I agree that for most dishwashing, a sponge or cloth is fine. However, I love this item for clearing out breading or other goopy messes from a baking dish that would otherwise lodge in my sponge and make dishwashing more difficult.For instance, I bake breaded chicken in a Pyrex pan, and when it's done, there's breading clinging to the pan. I let the pan soak during dinner, then use the brush to get the goo out of the pan. What's left is easily and cleanly removed with a sponge or scouring cloth. What's left can more cleanly rinse out of the sponge.