Homemade Nylon Net Scrubbies – Are they Bath Poufs or Pot Scrubbers?

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A while back I cut out a pattern from the Hints from Heloise column in my newspaper. It was her pattern for nylon net scrubbies that was passed down from her mother, the original Heloise who had been writing the column since the 1950’s. I thought maybe it would be fun to make some of those and see how they turn out. You basically lay three long strips of nylon net on top of each other, run a basting stitch down the middle, and then gather it up, tie a knot, and fluff it out. Here are the Heloise instructions :Hints from Heloise Nylon Net Scrubber

homemade nylon net scrubbie

So this weekend I finally made one and tested it out in both the bathroom and the kitchen. Here are my conclusions:

Nylon Net Scrubbie as Bath Pouf
The scrubbie did lather up well, but it was definitely more scratchy than a store bought bath pouf so I told myself * I’m Exfoliating * and I kept going. It was a nice size and it held its shape pretty well, but the scratchy part was just not very nice.
Grade: B-

Homemade Bath Pouf

Nylon Net Scrubbie as Pot Scrubber

Next I tried the scrubbie in the kitchen. Here the scratchy part was more helpful and I was able to clean a container that had lots of sticky crumbs in the bottom and it did a good job of loosening those crumbs. But I didn’t care for the “ball” shape of the scrubbie in the kitchen. I like to be able to set a scrubbie up on the edge of my sink and a 6″ nylon ball looked kind of goofy sitting there.
Grade: B+

homemade nylon pouf

When it’s all said and done I think I’ll stick with going to the dollar store where I can find nice soft bath poufs and nice rectangular dish sponges without spending much cash.

Update: I now like to knit my scrubbies! Get the pattern here – – > How To Knit Round Scrubbies

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24 Comments

  1. I LOVE the kitchen scrubbies! My mom made them by the hundreds for church bazaars every year. After I left home and had my own famiy, my mom would send me a giant box every Xmas. It was my favorite gift. They hold dish soap like no other and clean nonstick harmlessly. Give them a try.

  2. My mother in law made bathroom scrubbers from nylon net and bleach bottle handles. I Am on my last one and she is gone. Anyone have a pattern and instructions for these?

  3. I learned years ago that you could make these without a single stitch. Just wad a large square of nylon net into a ball on first use and it maintains its shape fairly well thereafter! I buy it by the yard, cut it into squares and store them in a gallon-size ziplock bag. When my old dish scrubbie needs replacing, I just pull out a square, wad it up and I’m good-to-go. Not a single stitch, cord or rubber band needed.

  4. i prefer these scrubbies to the crocheted ones for cleaning. Besides cleaning pots, did you know that these net scrubbies take paint off your hands. Just massage some peanut oil into your hands or arms etc. and use the scrubby to gently exfoliate the paint off.

  5. My grandmother used to make the nylon net scrubbers. I have one that I’ve had for years that’s on it’s last leg. My grandmother and mother are both gone so I may give Heloise’s pattern a try. I don’t use mine for dishes, but I do love it for scrubbing my shower stall! As for bath poufs, you might find that tulle is a little softer. The holes aren’t so big and it’s not quite so stiff.

  6. I have never found anything that worked as well for washing dishes, as the pouf of nylon net lathered up with a minimal amount of dish soap and get the easy to wash dishes clean in no time. Then it tackles the tough ones with ease without scratching. Plus they rinse easily, all the crumbs and sink detritus falls right out, and they dry quickly without every getting stinky. And now that I must be gluten free due to celiac disease, I can make one of several different colors and keep one of them received for only my dishes and cookware. No more contamination from other people’s gluten! I to used to buy these at Albertson’s, but I don’t live near one anymore. I habitually check every housewares cleaning section looking for them. Finally, I sent my married daughter to WalMart to buy some nylon net yardage and we are making our own again. Thanks for the post, even if you didn’t like it.

  7. I’m tired of buying new bath “poofs” only to have them come apart in a few weeks. So I went searching for instructions on how to make my own and found this blog. I notice in the photo that the edges are raw while the ones I buy at the store are not. So somehow I need to figure out how to make them so that all the exposed edges are folded.

    1. Carolyn – one time I took apart a store bought bath pouf to see how it was made. If I remember right, it was a long tube of netting that they then folded accordion style and tied in the middle. So perhaps you could sew a tube shape from your netting, and try gathering it together from there. That would eliminate the exposed edges I think. Try taking apart a pouf and you’ll be able to see what they did.

  8. I used to be able to buy these scrubbers at the supermarket but can't seem to find them. Anyone have any idea which store might stock them.

    1. I also used to buy those nylon net scrubbers in the grocery store, but cannot find them now. They were at Albertson’s which became SaveMart. The last ones I bought had a web address for the maker, but I don’t have that any longer and can’t find it on any searches. Have you found them?

  9. Go to the next home town bazaar or fair on the square and look for the little old ladies' booth (or here where I live…I should say watch out for the nuns). They crochet scrubbies. (Sister Bertild will chase you down and make sure you support the order by purchasing something…anything. You can't get away from her. At least not the way I was raised.)

  10. How I wish I was better at crocheting! I've been trying some different crochet patterns for the nylon net scrubbers but mine are just not turning out like the cute ones I see at craft fairs – which I've been attributing to my lack of crochet skills 🙂 I'm gonna keep trying though!

  11. I know this is an older post, but my husbands grandmother used to crochet scrubbers out of strips of netting like this and they were the best. Lasted for YEARS!!!! Just a thought if you still have some left over.