The Plastic-Free Loofah Alternatives Everyone Will Be Using Soon

Ditching your plastic loofah is perhaps one of the easiest swaps to make to reduce microplastics.

Obviously, it can be quite difficult to get rid of plastic completely from your life… which is why we have to at least start with the easy stuff!

When it comes to loofahs, I personally think there’s no good reason to keep using a hunk of plastic netting in your shower anymore…

There are too many other good options!

I did a bunch of the research for you so that you can find the best natural loofah alternative based on your own personal preferences.

---

Do you really need a loofah?

No, you don’t really need a loofah. 😬 There are plenty of other things you can use instead, like:

• A plain old wash cloth (you probably already have plenty in your home, but if you’re in need of some new ones, check here for organic brands)
• Reusable baby wipes (which are very similar to wash clothes, but with a slightly different texture)
• Your hand
• Bar soap
• A similar item you already own, like a dry brush

That said, I know some folks just like loofahs! And for good reason:

• Loofahs are convenient
• They can help exfoliate your skin
• They can add a little touch of *luxury* to your shower routine
• They might help you use less soap

But if you’re going to use a loofah, at least go with a plastic-free option.

Why Go for a Plastic-Free Loofah

Most conventional loofahs are just made from plastic. And I’m sure you already know about all of the problems plastic is wreaking on human and planetary health!

It’s recommended that loofahs are replaced every 1-2 months. So that’s 6-12 plastic loofahs per person that get thrown away each year. Each loofah is going to take several hundred years to break down.

That’s quite a bit of preventable plastic pollution…

Now, there’s not necessarily any evidence that using a plastic loofah could have a direct impact on your health. (For example, you’re probably not absorbing microplastics through your skin since you’re using it in the shower and rinsing everything off.)

Yet, plastic loofahs could have a negative effect on our health in a roundabout way. As your loofah starts to break down and tiny pieces of microplastics get washed down your shower drain, this adds to our growing microplastic pollution problem.

More and more of those microplastics end up in our water, air, soil, food, etc., and then we ingest them.

We are only beginning to understand the impact these microplastics have on human health, but so far they are linked to everything from heart attack and stroke, metabolic disorders, neurotoxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, and more.

That’s why so many conscious consumers like yourself are switching to plastic-free or low-plastic alternatives whenever they can.

Beware of Loofah Greenwashing

As I researched this guide, I found a lot of loofahs that were marketed as “eco-friendly,” but really aren’t.

For example, the popular brand EcoTools makes loofahs made out of recycled plastic. (Like this one for example.)

While this may be a little more sustainable because it’s keeping some plastic out of landfills and the ocean, it doesn’t do anything for our microplastic problem.

Plus, research has shown that recycled plastic may actually be worse then virgin plastic in terms of toxicity and air pollution.

The Only Loofah Alternatives I’ll Use As a Mold-Sensitive Person

Personally, I largely stopped using loofahs a long time ago. I either just put the soap directly onto my hand or just a bar of soap.

But sometimes I do like to use something more exfoliating, like a soap saver bag! It does seem like I go through less soap this way, too.

That said, I personally do not use any loofah alternatives that cannot go in the washing machine or dishwasher.

You’ll notice that some of the natural loofah options below are machine washable and some are not.

Many of the non-machine-washable options need to be replaced after a month or so. (Most of them can be composted though!)

For me personally, there’s too much of a risk for mold growth if I can’t wash my loofah. So, I generally will only use washable bath poufs, soap saver bags, exfoliating gloves, and silicone scrubbers.

I don’t really use natural luffa sponges, sea sponges, or konjac sponges anymore, since those can’t be washed.

BUT I’ve still included those natural loofah options for you below so that you can decide what’s best for you!

---

BTW, this guide contains product recommendations and we may receive compensation if you purchase through certain links. As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine!

Try One of These 8 Plastic-Free Loofah Alternatives

1. Organic/Natural Bath Pouf

An organic loofah “pouf” is one of the best loofah alternatives because it’s machine washable. That means you can re-use it over and over again, saving you money and waste.

Plus, shower poufs give you a nice, soapy lather. And most of the time, they come with a handle so that you can hang them to dry.

These poufs are made from all-natural fibers like organic cotton and jute fabric:

---

2. Natural Loofah (Luffa) Sponge

You probably already know this, but “loofah” actually comes from the word “luffa” which is technically a vegetable!

It’s a vine in the pumpkin/squash/gourd family (Cucurbitaceae).

Sometimes you can actually find luffa/loofah sponges at your local farmers market. Here’s a video of Kevin from Epic Gardening growing a luffa shower sponge for the first time. Pretty cool!

The upsides of choosing a luffa sponge as your natural shower shower loofah are;

• You can support your local farmers if you can find one locally
• They’re compostable
• They’re usually pretty affordable
• They’re great for exfoliation
• They’re multi-purpose: you can use them for washing dishes, cleaning the kitchen, scraping a grill, etc.

But the main downside to luffa sponges is that they are not machine washable.

That means they don’t last nearly as long as one of the organic loofah poufs mentioned above. Although a luffa can last years if it stays dry, a wet luffa sponge generally needs to be replaced after about a month.

Here are some luffa sponges from various retailers:

---

3. Sea Sponge

Natural sea sponges are softer, so they tend to be better for delicate and sensitive skin. (And because of that, they don’t provide as much exfoliation compared to luffa sponges.)

They are completely compostable and should be replaced about once a month.

They also tend to be a bit more expensive compared to luffa sponges.

Just be careful because sometimes you’ll find “faux” sea sponges that look real, but they’re really just made out of plastic.

Here are some natural sea sponges to check out:

---

4. Exfoliating Gloves

These can be a great loofah alternative because:

• They allow for a lot more control so you can get an overall more effective exfoliating experience.
• They can be great for getting rid of / preventing in-grown hairs.
• They can be machine washable. (Just check the details because it depends on the brand.)

But, a lot of exfoliating gloves are made out of synthetic fabrics such as nylon. So just make sure you check the details while you’re shopping!

Here are the best brands I was able to find:

---

5. Soap Saver Pouch

Putting your natural bar soap inside of a loofah-type pouch can serve a few functions:

• It adds exfoliation to your bar soap
• It makes your bar soap last longer
• It adds grip to your bar soap so it doesn’t slip from your hands

These soap-saver loofah alternatives also tend to be machine washable (again, just be sure to check the details for the specific brand).

By the way, Etsy is one of the best places to find soap saver bags. I’ve linked to a couple options below, but there are a lot more on the marketplace if you want to check them out!

---

6. Loofah Body Scrubber / Pad

These have some of the same benefits of a regular loofah/luffa sponge, but they come in a pad format (usually with a handle), which makes them a bit easier to use and hold onto.

Some of them are double-sided, with a loofah exfoliator on one side and a softer terry cloth on the other.

Be aware that a lot of the exfoliating scrubber pads do have an elastic band, which means they may not be 100% natural. If you choose to compost these when you’re finished with them, you may need to cut off the handle first (and throw it in the trash).

---

7. Silicone Body Scrubber

This may not be the best option for a loofah alternative since silicone is not compostable or biodegradable.

However, one of the major pros to using a silicone body scrubber is that it’s much more resistant to mold compared to the other options.

And they tend to last longer, too.

Although you cannot throw them in the washing machine, silicone loofah alternatives are relatively easy to clean with soap & water or an all-purpose cleaner. Some of them you can even throw in the dishwasher!

Be careful because some of the “silicone-like” body scrubbers on the market (like Boie) are actually made of plastic.

One other note is that some of the silicone scrubbers are impregnated with nanosilver and/or zinc in order to give them antibacterial/antimicrobial properties. While on one hand this is a good thing (we don’t want our loofahs growing mold or bacteria), there are downsides to these materials as well. Members can check out the deep dive into the potential downsides of nanosilver here.

---

8. Konjac Sponge

Konjac sponges are similar to sea sponges in that they are soft and good for sensitive skin.

They’re made from the root of the konjac plant, which is a porous root vegetable that’s been cultivated in Asia for centuries.

They generally last around 1-3 months and then can be composted when you’re finished.

---

I hope this guide has been helpful in finding some healthier loofah alternatives for your shower routine!

If you found this helpful and would like to get notified about new guides, stay up to date on environmental toxin headlines, and get more content delivered to your inbox once a week, sign up for Filtered Fridays!

Or, to get even more exclusive content—including a private podcast and a monthly giveaways!—become a member.