A Sponge is a natural or artificial absorbent pad that is used for:
- Cleaning dishes,
- Cleaning the house, or
- Cleaning outdoor items like cars etc.
- Sponge painting of walls
Sponges used for cleaning come in many shapes and sizes although they are usually rectangular and may have a scrubbing pad attached.
This page is not about:
- Sea Sponges
- Sponge cake
- Make up sponges
Disinfecting:
The kitchen sponge has the highest bacterial population of any other place in the home, even more than the toilet. To sterilize sponges put them in the dishwasher, soak them in a bleach solution, or wet the sponge and microwave it for two minutes. Microwaving is very effective, killing 99% of pathogens. Take care to wet the sponge thoroughly because a partially dry sponge may catch on fire.http://www.ehow.com/about_5068331_cleaning-sponge-made.html
Qualities of Natural Sea Sponges
- Highly absorbant
- Soft texture
- Durable
- Long lasting
- Retain water
- Self-cleaning
- Do not retain odors
- Do not peel
References
Fast Facts
-
Origin of Name
The word sponge comes from the Greek word spongos and was originally used to describe natural ocean sponges
-
Shape/Size
Sponges come in many shapes and sizes
-
Cost
Cost per sponge will vary but will not be more than $2 each typically
-
Bacteria
On average there are 10 million bacteria per sponge (before disinfection)
-
Disinfection Methods
Microwave or Bleach
-
First Artficial Sponge
DuPont created the first cellulose sponge in the 1940's
-
Types
Low-density polyether, PVA and polyester
