Probably everyone knows of these, but they deserve to be blogged anyway.
These old favorites, pop-up sponges, have drawn some criticism, but we think they are one of the nicest sponge choices you can make in the kitchen. They make us feel like we're home, wherever we are.
Made from 100% cellulose, pop-up sponges (for lack of a better name) are inexpensive, easy to store, superabsorbent and don't look like some toxic chemical or Japanese robot toy in your kitchen.
long time lurker, first time poster. Love the site and ideas percolated here.
Just wanted to mention that these cellulose workhorses can be had for much cheaper (at least, out here on the left coast) at the 99 cent store. 10 sponges for, well, about a buck.
They're also great for cutting into whatever funky shape (while flat) to make color impressions (when poofed). I'm not advocating any sort of border stenciling, but it can be refreshing to have a design of one's own making on small bit of unadorned wall.
You can also get 'em cheap at Trader Joe's. I buy ten packs at a time.
I forgot about these sponges. They make sense since old sponges harbor germs. I going to buy some tomorrow, thanks.
p.s. I love the natural color.
i hate these sponges. the central gimmick is cool-- I like the contrast between the crispy way they come and the spongy way they become-- but the sponges just don't work.
i agree, the sponges do not work well at all.
We love the pop-UP sponges and
you can clean in the top rack of
the dishwasher or put damp in the
microwave for 45 seconds to sanitize.
We get them at Trader Joe's about $7.00 for 12
Funny these should show up here today, as I was just thinking about a trip to Crate & Barrel when I was just starting out - as were they. The only thing I could afford was the pop-up sponges they sold at the time. Nice memory.
I've never understood these sponges. Do they shrink back down after you use them? Otherwise..why do I want popup sponges that stay popped-up?
How bad of a Monday am I having that sponges are too complicated? lol
In the thin form they take little room to store.
As far as kitchen sponges go, these are fine, but I've recently left the sponge camp and joined the dishrag camp. Why go for dirty cellulose when you can have pristine cotton?
Can I give a shout-out to K-mart white 20-pack-for-5-bucks dishrags? Use two new ones a day, one for counters and another for dishes, they dry out quickly, look clean and white and are far less likely to harbour germs than even the most microwaved sponge.
And they're so cheap you can stock up with, like, a hundred of them, so you don't have to make an extra load of laundry very often.
Join the dishrag revolution!!! Our great-grandmothers were right about this one.
OK, they aren't the prettiest, but they have these purple germ- and smell- resistant sponges in the cleaning aisle at Target. Love 'em...and no scary stale sponge smell after a week or two lying around wet.
What about the machine washable/dishwasher safe sponges-do those really work? I also love the dobie.
I'm with the dishrag revolution. I bought some cute dishrags from Crate and Barrel two years ago and they're still holding up. I even use them to polish furniture or scrub the counters--the tasks I used to do using paper towels.
These are great for applying sealant to grout. They hold a lot of liquid without being drippy.
For the same reason -- holding a lot of cleaning liquid -- thay are good for keeping in the shower to clean it whilst showering. Does anyone else do that, or just me?
Don't put sponges in the dishwasher. Little bits can come off and clog your lines (dishwashers recycle water). I pour boiling water over my kitchen sponge when I make tea. It extends the life a bit, but you still have to change them often.
Sink sponges shouldn't be used to wipe counters. For that I use those sanitizing wipe-up towels in a canister. I have them in the bathroom, too.
Oooh, I feel just like Heloise!
I saw some kitchen sponges that were machine washable in a magazine but can't remember their name. Does anyone know what they're called?
I use dishrags but replace them daily. I love to bleach them.
My mom uses the Dobie.
Hello,
when we visited my sister in Aptos/CA. I have seen the wonderful popup Sponges at her house.
So I took 12 pieces with me back to Germany, where we are at home.
I cannot find them here in Germany.
Can you tell me, if we can buy them in Germany ?
Please excuse my bad english.
Or do you speak german ?
I would be very glad if you answer my email.
Thank you very much and
greetings from Babs.
Babs Thies
Europaplatz 30
70565 Stuttgart
Germany.
I buy my sponges in multi-packs at the dollar store and toss them into a fine mesh laundry bag when soiled. When the laundry bag has a quantity (like maybe 10), I toss the bag in with the cleaning cloths laundry load. I have a stash of small terrycloth bar towels, flannel cloths for dusting, and striped linen glass cloths that I bought at Walmart and as I clean weekly, I have a full washer load in two weeks time. I add a cup of baking soda to the washload and the cloths and sponges all come out nice and fresh.
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Pat, I also clean the shower while showering!!! I'm a multi-tasker so it's perfect for me and makes it seem like so much less of a chore. I end up doing it randomly so I don't spend all day dreading and avoiding it.
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