Musty smell, bacteria on the kitchen counters and that regular sponge sitting on the side of the sink with a lot of water inside waiting for the next adventure to cover your kitchen with more grime.

Traditional sponges, harbour a lot of bacteria and get left far longer than they should do before getting chucked away, not to mention the environmental impact they have is full of plastics and chemicals.

The facts don't lie - kitchen sponges sucks

 

A German study published in the Scientific Reports found some jaw-dropping results following their thorough investigation into the number of bacteria (and not just that) lurking in the usual kitchen sponge.

The study found a whopping 362 different species of bacteria living on the surface of the foam sponges. Ergert, University Microbiologist leading the study found that the density of bacteria in the sponge material reached up to 45 billion.

 

Yes, that’s 45 BILLION bacteria per square centimetre! Shocking I know! That’s equivalent to the UK population x 670 all packed into the London O2 stadium!

There is no other habitat on earth where you will find that level of aerobic cultures and bacteria density, but wait…. It’s sitting on your kitchen sink! That means your toilet is currently cleaner than your basic kitchen sponge.

The characteristic that makes regular sponges so good at lathering soap is also what makes them get so gross — with tons of small pores and holes, they can take on a lot of moisture and bacteria trapped in them.

52 sponges a year is a lot of waste!

So, you’re now thinking, get that sponge out of my kitchen. However, I am not here to just pose the problems but want to also help you with the solution. The typical sponge is visible everywhere when you’re walking around the shops but nowadays with more and more brands popping up, there are so many types of sponges to choose from.

So, what can you do? You could just buy more of them and change it every week but that equates to on average 52 sponges a year, which is a lot of waste! If you’re like me, you want to make better choices to help reduce your consumable costs whilst helping the environment.

Now here are some options I want to explore to meet your specific requirements;

 

Cellulose Sponges:

Now, these are great for the environment and have no toxic chemicals, however, still, harbour lots of bacteria given they are made from wood fibres and as porous as typical sponges.

Microfiber Cloths:

For that cellulose counterpart, microfibre cloths are great for glass cleaning but as absorbent close fibre material, they are also at risk of harbouring bacteria through their absorbency and ease at holding mildew. Given they need cleaning on a near-daily basis to stay bacteria-free, that’s a lot of washing or use of harsh chemicals.

That’s why an increasingly popular solution is to use silicone sponges for your daily cleaning routine. Silicon sponges are similar in shape and size to a regular sponge, but are reusable and last for much longer, saving you money and helping reduce environmental waste.

Silicone Sponge:

The silicone material is the perfect solution. Silicone is more environmentally friendly than plastic and isn’t just for gasket applications, sponge sheeting, acrylic adhesives etc. Its main content is made from silica, which is derived from sand, and manufacturing silicone does not involve mining for crude oil, which most plastics are made from.

Silicone scrubbers have a variety of application's, are longer lasting and more versatile than other products on the market.

Silicone sponges are non-porous, like Kuhn Rikon or Sur La Table third party Silicone Sponge. That means there’s less space for bacteria to hide but can be made into the perfect shape for good grip. Plus, silicone sponges are easy to clean, and silicone is very durable.

Are there any downsides? well, my honest opinion is no, but I’m biased. However, due to silicone being non-porous the dishwashing liquid foams externally rather than inside the sponge. Some people find the low compression set's work in soapy water just as good!

A silicone sponge has lots of alternative uses, from being used in the shower as an alternative use to a loofah, for cleaning makeup brushes, and cleaning pet hair and is great for outdoor cooking and cleaning.

By far, the best silicone sponges you can buy online!

KitchTool is the Award-Winning Kitchen & Cleaning Company of the Year 2022. Their Trusty Trio of Silicone Sponges are an Amazon Choice favourite and was named No.1 Dish Sponge in April.

Antibacterial and Antimicrobial

You don’t just get one, but three in a pack. You’ll be sure to find silicone scrubber sponges that meet a variety of applications. The Trusty Trio of Silicone Sponges offers an antibacterial and antimicrobial alternative. Whether you need longer bristles, soft bristles, or short bristles – these sponges reach places with ease whilst having the added benefit of a hard Nylon scraper to tackle those tough stuck-on stains, without damaging your pans.

To clean, simply wash them with hot water or place them in the dishwasher. No need for harmful chemicals. The silicone scrubber sponges will easily be free from bacteria and mildew.

KitchTool is always developing new products and is soon to be announcing a new product line to its Kitchen and Cleaning range of products. We are more than a little bit excited! Whether it’s a Father’s or Mother’s Day gifts, or you just want to take advantage of the Amazon Prime next day delivery, KitchTool have the solution!

Don’t take my words for it, the online reviews speak for themselves and we pride ourselves on our high-level customer service.

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