10 Ways You Never Thought to Use a Kitchen Sponge
Updated: Apr. 12, 2024
Your kitchen sponge can do a lot more than scrub a dish! Here are surprising ways to use kitchen sponges all over your house.
DIY Ice Pack
Dip a sponge in water, place it in a zip-top bag and freeze overnight. These DIY ice packs are great to relieve pain from bumps and bruises, or you can throw one in a lunch box to keep your food cold.
DIY Laundry Sponges
Goodbye, dryer sheets! Fill a resealable container with one cup of liquid fabric softener and two cups of water. Add sponges. When it’s time to dry your clothes, grab a sponge, squeeze out the excess liquid and throw it in the dryer with your clothes. The best part? They’re reusable! When the load is done, just put the sponge back in the fabric softener container. Here are more uses for extra dryer sheets (that aren’t laundry!).
Extend the Life of Fruits and Vegetables
Place a few dry sponges in the refrigerator’s fruit or vegetable drawer, then place your produce on top. The sponges will help absorb any excess moisture, keeping your fruits and veggies nice and crisp. (You could use a paper towel, too!).
Make Your Own Toe Separators
You can have a perfect at-home pedicure with the help of a regular (unused) kitchen sponge. Cut the sponge in half lengthwise. Then cut four slits, equal distance apart. Slide your toes in each cut and you’re ready for polish! Treat yourself to a full spa day with these DIY spa products you can make from stuff in your pantry.
Safely Pack Glassware
If you’re moving, or simply putting glassware into storage, try packing it with sponges. They’re affordable and the perfect soft texture to squeeze into any crevice. Place your valuable stemware and tumblers in a box, then surround each piece with a couple of sponges to prevent breakage.
Sponge Paint with the Kids
Help your kids cut sponges into fun shapes, dip into paint and stamp onto paper. Or simply squeeze paint directly onto a sponge and go to town! They’ll love experimenting with different sponge painting techniques. Find more fun summer crafts for kids.
Remove Pet Hair from Furniture
To easily remove pet hair from upholstered furniture, try this quick trick. Dampen a regular kitchen sponge, then wipe the fur-covered chair or sofa. Watch as the pet hair lifts away from the upholstery and sticks to the sponge like magic! Don’t miss all our hacks for removing pet hair.
Absorb Kitchen Odors
Fridge smelling a little funky? Sprinkle a damp sponge with baking soda and place on a refrigerator shelf (away from any food). The baking soda and sponge work together to absorb foul odors. This is only one way to banish kitchen odors—here are the rest.
Make a Soap Holder
Place a sponge next to your bathroom or kitchen sink and use it as a bar soap holder. The sponge absorbs any excess soap suds, keeps the soap dry and protects your countertop.
DIY a Nail Polish Remover Jar
Grab a small Mason jar and roll a sponge up to fit it inside the jar. It should fill up the whole space. Pour nail polish remover into the container so that the sponge soaks it up. That’s it! Now simply dip your finger in the jar and rub it against the sponge to remove polish.
