It's not immediately obvious, but this unusual dishwashing brush is a real powerhouse. The tied-together cereal roots effortlessly remove coarse dirt from pans, pots and delicate dishes. It even tackles dried-on food residues, for example in the casserole dish, effectively - and always sits comfortably in the hand. Simply soak it briefly in water before each use so that the roots are a little more flexible when washing up. Once the dishwashing brush has had its day, it can even be disposed of in the compost or simply buried in the garden, as it is made entirely from natural materials that will then decompose.

The dishwashing brush is made by the Swedish brush manufacturer Iris Hantverk. It is impossible to say for sure whether the Swedes copied the idea of using cereal roots for dishwashing brushes from the Japanese. What is certain, however, is that this type of brush (made from softer roots) is also traditionally at home in Asia, where it is used to spread oil in a wok or pan or to prepare matcha tea.