Kitchen sponges are essential in every household. From washing dirty dishes to scrubbing harsh and stubborn stains on kitchen surfaces, dish sponges undoubtedly serve many different cleaning purposes.
However, many people think that all kitchen sponges are the same, but there are several things to think about when buying the best dish sponge for your home.
What Makes a Good Kitchen Sponge
Here are some things that you should consider when picking the right one:
Kitchen Sponges Should Be Effective in Cleaning
Naturally, kitchen sponges need to effectively wash dishes and surfaces. To do this, it has to be absorbent to make cleaning quicker and more effective.
The best kitchen sponges also need to have an abrasive side that is resilient and strong enough to handle tough jobs and remove tough stains without the risk of scratching and requiring too much elbow grease, as well as a soft side to carefully clean non-stick cookware.
Kitchen Sponges Should Be Quick Drying
As much as you may want absorbent sponges, a dish sponge also has to dry quickly. Sponges can harbor bacteria and smelly odors when not taken care of properly.
This is caused by the bacteria that grows on any soap scum and food particles left on the sponge’s surface, and this is exacerbated when the sponge is left wet as this may create a breeding ground of bacteria.
While properly storing them in a sponge holder may help, it’s also important to make sure that you get a kitchen sponge that doesn’t cling to any excess moisture. However, this won't be a problem for silicone sponges as they don't harbor bacteria.
Kitchen Sponges Should Be Flexible but Durable
While you may want your dish sponge to give your dishes a good cleaning job, this shouldn’t come at the price of constantly having to replace your sponge.
A good and reliable cleaning sponge should be flexible enough to get into the tight corners of your scratch cookware, but also durable enough that it won’t get worn out with the repeated use or soiled by lingering food particles and other stuck on food.
Kitchen Sponges Should Be Affordable
Last but not least, an effective sponge should be affordable. This is because regardless of a sponge’s durability, it's still strongly advised that you replace your sponges regularly to avoid the overgrowth of any bacteria and the development of a potentially funky smell.
With that being said, the best dish sponges satisfy most if not all these qualities at a cheap and inexpensive price.
10 Best Kitchen Sponges for Everyday Cleaning
Now that you know some important things to look for in your next kitchen sponge, here are some brands that may be right for you:
O-Cedar Multi-use No Scratch Scrunge
Long-lasting and absorbent with impressive scrubbing ability, these cellulose sponges can be used to clean any cooked on food off any cookware, as well as any stuck on messes on kitchen surfaces.
Apart from being odor-resistant, this kitchen sponge also doesn’t have to be replaced as often, with the manufacturer claiming that they can be replaced every 30 to 60 days and that they last 20% longer compared to other sponges.
Apart from effectively removing any caked on food that may stick, these cellulose sponges also wash dirty dishes easily without leaving any residue behind.
Scrub Daddy Sponge Set
With their signature smiley-faces, the Scrub Daddy sponges sets itself apart from other sponges through a design that is both recognizable and innovative. The eyes of the design help users have a better grip on the sponge, while the smile lets users clean any baked on food off utensils like spoons, spatulas and more.
Sold in packs of three, the Scrub Daddy sponges are also flexible and can adjust its texture accordingly based on the water temperature, with warm water making it softer and cold water making it firmer
Tested in the manufacturer's lab, these sponges have shown to resist odor for eight weeks and are also dishwasher safe should you want to give them a deeper cleaning. The Scrub Daddy sponges have also been proven to be safe to use on different surfaces like glass, non-stick cookware.
Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Scrub Sponge
These two sided sponges effectively removes stubborn stains, while also letting it clean surfaces that require a more gentle touch like non-coated cookware and different kitchen surfaces. Its heavy duty nature also means that it doesn’t easily break down after repeated use.
Sold in packs of 9 and 24, this Scotch Brite sponge is also odor-resistant and flexible enough to maneuver across tough messes with its impressive scrubbing power.
Scotch-Brite Non-Scratch Scrub Sponges
As mentioned in its name, these sponges provide a thorough cleaning with minimal risks of scratching, while getting tougher stains out. These absorbent sponges can soak up more liquid to help with cleaning dishes and surfaces more easily.
Made from synthetic materials, this scrubber sponge is also multi-purpose and can clean other areas of the house as well, such as bathroom fixtures.
Mr. Siga Heavy Duty Scrub Sponges
A bulky sponge that effectively holds onto soapy lather from dish soap, this scrubber sponge has an impressive cleaning power that can clean any dishes or surfaces
It’s worth noting that these sponges don’t absorb water as well compared to other sponges. However, these sponges are an ideal choice for shoppers who are trying to save money as they come available in a bulk pack.
Scotch-Brite Greener Clean Non-Scratch Sponges
Made from wood pulp and agave plant fibers, this cellulose sponge still has a powerful scrubbing surface and absorption capacity despite being relatively thinner.
With this sponge being made from 100% plant-based fibers, it will definitely appeal to users that care about sustainability and eco-friendliness but also care about effectively cleaning spoons, or gently scrubbing burnt scrambled eggs off a frying pan.
Natural Sea Sponges
Another environmentally friendly option is the natural sea sponge. Natural sea sponges have been used for over 2,000 years for different purposes and are a quickly renewable resource. These sponges are 100% biodegradable, toxin-free and hypoallergenic. The natural sea sponge can also be easily cleaned and sanitized as these are dishwasher safe.
Though not a traditional sponge with scrubbing fibers and a smooth side, they’ve proven to be incredibly versatile despite having a soft texture and can be cut into smaller pieces without damaging the sponge itself.
These non scratch sponges are also absorbent and pliable, which make them a great choice for washing tough messes off floors and surfaces, as well as dishes.
Miw Piw Natural Loofah Dish Sponge
These plant-based sponges boast a four-layer design that prevents food from getting caught in between the fibers, while still providing scrubbing capability. They are 100% biodegradable and can be used on non-stick dishes and glass.
This product also differs from a traditional sponge by having a unique teardrop form. The shape of these sponges make it easy to access tight corners while still being comfortable to hold. Though not dishwasher safe, they can be sanitized by periodically using boiling water to kill bacteria and avoid soap scum.
Scotch-Brite Dobie All Purpose Pads
From everyday dirty dishes to stubborn grease stains, this light-duty scrub sponge can handle it all. The polyurethane material and mesh covering of these all-purpose non scratch cleaning pads help with removing any tough stains carefully, making it safe to use on stainless steel, coated cookware and more.
This also means that these aren’t limited to your kitchen and can be used to clean bathrooms, carpets and more. They are also dishwasher safe.
Scrub-It Multi Purpose Scrub Sponge
This product combines both the gentleness of microfiber sponges and the power of scrubbing sponges for the optimal cleaning experience in the household—whether in the kitchen, living room, bathroom or anywhere else around the house.
The microfiber cloth is gentle enough to clean delicate surfaces like glass and ceramic, whereas the scrubbing side lets users clean tough messes and stains. These sponges also come in a pack of six and can be easily cleaned as they are both machine washable and dryer safe.
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