I’m the LW! Not only did I feel so special you picked my question, but glad I’m not the only person so frustrated by finding a good sponge option! Also whoever came up with that spaghetti thing is actual evil!
Thank you for finally speaking out against Big Swedish Dishcloth, I truly hate them so much and thought I was the only one?! (if you like them I'm happy for you though!!). I have received a number as gifts and feel guilty every time I see them under our sink and for some reason I felt too guilty to donate them/give them away until now :)
I was so excited to see this because I have STRONG FEELINGS about my favorite sponge of all time! These last like 5-6 months (in our house at least) and can be run through the dishwasher. They are the perfect combo of grip, size, sponge texture and scrub IMO. They are not biodegradable but they truly last SO LONG. Link is Amazon but I'm sure they can be found other places:
A key piece that I think we are missing from this letter is the co-sponger’s priorities! Why do we like the green and yellow? Which sponge is spongeworthy?
If it’s rectangular form factor, the Trader Joe pop up sponges are cellulose and therefore compostable. (Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table sell something similar for more money so I also enjoy feeling like I am sticking it to the fancy man by pointing out the TJ’s one, lol)
I’m a bit of a sponge contrarian since they are such havens for gross bacteria. My husband insists on doing dishes with a sponge though so I’m in a similar boat as the LW. I’m here for the blue Scotchbrite scrubby sponge. I also hate the idea of putting them in landfills so I have a system where they start out as kitchen sponges. I try to mitigate the bacteria stuff by running them through the dishwasher every couple of days and—maybe this is useless, but maybe it helps—thoroughly wringing them and putting them on a drying rack so that they dry out between uses. When it’s too gross for me to want to have anywhere near my dishes, it gets demoted to bathroom scrubber or outdoor scrubber.
I’m also here to sing the praises of Dawn PowerWash. Spray that on a greasy or sticky pan, let it marinate for a couple of hours, and then proceed to clean the pan like you usually do. It really minimizes the gunk that gets stuck in the scrubby side of the sponge.
I feel overjoyed at both your passionate answer to the sponge question AND the passionate comments section here! I, too am a coconut sponge lover. But the thing that excites me most about sponges is the fact that my MIL cuts them in half. I started doing it too and holy moly!! They fit into glassware better and fit precisely in my hand. Plus you get double the sponges for the price. I’m a sponge-cutting evangelist! I dare everyone to try it!!
I’ve tried a few of the coconut fiber scrubber sponges and found them to do the job and feel just like a sponge. Admittedly this is coming from someone who is all about a natural fiber scrub brush. I love the soft bristle ones that fit in your palm. They can be thrown in the dishwasher if need be, and when they’re totally worn out the wood and bristles eventually decay.
I also use these for just general washing and alternate with a dobie for the more caked on gunk (though I did just get a scrub mommy and it's pretty fun). I appreciate that they market them as biodegradable/compostable even though I seriously wonder whether that's the case, especially since they don't seem to break down as I'm using them. Something to ponder.
You are the one who introduced me to dobie pads and I LOVE them for most cleaning jobs. Agree on Sponge Daddy, don't love how he feels in my hand. Also - VERY happy to hear that you live so close to your LA bestie. I remember when you'd talk about going and staying at his house for a bit and y'all would come up with all sorts of cleaning adventures together.
I fully accept that LW doesn’t like kitchen brushes but for those willing to try brushes, Zero Waste Cartel’s kitchen scrub brush kit is fantastic: https://zerowastecartel.com/products/zero-waste-kitchen-kit I say this as someone who cooks a lot, including with cast iron, and these do great. I keep a couple of the yellow and green classic sponges around for emergencies, but the scrub brushes are my daily go-to.
We’ve been doing these for a couple years for dishes - agree with the folks who say that similar eco-friendly ones are about 90% as effective as the blue soft - brighter blue scrubby ones we used to use, but I feel 100% less guilty every time a piece of scrubby stuff goes down the drain if it’s plant matter instead of plastic. https://a.co/d/ghEzBLj
$85 for a broom and dustpan? Are they kidding? I have a rubber broom and two cats. Broom was under $20 (Amazon) and I noted price reduction. The bristles are still flexible, it has a sharp edge and I am willing to use my regular dustpan, thank you very much! I may not need to buy the vacuum I was considering. It attracts cat hair like a magnet.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the book recommendation! I too am really missing Philippa Gregory's historical fiction - just as a side note, I feel like the books were the result of research she did while in school and now she's run out? Anyone know what is up? I will check out the new author!
Ooooh that makes A LOT of sense! I figured she just got burned out and/or she's been such a success that it diminished her hustle a little bit. Both of which are totally understandable! LMK what you think of The Familiar, I hope you love it as much as I did!
I’m the LW! Not only did I feel so special you picked my question, but glad I’m not the only person so frustrated by finding a good sponge option! Also whoever came up with that spaghetti thing is actual evil!
Happy birthday week! 🎂
We love this one from Grove in our house. Like the green & yellow ones, but sustainably made from biodegradable plant fibers:
https://www.grove.co/catalog/product/walnut-scrubber-sponge
They work maybe 90% as well and I feel 10,000% better about using it.
I cut the green and yellow sponge in half with scissors. I find it fits better in my hand and a pack of sponges lasts a lot longer.
I do the same! They are so big, for now good reason.
Thank you for finally speaking out against Big Swedish Dishcloth, I truly hate them so much and thought I was the only one?! (if you like them I'm happy for you though!!). I have received a number as gifts and feel guilty every time I see them under our sink and for some reason I felt too guilty to donate them/give them away until now :)
I was so excited to see this because I have STRONG FEELINGS about my favorite sponge of all time! These last like 5-6 months (in our house at least) and can be run through the dishwasher. They are the perfect combo of grip, size, sponge texture and scrub IMO. They are not biodegradable but they truly last SO LONG. Link is Amazon but I'm sure they can be found other places:
https://www.amazon.com/Jetz-Scrubz-Original-Rectangle-Kitchen-Scrubber/dp/B0BGT9D8LX?
SPONGERDOME, lol.
A key piece that I think we are missing from this letter is the co-sponger’s priorities! Why do we like the green and yellow? Which sponge is spongeworthy?
If it’s rectangular form factor, the Trader Joe pop up sponges are cellulose and therefore compostable. (Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table sell something similar for more money so I also enjoy feeling like I am sticking it to the fancy man by pointing out the TJ’s one, lol)
If it’s scrubbiness, maybe a dish cloth with more texture? The Swedish types are kind of… limp? What immediately came to mind was the ones my mom knits, but a reasonable facsimile is these: https://www.etsy.com/listing/783338999/dish-cloth-setsdish-towelswash-clothsspa - they are washable and cotton.
I’m a bit of a sponge contrarian since they are such havens for gross bacteria. My husband insists on doing dishes with a sponge though so I’m in a similar boat as the LW. I’m here for the blue Scotchbrite scrubby sponge. I also hate the idea of putting them in landfills so I have a system where they start out as kitchen sponges. I try to mitigate the bacteria stuff by running them through the dishwasher every couple of days and—maybe this is useless, but maybe it helps—thoroughly wringing them and putting them on a drying rack so that they dry out between uses. When it’s too gross for me to want to have anywhere near my dishes, it gets demoted to bathroom scrubber or outdoor scrubber.
I’m also here to sing the praises of Dawn PowerWash. Spray that on a greasy or sticky pan, let it marinate for a couple of hours, and then proceed to clean the pan like you usually do. It really minimizes the gunk that gets stuck in the scrubby side of the sponge.
I feel overjoyed at both your passionate answer to the sponge question AND the passionate comments section here! I, too am a coconut sponge lover. But the thing that excites me most about sponges is the fact that my MIL cuts them in half. I started doing it too and holy moly!! They fit into glassware better and fit precisely in my hand. Plus you get double the sponges for the price. I’m a sponge-cutting evangelist! I dare everyone to try it!!
I’ve tried a few of the coconut fiber scrubber sponges and found them to do the job and feel just like a sponge. Admittedly this is coming from someone who is all about a natural fiber scrub brush. I love the soft bristle ones that fit in your palm. They can be thrown in the dishwasher if need be, and when they’re totally worn out the wood and bristles eventually decay.
I use the Trader Joe’s Natural pop-up sponges. Feels less plasticky. Not as scrubby and a bit soft in the hand but they hold up well. https://www.amazon.com/Trader-Joes-Sponges-Vegetable-Cellulose/dp/B008XLGDDQ/ref=asc_df_B008XLGDDQ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693401625725&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8783361585998090448&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030967&hvtargid=pla-404766630959&psc=1&mcid=4a63cbf4254a39c4998a1000d92ca688&gad_source=1
I also use these for just general washing and alternate with a dobie for the more caked on gunk (though I did just get a scrub mommy and it's pretty fun). I appreciate that they market them as biodegradable/compostable even though I seriously wonder whether that's the case, especially since they don't seem to break down as I'm using them. Something to ponder.
oh definitely - I'm like, "these bitches aren't breaking down!" so I would not be surprised in the least. I also have a Scrub Daddy!
You are the one who introduced me to dobie pads and I LOVE them for most cleaning jobs. Agree on Sponge Daddy, don't love how he feels in my hand. Also - VERY happy to hear that you live so close to your LA bestie. I remember when you'd talk about going and staying at his house for a bit and y'all would come up with all sorts of cleaning adventures together.
I fully accept that LW doesn’t like kitchen brushes but for those willing to try brushes, Zero Waste Cartel’s kitchen scrub brush kit is fantastic: https://zerowastecartel.com/products/zero-waste-kitchen-kit I say this as someone who cooks a lot, including with cast iron, and these do great. I keep a couple of the yellow and green classic sponges around for emergencies, but the scrub brushes are my daily go-to.
We’ve been doing these for a couple years for dishes - agree with the folks who say that similar eco-friendly ones are about 90% as effective as the blue soft - brighter blue scrubby ones we used to use, but I feel 100% less guilty every time a piece of scrubby stuff goes down the drain if it’s plant matter instead of plastic. https://a.co/d/ghEzBLj
$85 for a broom and dustpan? Are they kidding? I have a rubber broom and two cats. Broom was under $20 (Amazon) and I noted price reduction. The bristles are still flexible, it has a sharp edge and I am willing to use my regular dustpan, thank you very much! I may not need to buy the vacuum I was considering. It attracts cat hair like a magnet.
The Dotti people -- No Words!
My stainless pan is never fully clean no matter what I do. I’ve honestly given up at this point. Is a Scrub Family Member the way to go?
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the book recommendation! I too am really missing Philippa Gregory's historical fiction - just as a side note, I feel like the books were the result of research she did while in school and now she's run out? Anyone know what is up? I will check out the new author!
Ooooh that makes A LOT of sense! I figured she just got burned out and/or she's been such a success that it diminished her hustle a little bit. Both of which are totally understandable! LMK what you think of The Familiar, I hope you love it as much as I did!