Which sponge is better, cellulose or foam? (video)

You need to conquer mountains of dishes with skill and with a reliable assistant in your hands. We decided to test the integrity of the most popular sponges. For this we bought two samples. The first one is made of cellulose, and the second one is made of foam rubber. For a whole week we washed plates, mugs, and cutlery with them. However, this is just the beginning.

Our task: to identify which sample remained clean and which was overgrown with microbes in seven days. We entrusted microbiologists to find the answer to this question. The expert cuts our sponges into small pieces and places them in a saline solution. And all in order to get a kind of squeeze out of our samples. Now it’s a small matter: see who lives in this squeeze and how many bacteria there are. To find out, experts are helping bacteria grow.

This process took microbiologists three days. Then everything secret became clear.

As a result of our research, it turned out that the foam sponge retained twice as many colony-forming units, i.e., microbes, than the cellulose sponge. Consequently, the cellulose sponge performed better in our studies.

In other words, after a week of using a foam sponge, your dishes will only be conditionally clean. From this to food poisoning not far. But the cellulose sponge turned out to be safer. There is a scientific explanation for this.

The material itself, cellulose, is more environmentally friendly. In addition, this sponge had larger pores. Therefore, microorganisms could be washed out better with water.

So, congratulations to the winner, but don’t forget - bacteria were also found in the cellulose sponge, albeit in smaller quantities. Therefore, our advice to you: two weeks is the maximum lifespan of a sponge on your sink. Otherwise, bacteria will begin to actively multiply and colonize your plates and mugs.

Hamster paradise. Go away and get lost:

The dirtiest place in your house or apartment is the dish sponge. Surprised? A dish sponge can be dirtier than a toilet seat. The moist and warm environment in the sponge is a breeding ground for bacteria and microbes. Your kitchen sponge may, and most likely does, contain dangerous bacteria such as salmonella, staphylococcus, E. coli and others.

All these unpleasant things easily spread in damp holes and crevices, which constantly contain tiny particles of food and moisture necessary for reproduction. Sponge for washing dishes, even if it looks clean, contains thousands of bacteria. Washing sponges with soap and water will not give the desired result. Therefore, you need to know some rules for cleaning and caring for kitchen sponges.

The dishwashing sponge must be washed regularly and cleaned of food residues and dirt. This must be done after each use of the sponge. Rinse the sponge well in running warm water, wring it out and leave it in a dry place. Keep in mind that this dry place should allow the sponge to dry well. Remember, bacteria love moisture.

Do not wipe the cutting board on which raw meat was cut with a sponge!

Dishwashing sponges should be changed every two weeks. In our online store you can purchase dishwashing sponges in bulk, in various configurations, shapes, sizes and types.

Wipes or sponges: which is safer?

Each person has their own views on the choice of cleaning materials. Some people prefer sponges for washing dishes, while others always wipe their kitchen surfaces with textile napkins.

In terms of cleanliness, big difference There is no difference between a sponge and a rag - both can become breeding grounds for germs if they are not cleaned regularly. According to a 2012 study by the National Science Foundation of America, 86% of cleaning rags and sponges tested were found to contain mold, and 77% contained bacteria.

Every 3-4 days, the dishwashing sponge must be disinfected. There are three ways to clean a sponge:

• Disinfecting sponges in bleach.
• Washing sponge in dishwasher.
• Disinfecting sponges in the microwave.

Each method has its own level of effectiveness, as well as its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's talk about each of them.

Method one. Disinfecting sponges in bleach.

This method is considered less effective than washing the sponge in the dishwasher and disinfecting in the microwave, but nevertheless it also helps well.

Disinfection should be carried out using rubber gloves to protect the skin of your hands.

Prepare a 10% solution of regular bleach in a regular or plastic bowl. For the solution, use warm water, then the solution will be more effective. You can also use bleach with a scent for the solution to eliminate the unpleasant smell of bleach from the sponge after the soaking procedure.

Before soaking the sponge, rinse it thoroughly with detergent under running water. After this, place the sponge in a bowl with the solution. The duration of soaking is 5-10 minutes, no more. While soaking, you can squeeze the sponge several times so that the solution saturates the sponge well.

After this, remove the dish sponge and rinse thoroughly under running water. Another way to get rid of the unpleasant smell of bleach on a sponge is to use a few drops of vinegar.

Method two. Washing a sponge in the dishwasher.

Note. Before using this method, read the instructions for your dishwasher. It may not be advisable to wash a kitchen sponge in it. As a rule, dishwashing sponges contain a layer of abrasive fiber on one of their faces. When you wash a sponge in the dishwasher, the abrasive fibers can flake off into tiny fibers and clog the machine's waste filter.

Place the sponge in the dishwasher for a wash and dry cycle. Leave it in the machine for full cycle washing and drying.

Remove the sponge when the machine is finished. Now there will be 99.9998% less bacteria on the sponge.

Method three. Disinfecting sponges in the microwave.

This method is considered the most effective, but also the most dangerous.

According to research by the Ministry Agriculture USA, one minute in the microwave reduces bacteria and mold and yeast colonies more significantly than other methods. Research has also shown that after heating for two minutes in the microwave, 99% of all living bacteria are killed.

Attention! If you leave the sponge in the microwave for more than two minutes, it may catch fire, causing a fire. During this procedure, do not move away from the microwave oven.

Do not place a sponge containing metal parts in the microwave. Check to see if there are any wire particles left in the foam from the metal sponge or dish scraper.

Wet the sponge generously with water and do not let it dry. It would be a good idea to put half a cup of water in the microwave with the sponge so that the emitter does not deteriorate and so that the sponge itself does not dry out.

Attention! Some sponges are made of a synthetic material that can melt in the microwave even if the sponge is very wet. Place a paper towel under the sponge - if it starts to melt, it will make cleaning much easier. Place the sponge and napkin on a saucer that is not heated in the microwave. After the disinfection procedure, it will be more convenient to remove the sponge. Do not handle the sponge with your bare hand, as you may accidentally squeeze it and get burned.

• So, place the sponge on a napkin, the sponge with a napkin on a saucer, and all this in the microwave.
• Turn on the oven for 1-2 minutes.
• Carefully remove the sponge from the microwave.

All. The sponge is disinfected, 99% of harmful bacteria are destroyed and the sponge is ready for use again.

General position. It is believed that the absolute cleanliness of your home or apartment is as harmful as if your home was dirty. Too good is also bad. Do not strive for absolute cleanliness; you should not clean everything around too zealously, every minute. A small number of microbes on surfaces and dust in the air help maintain your immunity, reduce allergic reactions, and keep your body in good shape and in a fighting state of defense.

• By heating the sponge in the microwave, the steam and moisture it creates will soften food particles and stains. Once you remove the sponge, you can easily remove stains from the microwave using a paper towel, kitchen towel, or terry cloth.
• Use kitchen towels to clean daily stains on tables, floors, and bar counters. You'll save money on paper towels and extend the hygienic life of your kitchen sponges.
• Change the sponge regularly. By purchasing a bacteria-resistant sponge, you can reduce the number of bacteria in your kitchen by 99.9%.
  Add lemon juice or an ammonia-free, lemon-scented kitchen cleaner into a chlorine solution to neutralize the bleach smell. Alternatively, you can use aromatic bleach. When finished soaking, rinse with cold water.
• The juices of raw meat can be removed using other materials instead of a sponge.
• After using the sponge, wring it thoroughly so that it can dry thoroughly before next use. Bacteria die in a dry sponge.
• You can also alternate between two sponges to give them a chance to dry better, and you can also place the wet sponge against the panel behind the sink or dishwasher bottle so that it can ventilate and dry better.
• If you don't use napkins and rags for cleaning all the time, store them in a plastic container with a lid to avoid unpleasant odors in the kitchen.
• Dish brushes are generally considered the most hygienic option, as they are easier to clean and dry faster. But they should also be disinfected by soaking them in a weak bleach solution. When using bleach, be sure to read label instructions carefully and wear rubber gloves.
• If you use microfiber cloths, rinse them well after each use.

The main thing to remember is that all sponges and cleaning cloths should be thoroughly wrung out and dried, completely straightened. Don't give germs any chance to hide in damp folds! Use a natural viscose sponge to wash dishes. It is made from recycled cellulose without the use of plastic and is harmless to environment . The starting material is wood, which is placed in special solution

and boiled under pressure in closed kettles for 24 hours. As a result of subsequent processing, the cellulose becomes viscose. Fine crystalline fibers are added to it, which after processing turn into a sponge.

When dry, viscose sponge is hard and brittle, but when wet it becomes soft and tender. In addition, stores sell viscose bath sponges that you can use to wash your body. They absorb moisture well, foam easily and have a pleasant texture. The cost of such sponges is slightly higher than the price of foam rubber analogues, and they are more durable and natural than synthetic sponges, which quickly become unusable and decompose in landfills for decades. Crescent sponge made of cellulose is used for decorative coatings

Technical characteristics of cellulose crescent sponge

• Material: cellulose
• It is used for applying and leveling material, smoothing or polishing, waxing plaster, tamponing and gentle washing. To obtain various decorative effects, various application techniques are used.
• Moisture wicking working surface provides cost savings decorative material, wax or detergent
• Crescent cellulose sponge size: 200x80 mm

It is profitable to order and buy a crescent sponge for decorative work in our online store. Our specialists will provide all the information you are interested in regarding the products offered, methods of payment and delivery in Moscow (including the Moscow region). Place an order for the items you need using the form or just call us at the phone number listed on the website.