The Best Cast Iron Scrubbers, According to Our Test Kitchen
Updated: Jan. 29, 2021Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.
When your cast-iron pans need some heavy-duty cleaning, reach for one of these cast iron scrubbers to remove cooked-on food and more.
Cast-iron pans are our go-to for weeknight meals, comforting dinners and even some delightful desserts. But when it comes to cleaning these sturdy skillets, you often need more than your average dish sponge—you need a cast iron scrubber.
With so much advice out there about how to clean cast iron, it can be hard to know which scrubbers will get the job done without hurting your precious seasoned pan. That’s why our Test Kitchen set out to find the best cast iron scrubbers.
Our Test Kitchen-Preferred Cast Iron Scrubbers
After trying multiple different scrubbers on their own cast-iron skillets, members of our Test Kitchen team found the best cast iron scrubbers for getting rid of burnt-on bits, sticky food and even rust (yes, you can restore rusted cast-iron skillets!). Here are their three favorites.
Best Overall Cast Iron Scrubber: Scrub Mommy
Greasy, stuck-on food was no match for Scrub Mommy. Similar to the Shark Tank-famous Scrub Daddy sponge, this scrubber softens with hot water and becomes stiff and abrasive with cold water. It also has a soft sponge side to wipe away any remaining mess.
This combination gave all our burnt-on bits a one-two punch. The stiff, abrasive part of this scrubber was just the thing to pull up stuck-on food and the softer side helped dry the pan. After cleaning up with the Scrub Mommy, our editors’ pans looked like new.
Our Test Kitchen also loved the Scrub Mommy’s design, which gives you an easy and comfortable grip for cleaning. And it’s not just good for cast iron—we put the Scrub Mommy to work cleaning tile, baseboards, cupboards and sinks. Best of all, we could toss this sponge into the dishwasher for an easy clean-and-sanitize session.
We can’t recommend Scrub Mommy enough—it’s a real kitchen superstar, just like your cast-iron pan!
Most Convenient Cast Iron Scrubber: Casabella Mini Brush
Best Cast Iron Scrubbers for Re-seasoning: Scotch-Brite Stainless Steel Scrubbers
How to Care for Your Cast-Iron Pans
Cast-iron pans are resilient! They can stand up to all kinds of scrubbers, sponges and cleaning tools. Just stay clear of harsh cleaners—a mild dish soap is all you need.
For other methods of cleaning cast iron, we recommend using coarse sea salt or chainmail, which is a chain link piece of stainless steel. And if you’re new to using cast-iron cookware, check out our cast iron cooking guide for tips, recipe ideas and more.
All-Purpose Cleaner
This is the cleaning product you likely reach for the most. It's a multi-tasking wonder that's used to clean off grimy counters, sticky tabletops and even for wiping down windows. Find out which brand really cleaned up in our tests.
Dish Soap
No doubt about it—our favorite dishes (think lasagna, mac and cheese and crispy bacon) leave us with the worst messes. We found the best dish soap for cutting through the grease, stuck-on bits and grime. Find out which brand we loved.
Stain Remover
Every host dreads having to clean up after a messy spill. Serve red wine—like our favorite boxed version—stress-free when you have a good stain remover on hand. Here's our favorite.
Cast Iron Cleaner
If you use your cast-iron pan frequently—and you should be with all these good recipes—you know that sometimes it takes a little extra to get it clean. With the right tool, you can get your pan spick-and-span and ready for more skillet suppers. Find out what we use to get our cast iron clean.
Oven Cleaner
Sometimes self-clean doesn't do enough to get your oven completely clean. Give your oven a refresh—and save yourself extra scrubbing—with a good spray-on oven cleaner. Check out our top pick.
Surface Stain Eraser
A good surface stain eraser can take care of lots of life's small messes and can even restore our treasured vintage Pyrex. This is the brand we prefer.
Wood Floor Cleaner
Anyone with wood floors certainly treasures them. However, keeping them looking like new can be tricky. You don't want to go too harsh with your cleaning products but a quick sweep isn't good enough for long-term clean. Find out what we use to keep wood floors looking their best.
Kitchen Degreaser
Everyone has that baking sheet that has seen better days. You don't need to scrap it! Instead, invest in a good degreaser to bring it back to life. Check out our go-to product.
Stainless Steel Cleaner
We love the look of stainless steel, but as pretty as it is, it's prone to smudging. Our Test Kitchen is full of stainless steel ovens, freezers and refrigerators. Find out what we use to keep them all clean.
Garbage Disposal Cleaner
Your garbage disposal sees a lot of mess, and it deserves a good clean. For this, you don't need to break out the rubber gloves (save those for dishes). Instead, opt for an easy-to-use pod. Here's our favorite brand.
Paper Towels
We rely on paper towels to take care of all kinds of messes. Since we regularly stock up on rolls, we had to ask if it was really worth it to pay more for the pricier brands. Find out what our Test Kitchen recommends.
Dishwasher Cleaner
Yes, your dishwasher needs cleaning! After taking care of all your dirty dishes, it's a good thing to give your dishwasher a clean itself. With easy-to-use pods, it's no trouble to keep it fresh. Find out what our Test Kitchen uses.Teddy Nykiel, Taste of Home Associate Digital Editor, contributed to this article.
Note: This blind taste test was performed by our staffers and was not part of a sponsorship. All opinions shared are our own, and have not been influenced by advertisers.
