0 a small ball or rectangle of wire or stiff plastic netting (= material in the form of a net) that is used to clean dirt off surfaces --
It is advisable to use protective equipment such as rubber gloves when using scouring pads as this is known to prevent (or at least hide) any irritation caused by use.
It is generally accepted that the larger the pad, the more satisfying the cleaning, however the most commonly available scouring pads are small.
In order to preserve the coating, it is important never to use metal implements or harsh scouring pads or chemical abrasives when cleaning.
This enabled the scouring pad to float.
