing also mentions an antibacterial formula and well-bonded layers that are durable and do not separate easily (the seller's description, which we have not tested). The way to use it, as the listing says: wet it, add a suitable amount of cleaner, rub gently to make a lather and scrub, rinse clean with water after use, wring it out, and dry it in a ventilated place. Before you buy: the stove / pot type is not recommended for non-stick or coated cookware and surfaces that scratch easily. Before use, check the material of the item you are cleaning, and test on a small area in an inconspicuous spot. Do not use it on people or food. The packaging may differ when the maker redesigns it, and what you get is what is shipped. The origin and material are as shown on the outer packaging. Please go by the listing page for these labels and specifications. This site does not give product safety advice.
Quick Checklist Before You Buy
- What are you washing? → A rougher type for pots and grills, a delicate type for cups and dishes, and a soft sponge for non-stick and coated cookware
- Looked at the label for how rough it is? → Check the text on the pack for pot type or tableware type, and whether it says no abrasive grit, and do not go only by color
- Buying a bulk pack? → Use separate pieces for pots, dishes, and other areas, work out the cost per piece, and estimate how many you use in a month
- Can you take care of it? → Wring it out after use and dry it in a ventilated place, and replace it when it smells or is damaged, without keeping on using it
- Treated the listing as a reference only? → When sales and reviews are few, go even more by the label on the product and your own use
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will a scouring pad scratch a non-stick pan?
- It can. A rougher fiber side or steel wool can easily leave scratches on non-stick coatings, enamel, and polished stainless steel when you scrub hard, and once the coating is damaged it can affect use. For non-stick pans, use a soft sponge or a type that the pack says is suitable, and go by the cookware's own instructions.
- How often should I replace a sponge or scouring pad?
- There is no standard, and it depends on how often you use it, how greasy the things you wash are, and whether you dry it properly. A common suggestion is to replace it regularly, and more often if you use it a lot or cook greasy food. If you see a smell, shedding, damage, or it still feels sticky after washing, do not keep using it.
- If a scouring pad says antibacterial, do I not need to replace it often?
- No. An antibacterial label is the maker's claim, and does not mean it is fine however long you use it. Leftover food and moisture still make a scouring pad dirty. Wringing it out after use, drying it in a ventilated place, and replacing it regularly is the more reliable approach.
- Can the same scouring pad be used for both pots and dishes?
- We do not recommend it. A rough side that has been used to scrub off burnt-on grease can scratch delicate tableware and cups if you use it on them afterward, and it is also less hygienic. It is better to use separate pieces for pots and dishes, and a bulk pack suits using them in separate areas.