I Tried Dozens of Kitchen Sponges — This Is the One I’ll Buy on Repeat from Now On

I grew up in a non-sponge family. We used washcloths to scrub our dishes, and people low-cost, plastic, web scrubbies for the robust jobs (though they didn’t actually work). However as quickly as I moved out, I fully transformed to Workforce Sponge — particularly the dual-action sort with a scrubby half on one facet. Now not did I’ve to place up with a chilly, moist, dripping material (that turned smelly inside days) hanging over my kitchen faucet. By no means once more did I’ve to battle with an ineffective scrubby getting bits of meals caught in its mesh. With my sponge and scrubby in a single, cleanup acquired loads simpler.

In fact, sponges get smelly and may put on out fairly shortly. They’re not good, however I lately got down to discover the greatest one. Was there one sponge that might last more and never get a cool odor so quickly? I rounded up all of the totally different varieties I might discover and put them to the take a look at.

I scoured native shops and the web to discover a lineup of distinctive contenders — not simply the identical type of sponge below totally different labels. I shopped for cellulose sponges with no scrubby facet, a wackier choice that seemed like sandpaper spaghetti, eco-friendly choices, and extra. I gathered all of them for a shot on the Finest Sponge title.

For my first take a look at, I gave them every a trial run for 3 days, one after the other. I washed all the pieces by hand and skipped the dishwasher so I might actually give them exercise. I used to be searching for sponges that might maintain lots of sudsy liquid, felt good in my palms, and will simply bend round corners and match into tight glasses. In different phrases, it couldn’t be too thick or too stiff! Immediately, I eradicated those that had been too unwieldy to wrap round flatware or match into glasses.

For these with scrubbing energy, I needed the sponge to chop via grime — with out lots of effort. The gunk wanted to rinse out simply and never get trapped within the fibers. 

On the finish of the preliminary testing, I evaluated every sponge to see how effectively it held up. Was it falling aside? Was it grossly discolored? Was the scrubby half caked with grime and unable to do its job? And, most of all, did it stink? Some undoubtedly seemed worn out after only a few cleansing periods, with the scrubby half peeling away from the cellulose sponge, the sponge getting torn, or the scrubby half trying frayed and pilled. 

I narrowed the taking part in discipline to those who had been maneuverable and good to make use of and seemed like they had been holding up effectively. Those who had been too stiff, annoying, or ineffective had been reduce. 

I then put the finalists to a head-to-head take a look at, washing the identical forms of tough-to-clean gadgets to see which one can be victorious. Each needed to face a collection of challenges: clear sticky bread dough off of a bowl, combat stuck-on scrambled eggs off a stainless-steel skillet, and scrub off stuck-on rice out of an enameled forged iron pot. I evaluated them on how simply and effectively they cleaned the stuck-on stuff, and the way simply the gunk rinsed out or if it acquired caught within the fibers. After which, lastly, a winner emerged!

For a really long-lasting and super-efficient sponge, the “scrunge” is nearly too good to be true. At first look, the scrubby half appears prefer it may be ineffective as a result of it’s finely textured. However it’s extremely efficient at shortly dislodging stuck-on meals — plus, the meals doesn’t get trapped! It rinses proper out. I additionally like its egg-crate texture, which appears to assist carry up gunk, and offers my fingers extra grip after I’m washing with the sponge facet. It’s made from non-scratch materials, so it’s secure for all surfaces — even nonstick pans and the chrome on my range. The sharp corners are nice for stepping into small crevices. And though the sponge is thick, it’s maneuverable and foldable. How’s that for a greatest sponge?

After utilizing it for an almost per week, after which within the head-to-head assessments the place it emerged the clear victor, I continued utilizing the sponge repeatedly — and it survived! As of this writing, I’m nonetheless utilizing the identical sponge! And it’s been greater than two weeks now. The scrubby half by no means will get clogged with gunk it doesn’t matter what I clear. I even used it to scrub my stovetop and toaster oven, and degrease my kitchen cupboards. At first it turned blackened with sooty burnt stuff and grease, nevertheless it all rinsed away with dish cleaning soap. And it nonetheless doesn’t odor funky. The producer recommends changing it after 30 to 60 days, which is manner longer than the standard really useful week or so. I’m undecided I’ll go fairly that lengthy, however I’m undoubtedly keen to maintain them round for longer than common!

However in all equity, there’s one factor I don’t like: I’m undecided if it’s fully biodegradable. The corporate says it’s made from “dense cellulose.” That must be biodegradable, however I’m undecided if that’s simply the sponge and never the scrubby half. Most of these kind of two-sided sponges, even the eco-friendly sort, require peeling off the scrubby layer and throwing it away earlier than composting the cellulose sponge. I believe that is true for the Scrunge, too. A minimum of it’s so sturdy that I received’t have to interchange it too typically!

Have you ever tried the Scrunge? Do you may have a favourite sponge? Inform us within the feedback under.