Tawashi
A tawashi (たわし or 束子; lit., a bundle) is a scrubbing brush for wet cleaning,[1] of a style that is popular in Japan.[2] Traditionally, tawashis were made from the hemp palm.[3][4] In Japan, sponges used for rubbing and washing are now treated as forms of tawashi. A metallic tawashi (金属たわし, kinzoku tawashi) is made of metal; steel, stainless steel, and brass are frequent choices. They may be used in removing scorching and rust.
Types
Several synthetic polymers are frequently seen:
- A polyurethane sponge is sometimes called sponge tawashi (スポンジたわし, suponji tawashi).
 - Nylon sponges, sometimes called nylon tawashi (ナイロンたわし, nairon tawashi), are suitable for washing tough stains, but should not be used on delicate items.
 - An acrylic tawashi (アクリルたわし, akuriru tawashi) is made of acrylic, typically knitted or crocheted.
 - A luffa sponge, or luffa tawashi (ヘチマたわし, hechima tawashi), is used as a body scrub.
 - In recent times, some tawashis are crocheted from cotton yarn, producing the eco-friendly tawashi (エコたわし, eko tawashi), which is scratch-free, and used for dishes and small cleaning jobs. (The prefix eco- (エコ) indicates that it creates less pollution because it can be used without soap or detergents.[5])
 
- 
			
A popular Japanese design for a tawashi, said to resemble a young turtle - 
			
A yellow polyurethane sponge with a green nylon sponge. It is called sponge tawashi in Japan. - 
			
A luffa sponge, called hechima tawashi in Japanese - 
			
Tawashi from late Edo period - 
			
Tawashi for sale 
See also
References
- ^ Sheets, Cassie (8 July 2019). "3 reasons you should buy these Japanese scrub brushes". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
 - ^ Stinchecum, Amanda Mayer (April 5, 1987). "Shopper's World: Kyoto's Handmade Brushes". New York Times. p. A6.
 - ^ Oda, Shuko (June 19, 2018). "Tawashi Brush: I'd Be Lost Without My...". Financial Times. p. 57.
 - ^ Writer, JENNIFER KOPF | Staff (19 October 2016). "Kitchen Essential: tawashi brush". LancasterOnline. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
 - ^ Ogawa, N. (September 9, 2009). "Magically Clean Eco Tawashi". Make. 9: 114.
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tawashi.