A Stylish and Functional Dish Sponge That's a Game-Changer
I've got a confession to make: I'm one of those rare people who actually enjoys washing dishes by hand, even though I have a 14-year-old dishwasher that's only been used maybe twice a year - usually on New Year's Day or after a big holiday feast when I just don't feel like washing dishes.
For me, the key to enjoying washing dishes is having the right soap and sponge. My last trip to the store was all about finding some stylish new additions to my dish-washing routine. I picked up two new soap sets with cute designs that I've been eyeing lately, even though I used to not care about the look of my soap and sponge.
The three sponges were tied together with a thick card and a yellow ribbon with the brand name on it. I love that the packaging is cardboard, completely biodegradable and recyclable. It's minimal, yet it has all the necessary info from the manufacturer without any fluff.
The composition of the sponges is a combination of foam and abrasive material. The brown sponge is porous with visible holes, like a piece of cheese. One side has a reinforced green fiber, and I got the green one, which matches perfectly with my new bottle of dish soap.
The fiber is actually quite stiff, and I'll get ahead of myself, but it's amazing how well it removes residue from drinks and food off the surface. The sponge has an ergonomic shape, and I'm pretty sure it's the first time I've seen this design, I've always gone for the rectangular shape before, out of habit.
Thanks to the ergonomic shape, the sponge feels really comfortable in the hand. The foam in this sponge is coarse, unlike some other colored sponges I've used. The brown color of the sponge is way more visually appealing than that loud orange color, maybe I'll get tired of the neutral tone eventually and want bright colors again, but a month has passed since I bought these, and I'm actually planning to buy another set with the same color scheme without the bright pigment.
What really caught my attention when I first picked up this sponge was how soft and pliable it is. The colored fibers are really gentle on surfaces, unlike some other colorful sponges that take a while to break in. This one feels great from the get-go, easily conforming to any shape or curve.
And if you're using it on a big surface where a bit of stiffness isn't a huge deal, you'll appreciate how this sponge grips the surface right away. I didn't experience any issues with it not sticking well, which was a problem with some of the other colorful sponges I've tried.
This sponge is seriously thick, dense, and springy, and it bounces back into its original shape when you release it. Compared to some other colored sponges I've seen, this one is noticeably thicker, which is a definite plus. Even when I compared it to a standard-colored sponge, the difference in thickness was clear. Most sponges are pretty thin, but this one from Cristal is a real standout in terms of build quality.
My dish sponge has been living in a specialized holder that I picked up on the site, and it's honestly the most convenient way to store a damp sponge. Any excess water just drains out, rather than getting trapped inside and causing it to get all soggy. With this setup, my sponges dry quickly and don't develop that unpleasant odor. Even my older sponges don't stink as much anymore since I started using this holder.
I have to say, my sink looks way more stylish with this sponge option - no loud colors to distract me. When I apply the dish soap to the sponge, it slowly seeps into the porous surface and spreads evenly across the entire area when I squeeze it, creating a thick, dense foam.
Most of the time, one pump of the soap dispenser is enough to clean a small pile of dishes, but I can increase the dose when washing a greasy pan that needs more soap to break down the food residue. Usually, there's still some soap left on the sponge in the form of foam, which is enough to wash another batch, since we don't all eat at the same time in my household.
Because everyone in my family has their own schedule, there's always a cycle of washing dishes in the sink. As I mentioned earlier, this sponge is super soft and flexible right from the start, and it easily conforms to the thin walls of utensils and quickly scrapes off food residue and grease from their surface.
Plates also come out of the wash quickly and without any hassle, free from food and grease. The sponge glides across the surface, picking up the layer that needs to be removed. It's a quick and easy process. Even pots, which can be a pain to clean, come out sparkling thanks to this quality sponge and a good dish soap.
The heavy-duty fibers are surprisingly good at scraping off the tough tea stains, including the ring that often gets stuck to the white rim of mugs.
I'm not a stickler for following the manufacturer's recommendation to change the sponge every two weeks, but it's worth noting that some sponges can get pretty gross if you don't. I'm talking slimy to the touch and still managing to clean dishes with it - not exactly what I'd call hygienic.
I'm glad to report that after a week, the sponge still feels nice to the touch and doesn't require as much dish soap as I expected, probably due to its lack of excess fat. The porous surface makes it easy to rinse with water and dry at room temperature.
While the brown part of the sponge looks the same, the green part has started to show some wear. However, the adhesive layer hasn't come loose, and the fibers are still securely attached to the main body of the sponge, except for a small area where it appears to be slightly detached. I'm not sure if this was always the case, though.
Normally, I swap out the sponge after a week, even though it looks fine and doesn't feel slimy. But for some reason, it's more comfortable for me to wash dishes with a clean sponge, and it's great to know that the dishes are being washed with a fresh sponge, not a old one.
I don't throw away old sponges, I put them in a box with old sponges to use for cleaning the bathroom or the grill after barbecuing, which gets all greasy and dirty. After washing it, the sponge usually gets too gross and I just toss it, considering I replace it every week and only barbecue about three times a season.
I highly recommend this sponge option, and I liked it so much that I've already bought it again. I love its aesthetic look, excellent quality, and ease of use.
Price (19,6666.. rubles per piece)Plastic-free packagingErgonomic shapeLooks greatUses less detergentEasy to clean, even tea stainsThanks for reading!