Crate & Barrel’s non-toxic dish brushes and accessories are the practical, stylish upgrade my kitchen sink needs

Ditch microplastics and look good while doing it.

Washing dishes isn’t the most exciting chore, but it’s a necessary part of everyday life. And until recent studies revealed that melamine scrubbers and other common kitchen sponges are another source of microplastics, I’d never really given much thought to the tools I used for the job. Our editors recently spoke to Medical Toxicologist Gerome Burke, M.D., Ph.D., who recommends avoiding traditional sponges and dish brushes that contain unnecessary plastics, chemicals, and other synthetic ingredients. And ever since then, I’ve been on the lookout for non-toxic alternatives. 

I eventually spotted the ultimate plastic-free upgrade in one of the last places I would’ve ever thought to look: Crate & Barrel. I’ve been eyeing the retailer’s Clean by Crate line, which includes dish brushes and scrubbers with all-natural bristles, as well as sleek, ceramic sink caddies and soap dispensers. It’s the practical and stylish upgrade that my kitchen sink has been needing. And now that several of the products are on sale, I think I’m finally ready to add to cart.

Best Clean by Crate Non-Toxic Dish Brushes and Sink Accessories

• Natural Dish Brush, $10, originally $13
• Ivory Ceramic Sink Caddy Tray, $25
• Natural Palm Brush, $10
• Ivory Ceramic Palm Dish Brush Holder, $11, originally $17
• Natural Palm & Dish Brush Replacement Heads, $13

Natural Dish Brush 

$13 $10 at Crate & Barrel

Clean by Crate’s natural dish brush is a major step up from your standard plastic dish scrubber. The body and handle are made of hand-finished bamboo, with natural coconut bristles for a gentle but effective scrub. It’s beautifully designed, and the brush head is replaceable for long-term utility. 

Ivory Ceramic Dish Brush Holder 

$17 $14 at Crate & Barrel

This ceramic dish brush holder comes in two colors: ivory and driftwood. Made from recycled stoneware with a hand-glazed matte finish, it’s the ideal vessel to corral all your cleaning essentials next to the sink. And the simple, modern design will coordinate well in almost any kitchen.

Natural Bottle Brush

$17 at Crate & Barrel

Whether you’re scrubbing baby bottles or your ever-growing collection of insulated tumblers, you need a bottle brush to do the job effectively. It’s rare to find completely plastic-free options, but this brush uses agave and cotton bristles for minimal abrasion, with a stainless steel stem and bamboo handle — absolutely no microplastics in sight. 

Ivory Ceramic Sink Caddy Tray

$25 at Crate & Barrel

Eliminate mucky puddles and kitchen sink clutter with this ceramic caddy tray. It has a shallow lip to catch any drips and makes a good spot to rest dish brushes, sink stoppers, and other sink accessories when you’re done with them. Snag the matching ceramic soap dish to hold solid soaps, or use it to rest your rings and other jewelry while you’re washing dishes.

Natural Palm Brush 

$10 at Crate & Barrel

The short palm brush is designed to fit snugly in your hand, which makes washing smaller items like utensils and dessert plates a lot easier. You could even use it as a dedicated vegetable brush for washing fresh produce. It fits the same coconut bristle brush heads as the line’s standard dish brush, so you can use them interchangeably.

Ivory Ceramic Palm Dish Brush Holder

$17 $11 at Crate & Barrel

This gorgeous little ceramic dish is the perfect companion to the palm dish brush. The lid is slightly curved, with holes poked into the top to allow water to drain through so everything stays fresh and mildew-free. Once your brush is dry, simply remove the lid and empty the water from the dish.

Ivory Ceramic Soap Dispenser

$20 at Crate & Barrel

If you want all your sink accessories to match, then spring for the ceramic soap dispenser, too. You can use it for hand soap or to dispense your favorite non-toxic dish soap, so everything looks sleek and put together.

Natural Palm & Dish Brush Replacement Heads 

$13 at Crate & Barrel

The trouble with most dish brushes — whether they’re plastic or not — is that once the bristles get yucky and worn out, you have to toss the whole thing in the trash. It’s a huge waste that you won’t have to worry about with the Clean by Crate line, since you can buy a 2-pack of replacement brush heads whenever you need a refresh. They offer replacement heads for the bottle brush, too.

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