The slightly rough texture of the luffa makes it ideal for gentle scouring.
The luffa, also spelled loofah, is the fruit of either L. aegyptiaca and L. acutangula. It looks rather like a cucumber. If harvested young it can be eaten but if left to mature it becomes very fibrous.
These fibrous fruits can be dried out then used for anything from exfoliating the skin or cleaning the dishes. Not the same one obviously. And so you can find loofahs for sale in anywhere from chemists to cookery shops.
I bought a monster Loofah in T.K. Max for peanuts. I use it the slough my leathery old skin
Mean while Michael’s rather more expensive and much smaller Original Luffa Scouring Pads Micheal’s can be bought from Half Moon Oraganics in Huddersfield or on line at the ethical superstore. are used to wash the dishes
They ” are ethically and sustainably grown on Michael’s family farm in the Phillippines (luffas are plants grown on land).
Bought directly from the farm at a fair price, your purchase supports less privileged families and prevents environmental degradation.
Michael’s Luffas become flexible and supple in water and are durable and tough enough for all but the hardest baked on food (soak it first). They are gentle enough for cleaning non-stick surfaces, fruit and vegetables (and also your body).
Well not by me at that price – I just cut the end off my monster loofah and used that.
Grow Your Own
When I need a new one I am going to try and grow one.
More
You can find more pot scouring options here