Loofah Know How from LoofCo

If you have switched to LoofCo loofahs, then you already know that loofah is a quite miraculous plant that grows on a vine, and not a sea creature! Loofah pads are actually the fibrous structure of the Luffa aegyptiaca fruit, a tropical relative of the marrow.

This very open fibred network provides an amazing natural cleaning solution that is such an easy way to reduce plastic pollution in the home and waterways. Not only is loofah great for cleaning and exfoliating your skin, but it is also the perfect traditional washing-up pad and household surface scrubber too. Unlike plastic scouring pads, it does not contain any abrasives and does not scratch the surfaces of non-stick films. You can easily switch away from plastic sponges and scourers in this simple and cost-effective way.

We are often asked to best way to prolong the life of your loofah pads. Here are our tips on cleaning and eventually replacing them:

1. What's the best way to clean a loofah?

It’s important to wash your loofah, wring out excess moisture and air-dry it after use. Its open structure means that it dries easily. Keeping them dry will prolong their life and prevents bacterial growth. 

Here's how:

Thoroughly wash with hot soapy water then rinse well. For washing-up pads, shake out any food particles. Squeeze it to remove excess water and soapy residue. 

Wring the water out and then let it air dry. We have added a handy cotton hanging loop to our designs and so in the kitchen or bathroom, hang them from a hook or tap to dry out. Store it in a dry place.

Loofah is very resilient and can be washed in the washing machine up to a hot wash. From time to time, you can even soak it in boiled water and bicarbonate of soda to be super thorough. Mix 1 cup of hot water with 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda, add your loofah pad and leave for 15 minutes. Remove, rinse and thoroughly dry.

2. How often should you replace them?

Provided you keep your loofah clean and dry between uses it will last for many months and at the end of its natural life can be composted 🎉. We have happy customers who are still using their LoofCo washing-up pads after a year! Think how many plastic sponges that replaces.

Wishing you happy, healthy and planet-kind cleaning!

The LoofCo team (Guest blog)