10 Best Cookware Cleaning Tools Under $10

Whether making a saucy braise in a Dutch oven or searing meat in your trusty cast iron skillet, stubborn, stuck-on food residue can be a nightmare once cleanup time rolls around. A standard sponge and soap may suffice for lightly soiled pots and pans, but heavy-duty cooking messes require specialized cleaning tools to get the job done effectively and efficiently.

These shopper-approved cleaning aids — including a powerful chain mail cast iron scrubber and a miracle stainless steel cleaner that restores pans to gleaming, like-new condition — get every crusty, scorched bit off all kinds of cookware with minimal elbow grease and zero damage. To make cleaning your cast iron skillets, stainless steel pans, and intricate Bundt pans easier than ever, we rounded up 10 tools that tackle grime in record time, all under $10 at Amazon.    

Best Pan Cleaning Tools Under $10 

• Nordic Ware Ultimate Bundt Cleaning Tool, $8
• Lodge Scrub Brush, $10 
• Herda Nylon Pan Scrapers, Set of 3, $5, originally $7 
• Topulors Chainmail Cast Iron Scrubber, $7
• Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Cleaner, $10, originally $12
• OXO Good Grips Soap Dispensing Palm Brush, $9
• All-Clad Stainless Steel & Aluminum Cookware Cleaner, $10
• Anmarko Stainless Steel Bench Scraper, $10, originally $13
• Scotch-Brite Stainless Steel Scrubbers, Pack of 3, $2
• Scrub Daddy Sponge Daddy Dual-Sided Sponges, Pack of 4, $10

Nordic Ware Ultimate Bundt Cleaning Tool 

Boasting over 2,000 five-star ratings, this clever Bundt cleaning tool makes post-baking cleanup hassle-free. With an angled brush, flat scraper, and pointed pick, the tool helps remove baked-on cake bits from the crevices of detailed Bundt pans, so your bakeware is completely clean the next time you reach for it. One shopper who previously struggled to clean their Bundt pans with a sponge “definitely recommends” this tool that “is small enough to fit in the tight spaces but big enough to get the [pan] clean.” Other customers have found the tool useful for cleaning zesters, graters, and the grooves of waffle irons.

Lodge Scrub Brush 

Show your cast iron cookware some love with this $10 Lodge scrub brush. The ergonomic rubberwood handle promotes comfortable scrubbing, and the dense nylon bristles efficiently remove residue without stripping away precious seasoning. “This is the best brush for cleaning my cast iron pans,” raved one shopper, who noted that “the handle is sturdy and holds up to the scrubbing [when] cleaning.” 

Herda Nylon Pan Scrapers, Set of 3

This small-but-mighty nylon pan scraper is sturdy enough to dislodge tough food residue from cookware without scratching the surface. The slim edges release caked-on messes from cast iron, stainless steel, nonstick pans, pizza stones, and kitchen counters. One reviewer noted that the different angled corners of the gadget “provide the right radius to scrape almost any inside corner.” A second customer who employed the handy tool for stubborn egg and meat bits appreciated that it “[takes] up little space and [is] like a little trick you always have to help.” Grab a convenient pack of three for only $5. 

Topulors Chain Mail Cast Iron Scrubber 

With over 2,000 units purchased in the past month alone, this chain mail cast iron scrubber requires little more than warm water to work its cleaning magic on the dirtiest stainless steel and cast iron skillets while preserving seasoning. “It works perfectly to scrub off the residual food from a cast iron frying pan without damaging the finish like soap-filled scouring pads [do],” shared one impressed user. Another buyer appreciated that the scrubber “does not scratch, takes up no room, and can hang on a hook.” Best of all, the rust-proof tool can be tossed in the dishwasher for repeated use.

Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Cleaner 

When it comes to getting enameled cast iron pieces in pristine working condition, shoppers say this gentle cleaning solution from Lodge “[works] wonders.” One customer wrote, “If I had known that this stuff is the secret, I would have switched my cookware ages ago,” adding that “just a little bit of this on the brush and your cookware will look [as] good as new.” A second customer who applied the bleach- and dye-free cleaner on a burnt, discolored Dutch oven happily reported that “the enamel looks new — [with] no stains or scorch marks.” Lodge also offers an enameled cast iron care kit with this cleaner, a scrub brush, a pan scraper, and pot protectors.   

OXO Good Grips Soap Dispensing Palm Brush

This OXO scrub brush releases soap at the press of a button for streamlined scrubbing. With a non-slip handle and scratch-free nylon bristles that can be used on all types of cookware, the brush is ideal for daily use. “I have tried a lot of these scrubbers, but this by far takes the win,” gushed a buyer. “It is super flexible, retains the soap, and stays foamy [as] you scrub away.” Nearly 13,500 shoppers left five-star reviews for this ultra-practical tool. 

All-Clad Stainless Steel & Aluminum Cookware Cleaner

Bid farewell to splotchy pots and pans with this miracle-working stainless steel cleaner from All-Clad. Simply sprinkle the powder on clean, damp stainless steel or aluminum cookware, scrub the mixture with a wet sponge, then rinse and dry for gleaming, transformative results. One customer who considered replacing their heavily discolored pans changed their mind after using the game-changing cleaner: “It will be very easy to maintain the pans like new now, by just using this product whenever [it’s] needed instead of letting the discoloration build up for years.” Give your stainless steel collection new life with this handy $10 cleaner.  

Anmarko Stainless Steel Bench Scraper 

Bench scrapers are an essential kitchen tool for portioning doughs and transferring chopped-up ingredients, but they also come in handy for scraping charred bits off of flat top griddles. Featuring a durable stainless steel blade and non-slip handle, this Anmarko bench scraper has amassed over 7,000 perfect ratings and “[works] like a charm,” according to one reviewer. “This simple, inexpensive tool will allow me to use my griddle daily,” added another shopper, who said the accessory “scrapes [their griddle] perfectly clean.” No matter what you’re grilling this season, make cleanup a cinch with this versatile scraper. 

Scotch-Brite Stainless Steel Scrubbers, Pack of 3

Burnt-on food remnants are no match for these powerful stainless steel scrubbers, which are best for non-coated cookware, grill grates, oven racks, and broilers. (Opt for a gentler tool to clean nonstick and enameled cast iron cookware.) “This scrubber effortlessly tackles baked-on grease, burnt food residue, and other tough messes that sponges and dishcloths simply can't handle,” one reviewer wrote about the “game-changer” that “cuts through grime like a hot knife through butter.” At less than $1 apiece, these no-nonsense scrubbers offer unbeatable value for their utility.

Scrub Daddy Sponge Daddy Dual-Sided Sponges, Pack of 4

Odor-resistant and long-lasting, this chef-approved cleaning tool from Scrub Daddy safely cleans cookware without leaving any scratches. The firmness of the sponges changes depending on the water temperature, and it’s double-sided for versatility. “The soft side is great for cleaning dishes, and the scrub side is great for hard-to-remove stuff,” said one shopper. “They don’t get a funky smell like other brands do,” noted another buyer who called Sponge Daddy the “best sponges [they] have found.” Plus, the 4-pack includes a variety of colors so you can designate a different cleaning task for each sponge.