A new TWIST on the Sponge

There’s nothing I love more than finding a nifty new household item that is stripped from it’s everyday earth- harming chemically-treated ways. We’re all used to seeing the common cleaning sponge in our grocery stores, all pretty maids lined up in a row with their bright colors and labels touting their antimicrobial properties. Let’s take a closer look at how these beauties are produced.

Sponges are generally made with cellulose (tree fiber) and chemical softeners that create a jelly like substance that is poured into a mold. Then sodium sulphate is added and the mixture is cooked. While it cooks the sodium sulphate drains through holes in the bottom of the mold and voilà the porous look is achieved. Next, the sponge enjoys a nice bleach bath making it squeaky clean and reading for more washings. Then the mold is left to dry and cut either by the manufacturer or by the company buying the sponges. Some sponges have a textured side applied to them after the cutting stage with a polyurethane glue. Yummy!

After uncovering such a nasty process I set out to find a new and improved green sponge. Environmentally helpful in all ways possible, I present to you the TWIST.

Twist sponges and loofahs are a very cool alternative and I love how dedicated they are to help people in need of GREEN! They pride themselves on using cellulose from only renewable tree farms and state that 99.97 % of their waste is reused…how perfect! And to top it all off their packaging can be made into a bird feeder! I’m not sure how sturdy it would be in a tree but perhaps you could place it on the ground for squirrels?

If you’re looking for a natural antiseptic try using some Tea Tree Oil on the surface you’re cleaning or the sponge itself. Finally, if you’re just interested in getting rid of nasty bacteria just pop your wet sponge - and I mean wet sponge (minus the soap) - into the microwave for 30-90 seconds. Alternatively you can soak it in a mixture of 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1/4 cup water for 30 minutes.