Cellulose Sponge Vs. Regular Cleaning Sponge

6 min readJun 15, 2022

Every sponge is the same, right? No! There is a big difference between all sponges, their material, their uses, and their benefits.

For cleaning purposes, there are two main sponges in the market. Cellulose sponge and regular cleaning sponge. While cellulose sponge is made of an extract of a palm plant and is eco-friendly, regular cleaning sponges are typically made of polyurethane, a petroleum-based ingredient, which means regular sponges are oil-based plastic. Not very green. Huh! We don’t need to tell you how bad the use of plastics is for our environment and health.

Many supermarkets claim their sponges won’t hold odors and contain an antibacterial treatment that keeps them fresh for longer. But you know an antibacterial treatment is an extremely dangerous chemical called Triclosan, but they will never tell you about this. But we will. Triclosan is an antibacterial agent (pesticide) which prevents bacterial contamination. It is known to decrease the level of thyroid hormones and even cancer after long-term exposure, developmental toxicity, and skin irritation.

Triclosan is wreaking havoc on American waterways and marine life too. The content of this chemical found in water is hazardous for all living beings.

While Triclosan is wreaking havoc on marine life, how do you feel about tossing a regular sponge in the trash again? A stinky sponge is not something you can keep for longer. The terrible odor won’t allow you to keep it for so long. So you probably will check them out more often. From an eco-friendly point of view, it means a lot of garbage heading to the tip to be stored in a landfill.

What Is The Alternative To A Regular Cleaning Sponge?

A is a perfect alternative to regular cleaning sponges. Pure cellulose sponges do not contain any polyurethane or Triclosan and are completely compostable, so they don’t end up in landfills.

Cellulose sponges are not as widely available as plastic ones typically because people are unaware of the harmful effects of plastic or its alternative sponge on the market.

Does A Cellulose Sponge Work As Good As A Regular Cleaning Sponge?

Yes, dear!

A cellulose sponge works better than a regular cleaning sponge. It doesn’t stink and lasts much longer than the regular plastic ones. Cellulose sponge absorbs water just as easily due to the fine-fiber phenomenon of tiny air bubbles within the cellulose. Each air bubble holds 20 to 30 times more water than its weight.

The heat resistance is better than the regular cleaning sponge, and the physical properties will not be changed up to about 140 degrees celsius.

What Are Cellulose Sponge Made From

Cellulose sponges are made from cellulose, sometimes called non-petroleum recyclable vegetable fiber. It is 100% natural material extracted from wood fibers and later turned into wood pulp. It is a natural fiber that is eco-friendly and good for the environment and human health. Cellulose sponges also go through a less toxic manufacturing process and biodegrade and compost in landfills.

Cellulose sponges are soft inside their sealed packaging because they are usually treated with a soap that keeps them pliable. This treatment also helps keep bacteria from growing inside the package before they are purchased. Other common materials used in cellulose sponges are hemp fibers, sodium sulfate crystals, and softeners.

What Are The Environmental Benefits Of Cellulose Sponges?

As we have said many times, it is very natural, eco-friendly, and doesn’t cause any harmful effects on humans. Cellulose sponges are made with zero chemicals. If burned, an intoxicating gas is released that does not generate carbon dioxide at its disposal. When buried, they are biodegradable and compostable, which means their properties are 100% earth-friendly. When you don’t want to keep a cellulose sponge anymore, throw it in your green waste bin, your compost bin, or you can bury it in the garden.

Use A Cellulose Sponge With Safety.

Consider the following tips to ensure your sponges are not harboring harmful bacteria.

Use Different Sponges For Different Jobs.

No need to say that a sponge used for the kitchen should be kept separate from bathroom sponges; you know this well. But various kitchen sponges should be assigned different tasks. The sponge you use for cleaning the kitchen countertops or sopping up spills must be different from the one you use for your utensils. If you are cleaning meat or egg juices, it would be better to use paper towels than a sponge. The paper towel helps to avoid cross-contamination.

Clean Sponges Regularly

After using the sponge, rinse all food particles and let the sponge dry thoroughly. Deep cleanse it daily. You may think it’s time-consuming, but sanitizing your sponges regularly helps safeguard your health by avoiding harmful bacteria. Additionally, it will increase the life of your sponge.

How To Clean A Cellulose Sponge?

Here is how you can clean your cellulose sponges quickly:

Experts suggest soaking a cellulose sponge in a mixture of one part bleach and nine parts water for 10 to 15 minutes. Take it out and then air dry. (In a test, this cleaning method kills 99.9% of bacteria strains).
Saturate sponge with water. Put a sponge in ½ cup of water and heat it on high flame in the microwave for 30 seconds. Ensure your sponge has no metallic scrub linked to it, and keep a close eye on it as it is prone to catch fire if heated for a longer time.
Soak the sponge in undiluted vinegar for five minutes. Rinse and air dry.
Please put it in a dishwasher. If you have a dishwasher, you can add your sponge to a load of dishes and set the machine to its hottest setting.

Replace It Frequently

It could last about a month if you sanitize your cellulose sponge daily. If not, you may have to replace it every week or two. Of course, you must throw out a sponge that’s begun to smell foul (which means it’s loaded with bacteria) that has food particles and also gives signs of wear and tear.

You also have another option. If you have been using a cleaning sponge in the kitchen for a few weeks and it still looks ok, you might like to move it to the bathroom for the bathroom tasks.

Is Sponge Center A Cellulose Sponge Manufacturer?

Yes! Sponge Center is a B2B website. It manufactures and sells all kinds of cellulose sponges, konjac sponges, filter foam sponges, and more. Are you looking for a bulk cellulose sponge? If yes, you are at the right place! Get premium-quality sponges in bulk for your customers at Sponge Center. Choose from our wide range of stock sponge products.

Bottom Line

Regular cleaning sponges may help keep homes clean, but this cleaning tool can dirty up the environment and make you ill. A regular cleaning sponge is made of non-biodegradable plastic, meaning something you use for a couple of weeks will take space in landfills for hundreds of years.

Therefore, you can use a cellulose sponge instead of buying a regular non-biodegradable sponge. Being made of eco-friendly biodegradable material (wood pulp), cellulose sponges will help keep your kitchen, bathroom, and home spick and span. Since it is made up of natural materials, it does not contain any harmful antibacterial agent that is beneficial for your health. If cleaned regularly, a cellulose sponge lasts longer than the regular ones. To buy out high-quality cellulose sponges, head to , a one-stop solution for all your cleaning needs.

Originally published at https://spongecenter.com on June 15, 2022.