Revive an Old Sponge with Salt

Written by Amy Gordon (last updated June 14, 2021)

Sponges make a really good cleaning tool, especially in the bathroom and the kitchen sink. Even though the sponges look great when they come out of the packages, after only a little bit of use, they become useless little items. If you are tired of going through sponges quickly, or if you have that favorite little sponge that you wish you could keep around for just a little longer, this trick is for you.

If you have a sponge that has seen better days, you can revive it back to its old self. All you have to do is rinse it out thoroughly and soak it in cold salt water. You will be amazed at how the sponge will come back to life. Please be aware that this tip is for real sponges that have come from the sea. If you have a man-made sponge, this trick will not work. It only works for real sponges because the cold salt water imitates the ocean water where the sponge came from. The sponge, in its natural setting, will be rejuvenated.

Man-made sponges can also be made to live just a little bit longer, but not quite as successfully as real sponges. Try putting the sponge in the dishwasher and through a cycle. This will sterilize the sponge. It may not bring it back to life, but it will kill off all the bacteria and germs living in the sponge. Even if the sponge does look a little worse for wear both going in and coming out of the dishwasher, it will be clean, and will work well in those areas that need a little bit more scrubbing. It is probably a good idea to put the man-made sponges through the dishwasher every now and then, even if they look fine, just to kill of the bacteria that could be growing.

Author Bio

Amy Gordon

Amy Gordon loves keeping things simple, natural, and safe so she can spend more time having fun. Every day she learns new things about making life at home easier and she loves to share it with you! ...

MORE FROM AMY

Remove Heavy-Duty Stains on Stainless Steel

Here are two methods for removing stains from so-called stainless steel. You can remove most stains with a mixture of ...

Discover More

Fruit Trees in the Backyard

When planting fruit trees, make sure to give them plenty of room to grow, since wide root systems may damage your home. ...

Discover More

Growing Carrots

Growing carrots, a healthy snack, can be easy if you follow these tips. Mix your carrot seeds with ground coffee to repel ...

Discover More

Remove Stubborn Stains Quickly Get everything looking clean again: Walls, floors, baseboards, counters, blinds, appliances, and more. Micro-scrubbers easily reach into surface grooves, lifting dirt away. This low-cost 8-pack is great for stubborn stains and touble areas. Check out Mr. Clean Magic Eraser 8-Pack today!

More Cleaning Tips

Deodorizing Dishcloths

Dishcloths and scrubbies have a tendency to smell pretty quickly once they have started to be used. Getting rid of that ...

Discover More

Tile Cleaning Machines

Cleaning tile and grout can be a major pain in the rear end. It always seems like no matter how hard you scrub or what ...

Discover More

Use Brushes when Cleaning

Brushes can be handy tools when you're cleaning in small areas or if larger cleaning tools are impractical. Corners in ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is two more than 7?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.