The green Scotch-Brite scrubby works on nonstick — with a caveat for delicate pans

The green scrubby side of a Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Scrub Sponge has enough grit to wipe out baked-on messes, but nonstick cookware is where you have to pick your battles. Standard nonstick pans hold up fine to moderate scrubbing, but very delicate nonstick coatings — the kind you’re supposed to treat like ceramic heirlooms — will scratch if you bear down too hard. The rule of thumb: if your pan says “no metal utensils” on the label, use the blue nonstick-safe sponge instead.