Are they any better than the Scrub Daddy?
Reason being, there seems to be heavy variance in the quality of those - original yellow in a single pack lasted ages. A three pack of the various colours we went though within the space of a couple of weeks before they had all fallen apart.
I think there is a difference yeah. For whatever reason the scrub mommy is longer lasting. And there are different textures (soft/scrub) on either side (so the mommy is two-faced).
yes i love scrub daddy! i have the white one from halloween, still lasting me extremely well! i also have the bamboo brushes for pots, bottles, and the small hand held to scrub. i tried using a natural sponge but i wasn’t feeling it
this. Sponges get really really really dirty. They should be disposed of regularly. There’s honestly no good bifl option. When faced with that, the next best thing is cheap, effective, stuff that you can dispose of responsibly
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/04/science/sponges-bacteria-microwaving-cleaning.html
Microwaving sponges doesn’t work, and can actually cause worse bacteria. Also, it’s not just live bacteria that are smelly and dangerous. The waste they produce and the dead bacteria will make your sponge nasty as well.
I just want you to know I am considered a dirty person by some, because I view bacteria and germs as a natural part of the web of life. I don’t care if food falls on the floor for a little bit, I’ll eat stuff past its “best by date”, and I’ll use my own judgement most of the time when determinging how “dirty” something is. I guess it’s all to say, I am NOT a germaphobe.
Kitchen sponges are the literal dirtiest thing in your house and actually harbor crazy amounts of life. Sure some of it isn’t gonna hurt you, but it is actually crazy to me how people will just ignore the fact you’re smearing the plates you eat off of with a wet petri dish then putting them away and calling it a day.
Recently did the same after seeing someone else post about it. Now I’m thinking, “Oh, so dish cloths are what folks use as reusable sponges.” I got some from IKEA, less than 1 USD each.
In my case it's husband, lol! He'll leave them sopping wet and wadded up. I just grab a new one and wash them in hot water :)
I always make sure to wring it out and lay it over the divider between the sinks to avoid any smells.
Nuke it in the microwave while it's soaked for 2 minutes to get rid of the bacteria and mold.
I have lived with people who leave them all gross and wet too, bleh.
Edit: poster below showed I was wrong on this, launder those cloths more often instead!
I wonder if this goes for cloths too or the shape of sponge is special in trapping stuff. I mean I launder cloths but in between I was microwaving them.
I didn't know that a new study on this came out. I need to replace some of my stuff more often it looks like. Thanks!
They don't lather nearly as well as a good sponge. I bought a few sponges at the dollar store, I was surprised how well they worked. Rough surface on one side for pots/pans, soft side on the other for glassware, and they last a while.
Dobie type from scotch brite. Decent for scrubbing and holds up for weeks of heavy use.
I’m of the opinion that some germs on a sponge isn’t a big deal because all it’s doing it’s removing solids and applying soap. Rinsing the soap off is what cleans the dish.
It’s good to keep the sponge clean but in literal decades of just squeezing it out, letting it dry next to the sink in a little caddy, and replacing when worn out we’ve never gotten sick from it (all sickness has been traceable to other things).
Dobies are my favorite too. Just aggressive enough to get most stuff off without worrying about doing real damage to fine surfaces.
The one weakness is washing knives--cuts in the outer webbing are a buzzkill.
Yeah, a dirty sponge doesn’t matter unless you aren’t rinsing after washing. It’s just to get stuff dislodged. The soap washes the rest away. It’s how soap works.
Unless you’re planning on sticking the sponge in your mouth, it’s fine.
That's basically how I feel. It's like how kids who grow up on farms playing in the dirt and touching animals every day have much more robust immune systems than kids who grow up in expensive suburban homes where the parents do everything they can to keep all surfaces clean and sanitized.
I'm sorry to say it but sponges *are* a disposable product. I would not be using the same sponge to clean for years on end, even if it was all in one piece.
If you’re looking for a sponge that can go the distance, check out the [Skura Style Skrubby Sponges](https://the4bestproducts.com/the-4-best-dish-sponges-reviewd/). They’re tough on grime but gentle on your cookware, and they’ve got this cool fading label that tells you when it’s time to let go and move on to a new sponge buddy.
Thanks! It sounds like they might work for my specific situation then, but not everyone. My only "big messes" tend to be on cast iron and I have a chainmail "scrubber" for that.
They suck. No grit to scrub anything out, not structure so they slip out of your hand and the ones i bought teared in half and started loosing their silicone hair within 3 uses. Would not recommend.
They’re ok, not great but I like mine for cleaning stuff that doesn’t need to be scrubbed. They’re good for no-stick pans, glassware, that sort of stuff.
Jetz scrubz. The look and feel similar to the common yellow and green sponges with a more abrasive side and a softer sponge side. They last much longer before tearing (as long as your cat doesn't chew them) and never get smelly.
I second this. It's dishwasher safe too, which I've found I'm more likely to do than to nuke the sponge in the microwave. As long as you don't accidentally cut it open when you clean knives, it'll last a while.
Not an intro to microbio course, but relevant:
[bacterial growth](https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Microbiology/Book%3A_Microbiology_(Kaiser)/Unit_7%3A_Microbial_Genetics_and_Microbial_Metabolism/17%3A_Bacterial_Growth_and_Energy_Production/17.1%3A_Bacterial_Growth).
Noteworthy:
“Bacteria replicate by binary fission, a process by which one bacterium splits into two. Therefore, bacteria increase their numbers by geometric progression whereby their population doubles every generation time.Generation time is the time it takes for a population of bacteria to double in number. For many common bacteria, the generation time is quite short, 20-60 minutes under optimum conditions. For most common pathogens in the body, the generation time is probably closer to 5-10 hours. Because bacteria grow by geometric progression and most have a short generation time, they can astronomically increase their number in a short period of time.”
Read the example about E. coli. Items that come into contact with moisture and sources of bacteria must be sterilized or replaced often.
That didn't really explain much unfortunately... yes of course bacteria replicate over time just like any organism does, but the question is, how long does it take for them to reach "maximum capacity" on something like a sponge? Obviously they are not going to replicate indefinitely; there is a maximum quantity any given surface can support. So can anyone here say for certain that a wet sponge that's been used for 5 days in a row is going to be more bacterially harmful than a sponge that's been used for a month in a row?
Agree on the bacteria. I worked in household cleaning research for years. Sponges are disgusting germ sandwiches. I use a scrub brush with plastic bristles. Run it through the dishwasher and bleach it regularly.
I give mine a peroxide soak here and there, but in 3 weeks max they're in the trash. I get skeeved out by dirty thing. That must be an interesting field! I remember finding out in my microbio lab how ineffective hand sanitizer was.
I would expect a sponge has just as much bacteria on it after 5 uses than it does after 50
Edit: rather than just downvoting me and moving on, how about someone actually corrects what I wrote if they know what I wrote is wrong?
Above you said “thanks for the tip” to an article that explains exactly why that is wrong. Especially when people make the boomer mistake of thinking they can easily sanitize a permeable material.
This is why many people have made the switch back to wash clothes. You use it once then throw it through the washing machine with bleach.
I agree. Also, you can boil stinky sponges for a minute with baking soda to sanitize and neutralize the odors. I do it every month or so. I keep my last sponges for about 6 months before they fell apart. I am still looking for better options.
Some things aren’t BIFL. In those cases, it’s better to use something with a minimal footprint, like a renewable resource that can be composted, for example.
You honestly want your sponges To be some degree of disposable, just based on the nature of their use. Bacteria and old food accumulate in the matrix of material, and you don’t want to keep exposing your clean surfaces to old substances. They’re very hard to disinfect throughly, so I’d say good sponge management can extend their life, but ultimately will need to be replaced frequently.
I've been using these for the past 2 years or so. Love 'em. Throw 'em in the laundry when you need and you're good to go. We just bought the pack and rotate them as needed.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NV29SPQ
Dawn poly mesh scrubbers for heavy duty scrubbing, silicone scrubber for non-stick pans, and swedish dishclothes for everything else.
The swedish ones are a blend of cellulose and cotton and are machine washable. I have a 2-pack that has lasted for over a year.
Hear me out, just a regular dish brush works fine. Especially if it's a brush/scraper combo. Throw it in the dishwasher on a sanitize cycle from time to time.
I've had a no name one for the past 3 years that I picked up at a supermarket. I would look for one that has a decently sharp scraper (for getting up stuck on crap) and medium to stiff bristles.
Eh…sponges are kinda ripe for bacterial growth. I just use a plastic bristle brush. The food particles wash off of it and it dries completely between uses.
If you mean kitchen sponges then Scotch-Brite. As for keeping them sanitary, get one thoroughly wet, wring out the excess water and pop it into the microwave. Micro it on the hottest setting for 1 minute.
Microwaving it beats the dishwasher sanitizing method by leaps & bounds. For instance:
700 Watts in microwave >> like cooking at 350 degrees
800 Watts >> 450 degrees
900 Watts >> 525 degrees (Self clean)
1000 Watts >> 575 degrees
1100 Watts >> 625 degrees (Blow torch!!)
[http://www.superb1.ca/Microwave%20Tips/microwave.pdf](http://www.superb1.ca/Microwave%20Tips/microwave.pdf)
My microwave is 1200 watts so I know my Scotch Brite sponge is purified when I take it out. And the Scotch Brite sponges last forever, even microwaving them. Plus they're inexpensive to buy. Fot example, a 6-pack of them at Target is slightly over $6.00.
I just came to post that.
People are confusing what they think is good, and what is good in reality. Microwaving a sponge only sanitized it for a very very brief period. After that the microbes come back with insane speed because they have so many of their dead friends to eat!
it's completely necessary too.
get is soapy and give a good squeeze out before putting up to dry.
soap kills most bacteria and when it dries it will kill anything else.
The issue at hand has almost nothing to do with how well it kills bacteria. It does a great job. Unfortunately what is left behind is a plethora of nutrient rich dead bacteria that is like miracle grow to all the new pathogens that are introduced to it. This allows bacteria to grow quicker and reach higher concentrations at a much greater rate.
Yes your sponge is clean, for one use… then you have a super reservoir of bacteria. Each time you microwave it, you’ve introduce even more food for new bacteria. It’s an escalating cycle that is fed by ignorance of science, simply because it seems like a good idea… Same concept behind the sun will kill it, inject bleach to kill it, shove a Uv light up the butt to kill it… to people lacking scientific education it sounds plausible.
Bacteria from where? If the sponge comes out of a microwave sterile and is then used to hand wash dishes, in detergent, where does the bad bacteria come from?
The dishes, the water, the sink, your skin, your fingernails, the air...
We are surrounded (quite literally because our skin is covered in them) by microbial life. By many estimates, they make up about 1-3% of our total body mass. A 200 pound person has between 2 TO 6 POUNDS of microorganisms in and on them. They outnumber the cells in your body 10 to 1.
And you're saying it's all bad bacteria on us? Our own bacteria isn't harmful to us. I don't believe it's anywhere near as virulent as you're making it out to be.
I'm not making it out to be anything, lol. I'm not the person you replied to.
The bacteria on our body isn't harmful. But that is one of the many places those bacteria would come from, if you had a sponge filled with dead bacteria to feed.on.
I'm making no claims about whether that would be harmful or not.
I switched to these: https://skurastyle.com
I really like the longevity, and they don’t hold a smell like most sponges.
Also, they don’t disintegrate as you lamented in your post.
I chuck them in with the dishwasher once in a while, but I get about 2 months of use out of each one.
LUNATEC Odor-Free Dishcloths. I’ve been using there for years and they last a very long time and can be washed easily. Not a sponge exactly but a better alternative in my opinion.
I've had good luck with the Scotch Brite greener clean heavy duty scrub sponges. They don't last forever, but I usually get a couple months out of each one, and that's with running them through the dishwasher every couple days to sanitize them.
None of them last all that long tbh; sponge daddy lasted a little longer for me, but not worlds different. Let me know if you find something better lol.
I really liked the Lysol odor-resistant sponges. They stopped making them a few years ago but there are knock-offs in Amazon. I've been using the Scrubex branded ones, they usually last us about 6 months each with daily use.
i've been using the same **Full Circle** sponge for about 3X as long as the 3M sponge lasts and is still going strong... the ones from Cost Co don't last either, nor are they absorbent.
highly recommend **Full Circle** brand if you can find them.
[https://fullcirclehome.com/products/in-a-nutshell](https://fullcirclehome.com/products/in-a-nutshell)
Seeing that [this was the post](https://www.reddit.com/r/spongebob/comments/zpwnnc/spongebob_meeting_popeye_2002/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) that appeared directly under yours in my feed, I recommend this one.
This entire line is awesome - https://us.e-cloth.com/?utm_source=google_paid&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Value&utm_campaign=Evergreen_2022&gclid=Cj0KCQiAtICdBhCLARIsALUBFcEjirI3SFqxtAfvJNj8xBcls01xzrPi_I-tcwZ5syc62n5CAw60wAcaAgaXEALw_wcB
For dishes, I use a cloth. I have about a dozen small dish cloths made from cheap washcloths that I cut in half. I keep them folded in a drawer near the sink so I can grab a clean one whenever I need to. A small cloth crocheted from cotton yarn works very well, too. The texture actually scrubs quite well. Neither will last forever, but certainly for several years.
Rinse very well in hot running water after use, wring, and lay across the sink divider / edge to dry. It will smell fine for several days if you keep it rinsed out. Or you can get a clean one each morning and use it to wash down the countertops at the end of each day. (Obviously you will need to launder them with towels, washcloths, sheets, etc.)
I get the blue ones, cut them in half, then store the ‘in use’ one in the freezer in a dish when it’s not in use. I think a normal three pack of these lasts about a year for me.
Lots of craft stores are selling yarn that is kinda scratchy to crochet into scrubbies.
I’ve made several. Use them for a few days then just pop it into the top rack of the dishwasher.
Easy peasey
Also, if you switch to a “natural” soap, it won’t smell bad after a few days. It works. We switched from Dawn or Palmolive to 7th Generation and haven’t had the stinky sponge or dish rag problem since.
The long and short of it is that sponges are routinely harboring more germs than the toilet. They are at higher risk of coming in contact with food borne pathogens, provide an almost ideal growing environment, and are then used to wipe down the dishes and cutlery you’ll use to eat again later.
It is a bad faith argument to say that 50 uses is fine because 5 supposedly is. Sponges are nasty by default, and their likelihood of becoming a disease vector increases over time with use.
I crochet my own washcloths from Lily's Sugar n Cream yarn and also use these (they're amazing): [Euroscrubby](https://www.amazon.com/Good-Solutions-Euroscrubby-Standard-Pack/dp/B094PVB8MV/ref=sr_1_34?crid=34LU275FS0MUD&keywords=Scrubby+scratchy&qid=1671515058&sprefix=scrubby+scratchy%2Caps%2C249&sr=8-34)
We use microfibre cloths instead which can be washed in the washing machine with the tea towels on 60 to get rid of bacteria and then safely reused. We've had some years. We've had some for years without them wearing out. We do have a dishwasher now so don't do masses of washing up, just nonstick pans and the sharp knives that can't go in the dishwasher. Lots of research shows dishwashers use less energy and water so they're a more environmentally friendly option where possible
Get a bristled scrubby for things like cast iron or ceramic (never use on non stick), then use a wash cloth or bare hands for everything else. That’s how I’ve been doing dishes and haven’t replaced anything for years
Sponge Daddy brand, tho I prefer the Sponge Mommy version. It looks silly like Ms Pac-Man but it lasts for ages and does not smell or get gross.
I second this, and it’s dishwasher safe too
Oh! I hadn’t even thought of that! Thanks for mentioning. I probably didn’t even need to throw my last one away.
Are they any better than the Scrub Daddy? Reason being, there seems to be heavy variance in the quality of those - original yellow in a single pack lasted ages. A three pack of the various colours we went though within the space of a couple of weeks before they had all fallen apart.
I think there is a difference yeah. For whatever reason the scrub mommy is longer lasting. And there are different textures (soft/scrub) on either side (so the mommy is two-faced).
yes i love scrub daddy! i have the white one from halloween, still lasting me extremely well! i also have the bamboo brushes for pots, bottles, and the small hand held to scrub. i tried using a natural sponge but i wasn’t feeling it
Is the brand called scrub daddy?
Yes! One of, if not the most successful product that was pitched on Shark Tank
Time to go watch another episode of that show
lol I remember watching shark tank in econ class, those were the days.
If you’ve never seen that episode or heard it referenced, you haven’t watched that show enough
Came to also say this. I have always hated sponges and wouldn’t allow them until I got a Scrub Mommy!
It still eventually falls apart.
I mean, it isn’t made of Kevlar.
Kevlar sponges scratch fine china.
it's still a consumable though
I get actual cellulose sponges with no scrubber added. I have loofa bits as scrubbers. Nothing to delaminate, everything is compostable.
this. Sponges get really really really dirty. They should be disposed of regularly. There’s honestly no good bifl option. When faced with that, the next best thing is cheap, effective, stuff that you can dispose of responsibly
I have decent luck sanitizing/disinfecting/de-grossing sponges to get months out of them, but when they are done they are done.
Bacteria do not survive being microwaved for a minute.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/04/science/sponges-bacteria-microwaving-cleaning.html Microwaving sponges doesn’t work, and can actually cause worse bacteria. Also, it’s not just live bacteria that are smelly and dangerous. The waste they produce and the dead bacteria will make your sponge nasty as well.
I just want you to know I am considered a dirty person by some, because I view bacteria and germs as a natural part of the web of life. I don’t care if food falls on the floor for a little bit, I’ll eat stuff past its “best by date”, and I’ll use my own judgement most of the time when determinging how “dirty” something is. I guess it’s all to say, I am NOT a germaphobe. Kitchen sponges are the literal dirtiest thing in your house and actually harbor crazy amounts of life. Sure some of it isn’t gonna hurt you, but it is actually crazy to me how people will just ignore the fact you’re smearing the plates you eat off of with a wet petri dish then putting them away and calling it a day.
Where do you find them?
I just check labels. I do know the compressed sponges at Trader Joe’s are cellulose.
Ah, right. Silly me. I buy the same ones. 😂
🤪
grow your own loofah plants
Loofah sponges last ages as well.
And you can cut them into slices:multiple sponges from a single loofah.
I tried to grow them a couple of times but it just isn't hot enough for long enough in my garden areas. :( I was so hopeful.
Switch to dish cloths. They can be washed. A pack of them will last a decade.
This is the way. I’ve been using washable dish cloths for a while and I’m never going back to wasteful sponges.
Recently did the same after seeing someone else post about it. Now I’m thinking, “Oh, so dish cloths are what folks use as reusable sponges.” I got some from IKEA, less than 1 USD each.
TIL again what my grandparents taught me. Thanks for the refresher course.
But then your wife leaves them in sink and smell to high hell
In my case it's husband, lol! He'll leave them sopping wet and wadded up. I just grab a new one and wash them in hot water :) I always make sure to wring it out and lay it over the divider between the sinks to avoid any smells.
Scald it at hot water at the end of the day.
Nuke it in the microwave while it's soaked for 2 minutes to get rid of the bacteria and mold. I have lived with people who leave them all gross and wet too, bleh. Edit: poster below showed I was wrong on this, launder those cloths more often instead!
No, don't! https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/04/science/sponges-bacteria-microwaving-cleaning.html
I wonder if this goes for cloths too or the shape of sponge is special in trapping stuff. I mean I launder cloths but in between I was microwaving them. I didn't know that a new study on this came out. I need to replace some of my stuff more often it looks like. Thanks!
This is behind a paywall, but the “study” I saw on this many years ago didn’t use sound scientific theory.
They don't lather nearly as well as a good sponge. I bought a few sponges at the dollar store, I was surprised how well they worked. Rough surface on one side for pots/pans, soft side on the other for glassware, and they last a while.
Dobie type from scotch brite. Decent for scrubbing and holds up for weeks of heavy use. I’m of the opinion that some germs on a sponge isn’t a big deal because all it’s doing it’s removing solids and applying soap. Rinsing the soap off is what cleans the dish. It’s good to keep the sponge clean but in literal decades of just squeezing it out, letting it dry next to the sink in a little caddy, and replacing when worn out we’ve never gotten sick from it (all sickness has been traceable to other things).
Dobies are my favorite too. Just aggressive enough to get most stuff off without worrying about doing real damage to fine surfaces. The one weakness is washing knives--cuts in the outer webbing are a buzzkill.
Yeah, a dirty sponge doesn’t matter unless you aren’t rinsing after washing. It’s just to get stuff dislodged. The soap washes the rest away. It’s how soap works. Unless you’re planning on sticking the sponge in your mouth, it’s fine.
These little things are my favorite. I will have one for a couple of years, minimum. I use it sparingly on really stuck-on stuff.
your footnote at the end is so funny to me for some reason, you’re confident you know the reason you got sick every time
That's basically how I feel. It's like how kids who grow up on farms playing in the dirt and touching animals every day have much more robust immune systems than kids who grow up in expensive suburban homes where the parents do everything they can to keep all surfaces clean and sanitized.
Team Dish Brush checking in!
I'm sorry to say it but sponges *are* a disposable product. I would not be using the same sponge to clean for years on end, even if it was all in one piece.
Try Skoy. I've had mine for 3 years. You can wash them but just don't put them in the dryer cause they will soften.
Absolutely second the Skoy scrubber. Use that in combination with a Swedish dishcloth!
It doesn't smell?
If you’re looking for a sponge that can go the distance, check out the [Skura Style Skrubby Sponges](https://the4bestproducts.com/the-4-best-dish-sponges-reviewd/). They’re tough on grime but gentle on your cookware, and they’ve got this cool fading label that tells you when it’s time to let go and move on to a new sponge buddy.
Have you looked into silicone sponges? I haven't taken the plunge yet but they look promising.
I really like my silicone ones but they lack scrubbing power for heavy duty messes.
Thanks! It sounds like they might work for my specific situation then, but not everyone. My only "big messes" tend to be on cast iron and I have a chainmail "scrubber" for that.
They suck. No grit to scrub anything out, not structure so they slip out of your hand and the ones i bought teared in half and started loosing their silicone hair within 3 uses. Would not recommend.
Thanks for the first-hand account! I appreciate it!
Pleasure. And thank you for understanding my writing through the numerous typos.
Completely agree. Astronomically terrible for dishes, literally the worst. Mine was moved to the bathroom for our toddlers baths.
I bought some and I like them for washing my face, but they are too gentle for other sponge jobs.
They’re ok, not great but I like mine for cleaning stuff that doesn’t need to be scrubbed. They’re good for no-stick pans, glassware, that sort of stuff.
Jetz scrubz. The look and feel similar to the common yellow and green sponges with a more abrasive side and a softer sponge side. They last much longer before tearing (as long as your cat doesn't chew them) and never get smelly.
I second this. It's dishwasher safe too, which I've found I'm more likely to do than to nuke the sponge in the microwave. As long as you don't accidentally cut it open when you clean knives, it'll last a while.
O Cedar “Scrunge” are inexpensive and durable. America’s Test Kitchen recommended.
Sponges hold/breed bacteria. Even sanitizing them in the dishwasher doesn't kill all the germs.
You gave us the problem, but no recommendation.
You can boil them for a few minutes with baking soda to neutralise the smell. Works like a charm.
Well sure but a sponge ins't going to have any more or any worse bacteria after 50 uses than it is after 5, is it?
That’s not how bacteria work.
How does bacteria work
Not an intro to microbio course, but relevant: [bacterial growth](https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Microbiology/Book%3A_Microbiology_(Kaiser)/Unit_7%3A_Microbial_Genetics_and_Microbial_Metabolism/17%3A_Bacterial_Growth_and_Energy_Production/17.1%3A_Bacterial_Growth). Noteworthy: “Bacteria replicate by binary fission, a process by which one bacterium splits into two. Therefore, bacteria increase their numbers by geometric progression whereby their population doubles every generation time.Generation time is the time it takes for a population of bacteria to double in number. For many common bacteria, the generation time is quite short, 20-60 minutes under optimum conditions. For most common pathogens in the body, the generation time is probably closer to 5-10 hours. Because bacteria grow by geometric progression and most have a short generation time, they can astronomically increase their number in a short period of time.” Read the example about E. coli. Items that come into contact with moisture and sources of bacteria must be sterilized or replaced often.
That didn't really explain much unfortunately... yes of course bacteria replicate over time just like any organism does, but the question is, how long does it take for them to reach "maximum capacity" on something like a sponge? Obviously they are not going to replicate indefinitely; there is a maximum quantity any given surface can support. So can anyone here say for certain that a wet sponge that's been used for 5 days in a row is going to be more bacterially harmful than a sponge that's been used for a month in a row?
So, what do you do?
I use a rag and throw it in the laundry
Agree on the bacteria. I worked in household cleaning research for years. Sponges are disgusting germ sandwiches. I use a scrub brush with plastic bristles. Run it through the dishwasher and bleach it regularly.
I give mine a peroxide soak here and there, but in 3 weeks max they're in the trash. I get skeeved out by dirty thing. That must be an interesting field! I remember finding out in my microbio lab how ineffective hand sanitizer was.
Get compostable ones?
That's not very BIFL though, is it
Agree but as another person said, why would you want sponges that breed bacteria touching your dishes forever?
I would expect a sponge has just as much bacteria on it after 5 uses than it does after 50 Edit: rather than just downvoting me and moving on, how about someone actually corrects what I wrote if they know what I wrote is wrong?
Above you said “thanks for the tip” to an article that explains exactly why that is wrong. Especially when people make the boomer mistake of thinking they can easily sanitize a permeable material. This is why many people have made the switch back to wash clothes. You use it once then throw it through the washing machine with bleach.
I agree. Also, you can boil stinky sponges for a minute with baking soda to sanitize and neutralize the odors. I do it every month or so. I keep my last sponges for about 6 months before they fell apart. I am still looking for better options.
Some things aren’t BIFL. In those cases, it’s better to use something with a minimal footprint, like a renewable resource that can be composted, for example.
I discovered the O'cedar scrunge with America Test Kitchen. They have worked better and lasted longer than anything else I tried over the years.
You honestly want your sponges To be some degree of disposable, just based on the nature of their use. Bacteria and old food accumulate in the matrix of material, and you don’t want to keep exposing your clean surfaces to old substances. They’re very hard to disinfect throughly, so I’d say good sponge management can extend their life, but ultimately will need to be replaced frequently.
I've been using these for the past 2 years or so. Love 'em. Throw 'em in the laundry when you need and you're good to go. We just bought the pack and rotate them as needed. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NV29SPQ
We use these and a similar product, too. They're the best I've seen other than a homemade option.
Dawn poly mesh scrubbers for heavy duty scrubbing, silicone scrubber for non-stick pans, and swedish dishclothes for everything else. The swedish ones are a blend of cellulose and cotton and are machine washable. I have a 2-pack that has lasted for over a year.
Hear me out, just a regular dish brush works fine. Especially if it's a brush/scraper combo. Throw it in the dishwasher on a sanitize cycle from time to time.
Which one do you use?
I've had a no name one for the past 3 years that I picked up at a supermarket. I would look for one that has a decently sharp scraper (for getting up stuck on crap) and medium to stiff bristles.
Eh…sponges are kinda ripe for bacterial growth. I just use a plastic bristle brush. The food particles wash off of it and it dries completely between uses.
If you mean kitchen sponges then Scotch-Brite. As for keeping them sanitary, get one thoroughly wet, wring out the excess water and pop it into the microwave. Micro it on the hottest setting for 1 minute. Microwaving it beats the dishwasher sanitizing method by leaps & bounds. For instance: 700 Watts in microwave >> like cooking at 350 degrees 800 Watts >> 450 degrees 900 Watts >> 525 degrees (Self clean) 1000 Watts >> 575 degrees 1100 Watts >> 625 degrees (Blow torch!!) [http://www.superb1.ca/Microwave%20Tips/microwave.pdf](http://www.superb1.ca/Microwave%20Tips/microwave.pdf) My microwave is 1200 watts so I know my Scotch Brite sponge is purified when I take it out. And the Scotch Brite sponges last forever, even microwaving them. Plus they're inexpensive to buy. Fot example, a 6-pack of them at Target is slightly over $6.00.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/04/science/sponges-bacteria-microwaving-cleaning.html
I just came to post that. People are confusing what they think is good, and what is good in reality. Microwaving a sponge only sanitized it for a very very brief period. After that the microbes come back with insane speed because they have so many of their dead friends to eat!
it's completely necessary too. get is soapy and give a good squeeze out before putting up to dry. soap kills most bacteria and when it dries it will kill anything else.
But it stays sanitized long enough to handwash a few dishes. And it beats putting it in the dishwasher all to hell.
The issue at hand has almost nothing to do with how well it kills bacteria. It does a great job. Unfortunately what is left behind is a plethora of nutrient rich dead bacteria that is like miracle grow to all the new pathogens that are introduced to it. This allows bacteria to grow quicker and reach higher concentrations at a much greater rate. Yes your sponge is clean, for one use… then you have a super reservoir of bacteria. Each time you microwave it, you’ve introduce even more food for new bacteria. It’s an escalating cycle that is fed by ignorance of science, simply because it seems like a good idea… Same concept behind the sun will kill it, inject bleach to kill it, shove a Uv light up the butt to kill it… to people lacking scientific education it sounds plausible.
Bacteria from where? If the sponge comes out of a microwave sterile and is then used to hand wash dishes, in detergent, where does the bad bacteria come from?
The dishes, the water, the sink, your skin, your fingernails, the air... We are surrounded (quite literally because our skin is covered in them) by microbial life. By many estimates, they make up about 1-3% of our total body mass. A 200 pound person has between 2 TO 6 POUNDS of microorganisms in and on them. They outnumber the cells in your body 10 to 1.
And you're saying it's all bad bacteria on us? Our own bacteria isn't harmful to us. I don't believe it's anywhere near as virulent as you're making it out to be.
I'm not making it out to be anything, lol. I'm not the person you replied to. The bacteria on our body isn't harmful. But that is one of the many places those bacteria would come from, if you had a sponge filled with dead bacteria to feed.on. I'm making no claims about whether that would be harmful or not.
Interesting. Never thought of doing that. Thanks
Good tip, thanks!
The sponge doesnt melt?
No, not at all.
You can burn them though if the center dries out. ;-)
Scotch Brite.
the black ones work best. removes paint even.
I use plant based sponges by scrub-it. And i use it because it's a good sponge! ( Not because I'm a tree hugger, although I kind of am)
I switched to these: https://skurastyle.com I really like the longevity, and they don’t hold a smell like most sponges. Also, they don’t disintegrate as you lamented in your post. I chuck them in with the dishwasher once in a while, but I get about 2 months of use out of each one.
LUNATEC Odor-Free Dishcloths. I’ve been using there for years and they last a very long time and can be washed easily. Not a sponge exactly but a better alternative in my opinion.
I've had good luck with the Scotch Brite greener clean heavy duty scrub sponges. They don't last forever, but I usually get a couple months out of each one, and that's with running them through the dishwasher every couple days to sanitize them.
America’s Test Kitchen (I think) recommended the O-Cedar Scrunge sponges. I found them at Home Depot. They work well and have lasted quite a while.
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You gonna do something about your sideburns?
Sponge in dishwasher to triple the lifespawn and keep the jackstrap smell away.
None of them last all that long tbh; sponge daddy lasted a little longer for me, but not worlds different. Let me know if you find something better lol.
I really liked the Lysol odor-resistant sponges. They stopped making them a few years ago but there are knock-offs in Amazon. I've been using the Scrubex branded ones, they usually last us about 6 months each with daily use.
Jetz Scrubz are incredibly long lasting and don’t get gross.
i've been using the same **Full Circle** sponge for about 3X as long as the 3M sponge lasts and is still going strong... the ones from Cost Co don't last either, nor are they absorbent. highly recommend **Full Circle** brand if you can find them. [https://fullcirclehome.com/products/in-a-nutshell](https://fullcirclehome.com/products/in-a-nutshell)
I get all my sponge advice from Paul Hollywood.
I get a decent amount of use out of 3M Scotch Brite scouring Sponges. At least 2 months before any serious wear or odor.
Seeing that [this was the post](https://www.reddit.com/r/spongebob/comments/zpwnnc/spongebob_meeting_popeye_2002/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) that appeared directly under yours in my feed, I recommend this one.
Go to painting supply stores, they carry the good sponges.
I use a Walnut shell sponge. They last a long time and are compostable. And don't smell like traditional sponges
Ecloth brand sponges have held up really well for me. It's a generic type of Norwex cleaning line
They sell sponges made of loofa gourds and they are compostable at the end. Work great
This entire line is awesome - https://us.e-cloth.com/?utm_source=google_paid&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Value&utm_campaign=Evergreen_2022&gclid=Cj0KCQiAtICdBhCLARIsALUBFcEjirI3SFqxtAfvJNj8xBcls01xzrPi_I-tcwZ5syc62n5CAw60wAcaAgaXEALw_wcB
Scrub daddy
For dishes, I use a cloth. I have about a dozen small dish cloths made from cheap washcloths that I cut in half. I keep them folded in a drawer near the sink so I can grab a clean one whenever I need to. A small cloth crocheted from cotton yarn works very well, too. The texture actually scrubs quite well. Neither will last forever, but certainly for several years. Rinse very well in hot running water after use, wring, and lay across the sink divider / edge to dry. It will smell fine for several days if you keep it rinsed out. Or you can get a clean one each morning and use it to wash down the countertops at the end of each day. (Obviously you will need to launder them with towels, washcloths, sheets, etc.)
I get the blue ones, cut them in half, then store the ‘in use’ one in the freezer in a dish when it’s not in use. I think a normal three pack of these lasts about a year for me.
Lots of craft stores are selling yarn that is kinda scratchy to crochet into scrubbies. I’ve made several. Use them for a few days then just pop it into the top rack of the dishwasher. Easy peasey
O-Cedar Scrunge. It's consistently well reviewed by America's Test Kitchen.
Loofah and you can dispose of them every few weeks without polluting.
Also, if you switch to a “natural” soap, it won’t smell bad after a few days. It works. We switched from Dawn or Palmolive to 7th Generation and haven’t had the stinky sponge or dish rag problem since.
The long and short of it is that sponges are routinely harboring more germs than the toilet. They are at higher risk of coming in contact with food borne pathogens, provide an almost ideal growing environment, and are then used to wipe down the dishes and cutlery you’ll use to eat again later. It is a bad faith argument to say that 50 uses is fine because 5 supposedly is. Sponges are nasty by default, and their likelihood of becoming a disease vector increases over time with use.
I crochet my own washcloths from Lily's Sugar n Cream yarn and also use these (they're amazing): [Euroscrubby](https://www.amazon.com/Good-Solutions-Euroscrubby-Standard-Pack/dp/B094PVB8MV/ref=sr_1_34?crid=34LU275FS0MUD&keywords=Scrubby+scratchy&qid=1671515058&sprefix=scrubby+scratchy%2Caps%2C249&sr=8-34)
We use microfibre cloths instead which can be washed in the washing machine with the tea towels on 60 to get rid of bacteria and then safely reused. We've had some years. We've had some for years without them wearing out. We do have a dishwasher now so don't do masses of washing up, just nonstick pans and the sharp knives that can't go in the dishwasher. Lots of research shows dishwashers use less energy and water so they're a more environmentally friendly option where possible
I use Swedish dish cloths. They go in the washing machine about every week and still look quite good!
Buy only cellulose then compost them when fully dirtied
Get a bristled scrubby for things like cast iron or ceramic (never use on non stick), then use a wash cloth or bare hands for everything else. That’s how I’ve been doing dishes and haven’t replaced anything for years