Cellulose sponges are made primarily from wood fibers.
Cellulose has many uses, including making sponges and cellulose wipes or dishcloths.
Quick Facts About Cellulose Sponges
Why Use Cellulose Sponges?
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Manufactured cellulose sponges are some of the most commoncleaning spongesavailable.
The tiny holes in cellulose sponges are meant to absorb and hold liquid while you use them.
They can last through some reasonably tough cleaning jobs.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
A cellulose wipe is another version of a flatter cellulose sponge.
Cellulose sponges are primarily made from wood pulp.
Other common materials used in cellulose sponges include hemp fibers, sodium sulfate crystals, and softeners.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
This treatment also keeps bacteria from growing inside the package before purchase.
Rinse your sponges thoroughly before you first use them.
What Are the Benefits of Cellulose Sponges?
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
What Are the Disadvantages of Cellulose Sponges?
Although with frequent and rougher use, your sponge may only last about a month.
To make them last, rinse sponges thoroughly after each use.
Allow them to dry completely open to the air.
Several methods for killing bacteria in the sponge include:
Also,use different sponges for different tasks.
The sponge used for bathroom countertops should be kept in the bathroom.
How to Dispose of Cellulose Sponges
Throw away any sponges that remain dirty or start to smell.
They are signs of bacteria, germs, yeast, and mold build-up.
Those organisms can pass on to your dishes and food.
Sponges made from 100% cellulose or 100% plant products can go in the recycle or compost bin.
A cellulose sponge can break down or biodegrade in several weeks.
They must go in the regular garbage can.
Cut the sponge into small pieces before adding it to your compost pile to aid decomposition.
The Regulation of Cellulose Biosynthesis in Plants.
NIH National Library of Medicine.
3, 2017, pp.
Faulkner, Nicholas and Peterson, Judy Monroe.Biodegradability and You.
Rosen Central, 2018.
170175, International Association for Food Protection, 2017.
Wolde T, Bacha K.Microbiological Safety of Kitchen Sponges Used in Food Establishments.Int J Food Sci., vol.
2017;17(2):299-305.