How to Care for Your Household Sponges and Make Them Last Longer

Sponges are found in almost every room of the house — we use them for washing dishes, cleaning surfaces, and even in the shower. That’s why taking proper care of your sponges is essential to keeping your home clean, safe, and hygienic.

In this post, we’ll go over the most common types of sponges, what they’re used for, and how to care for each one to avoid frequent replacements, save money, and maintain proper hygiene.

🍽 Dishwashing Sponges

Common types:

• Abrasive (green): Great for scrubbing tough grime, but can scratch non-stick cookware and delicate surfaces.

• Non-abrasive: Suitable for coated pots, glassware, and sensitive surfaces.

• Cellulose (natural): Made from plant fibres — eco-friendly, absorbent, and biodegradable.

Care and maintenance tips:

• Rinse well after use: Remove food scraps and soap, squeeze out excess water, and leave it to drain.

• Use proper holders: Affordable sponge holders are available in shops and online — they help keep the sponge dry and reduce bacteria build-up.

Weekly deep clean - Soak the sponge in:

• 500 ml of water at 40 °C

• 1 tablespoon of bleach

  
  

Let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly (I personally like to repeat this process twice).

💡 This is enough to clean and disinfect the sponge — no need to use boiling water with bleach, which can release toxic fumes.

Easy alternative:

Pop your sponge on the top rack of the dishwasher during a cycle.

When to replace it?

Rather than following a fixed timeframe, pay attention to the sponge’s condition. If it smells bad, crumbles, or looks worn out, it’s time for a new one.

With the right care, many sponges can last much longer than just a week or two.

🛁 Bath Sponges

Common types:

• Loofah (natural): Made from plant fibres, offers gentle exfoliation and is biodegradable.

• Synthetic sponges: Last longer but also need care to prevent mould and bacteria.

  
  

Care and maintenance:

After your shower: Rinse thoroughly, squeeze out excess water, tap it gently to release leftover moisture, and hang it in a well-ventilated spot to dry. Avoid leaving it in standing water.

Weekly clean - Just like dish sponges, soak in:

• 500 ml of water at 40 °C

• 1 tablespoon of bleach

Or try a mix of white vinegar and bicarb soda.

Personally, I prefer the hot water and bleach method. Some avoid it, but remember: we use bleach to wash clothes that touch our skin. The key is rinsing it very well afterwards. The result? A clean, safe sponge ready for use.

When to replace it?

Watch out for mould, dark spots, or strange texture. A well-cared-for bath sponge can last between 4 to 6 weeks.

🧼 General Household Cleaning Sponges

• Assign by area: Never use the same sponge in the kitchen and bathroom, for example.

• Rinse after use: Remove dirt, squeeze out water, and let it dry.

• Clean regularly: Use the same bleach solution as for dish sponges. You can also pop them in the wash with cleaning cloths.

✅ Final Tip

With a few simple daily habits, you can make your sponges last much longer — without compromising hygiene. That means less waste, more savings, and a cleaner, safer home.

Take care of your sponge — it works hard for you every day!

If you found this post helpful, share it with someone who could use these tips too. too.