The Best Uses Of Sponge: Essential 10 Uses

The sponge is an essential cleaning appliance in the kitchen used and a scrubber for hand washing dishes, and without it, you’d feel at a loss. There are many uses of sponge1The soft, spongy colorful bar of sponge used in the kitchen to wipe down the counters has multiple uses than just one.

Sponges were initially made from natural sea sponges, and however, now, they are solely made of synthetic materials. The best thing about sponges is water, and they easily absorb water-based solutions.

Apart from this, the harmful foodborne pathogens2 are also absorbed by them.

1.  Various Types of Cleaning Sponges

1.1. Cellulose Sponges

cleaning sponges orange background
Photo by Artem Makarov on Unsplash

Cellulose sponges are usually made from wood pulp. They are easy to clean as the small holes quickly absorb liquid in them.

1.2. Combo Cellulose and Abrasive Sponges

The name itself says it is a two-sided sponge, one side being abrasive, whereas the other is cellulose.

1.3. Dry Sponges

yellow green kitchen sponge 1280
Image by Ralph from Pixabay

Dry Sponges are made of rubber with a mixture of soap. These sponges are used dry to clean surfaces that don’t permit moisture or water.

The above-listed sponges have numerous uses apart from just cleaning.

No matter which type of sponge you use in the kitchen, you’ll find certain advantages of it without restricting it solely for kitchen use.

2. Top 10 Uses of Sponge

Here is the list of uses of sponges apart from using them to clean dishes or to scour tough messes.

2.1. Nail Polish Remover

reusable cotton pads basket
Photo by EcoPanda on Unsplash

Rather than wasting tons of cotton balls on removing your nail polish, you can replace this method with the use of a sponge.

It is a much easier and cleaner way of removing nail polish.

Roll a dry sponge and stuff it in a glass or jar. Pour some nail varnish remover or acetone into it. Then let the sponge soak it up to transform it into a fantastic nail polish remover DIY.

Ensure to seal the nail polish remover jar tight after use to keep the sponge moist. Replace it with another sponge after it gets too dirty.

Try using a nail polish remover pot, and you’d say bye-bye to the cotton balls.

2.2. Convert Into A Soap Holder

colorful cleaning sponges
Image by Dmitriy from Pixabay

Leaving the soap in a dish or a plastic soap holder makes it wet and practically melts it away. However, if you want your soap to last longer, the best place to rest the soap is on the sponge.

You can also cut the sponge in the center and place the soap. The sponge soaks up all the soapy residues.

The sponge can dry out the soap quickly as it absorbs the water and suds of the bar.

A sponge soap holder not only reduces the mess near the soap but also makes your soap last longer.

2.3. Remove Pet Hair

Pet hair on the sofa or other carpets will be a massive problem if you are a pet lover.

Giving up on your furry friends is not an option if you expect cleanliness; however, you can get rid of the pet hair from your sofa or carpet with the help of a kitchen sponge.

The process of removing pet hair is much easier with a textured sponge. All you need to do is use a sponge, either damp or dry, and swipe it over the areas cluttered with pet hair. The hair stuck to the upholstery or sofa would cling to it and come off quickly.

2.4. Transform to A Drip Ice Pack

colorful cleaning sponges 1280
Image by Hans from Pixabay

Injuries are inevitable, and therefore, it is better to have an excellent ice pack in handy to relieve the swelling and bruising. Sponges work to be a fantastic form of an ice pack.

To transform a sponge into an icepack, you need to dip the dry sponge in the water and let it soak. Transfer it to a zip-top bag and seal it while putting it in a freezer. Let it freeze until solid.

The water is collected back in the sealed bag as the sponge thaws. Since the excess moisture is trapped in the sponge, it reduces drips and mess.

The DIY ice pack is yet another type of use of sponge you’d want to have in your house.

2.5. Toe Separator For Pedicure

makeup sponges polka dot background
Image by Katrina_S from Pixabay

Sponge makes pedicure much easier. Even though it might not feel like such a great combination, if you try it once, you’d never want to do pedicures without the small squares of sponges.

Pedicure gets a bit tricky when you try it on your own.

The best uses of sponges are for toe separators and at-home pedicures. As the sponge is quite flexible, it not only bends smoothly between the toes but also keeps them at a perfect distance as you apply your nail polish.

After using a sponge as a toe separator, you’d never have to fuss about your smudged toenails after you paint them.

2.6. Sprouting Seeds

If you wish to make a mini herbal garden in your house without involving mud or sand, then sponges are the perfect tool for it.

Take the damp kitchen sponges and place them in the center of any old plates. Put some seeds on it, and make sure to leave enough distance between them so that each source gets enough space to grow.

After that, place a glass bowl over it and keep it in a place to receive a good amount of sunray. The sunny location and its position under the glass bowl create a greenhouse for the seeds. Once the seeds have sprouted, you can transfer them to the pots or other containers.

Sprouting seeds is the best use of sponge.

2.7. Quiet Building Blocks for Kids

circuit board abstract art
Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

You can keep your kids busy with a quiet activity with the help of a sponge.

Take multi-colored sponges and cut them into small strips. They would make a perfectly soft yet silent building block and won’t frustrate you when they come crashing down.

This would keep your kids entertained and dim the noise while your child plays with the blocks. Additionally, they are also safe.

2.8. Remove Pills From Fabrics

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Image by Dmitriy from Pixabay

After multiple washing, the fabrics of various clothes, especially sweaters, start pilling. It makes the clothes look old.

A kitchen sponge comes in handy to remove the pills from the fabrics. The textured surface of the sponge works great in tidying the worn-out material or a sweater.

To de-fuzz the pills, gently rub the sponge over the fabric to avoid any snags.

That is not it, if your furniture seems rough at the edges, then just use the scrubber to remove pills from the upholstered furniture.

2.9. Umbrella Stand

purple pumice stone footcare
Image by Petra Göschel from Pixabay

During rain, the bottom of the umbrella stand gets wet or fills with water due to a shallow receptacle.

To protect the floor and avoid puddles, it is better to place several sponges beneath the umbrella stand so that it soaks up all the excess liquid.

Also, rather than giving the canister a deep cleaning regularly, it is better to just place a sponge and replace it whenever necessary.

2.10. Vegetable and Fridge Freshener

uses of sponge
Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay

Yes, the mere kitchen sponge is capable of keeping your vegetables fresh in the refrigerator for longer hours.

Vegetables kept in the crisper drawer often accumulate moisture and hence rot up easily. You can prevent this by placing dry sponges at the bottom of the drawer. Squeeze the excess water out of the damp sponge or replace it whenever it gets wet.

Sponges often absorb the excess moisture in the refrigerator and keep the vegetables fresh and crisp.

Kitchen sponges also work in stopping the unpleasant odors let out by the fridge.

Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and place it in the fridge. Make sure to keep it away from edibles. This would absorb the unpleasant odor and make your fridge smell good.

Vegetable freshener and fridge freshener are yet another unique uses of sponge!

3. Conclusion

Sponges, with their versatile and absorbent properties, have a wide range of uses across various industries and everyday life. Sponges are ideally used for cleaning up the mess, especially in the kitchen, and no one can deny it. However, this kitchen sponge is of great use if you think beyond the forewalls of the kitchen.

Natural sea sponges have been used for centuries in bathing and personal care routines. Additionally, synthetic sponges are used in aquatic activities like scuba diving for cleaning equipment and maintaining underwater surfaces. Industrial sponges find use in tasks such as applying coatings, cleaning machinery, and absorbing spills in controlled environments. They can be manufactured with specific properties to suit various industrial needs.

Scientists use sponges as tools for collecting samples in aquatic environments, studying marine biodiversity, and investigating ecosystem health due to their ability to absorb and hold liquids.

While these are just a few examples, it’s clear that sponges have a significant impact on numerous aspects of our lives. Their absorbent and versatile nature makes them invaluable across various fields and activities, enhancing efficiency, cleanliness, and convenience.

If you didn’t know these multiple uses of sponges lying around in your house, then now you do. So follow the above home hack and make the best use of it.

You can never have too many sponges because the uses of sponges are limitless.

FAQs

1. How are sponges beneficial in cleaning delicate items?

A. Sponges with softer textures are used for cleaning delicate items like glassware and sensitive surfaces. They provide a gentle cleaning action without causing scratches.

2. Are there eco-friendly alternatives to traditional synthetic sponges?

A. Yes, some eco-friendly options include natural cellulose sponges and reusable dishcloths. These alternatives are biodegradable and can help reduce environmental impact.

3. Can sponges be used for soundproofing or insulation?

A. Yes, some types of sponges, especially acoustic foam panels, are used for soundproofing and noise reduction in recording studios, home theaters, and commercial spaces.

Read more

  1. Bertoni, Guido, et al. “Sponge functions.” ECRYPT hash workshop. Vol. 2007. No. 9. 2007. ↩︎
  2. Bintsis, Thomas. “Foodborne pathogens.” AIMS microbiology 3.3 (2017): 529. ↩︎

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Author

Brinel Correia

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