Why Should I Use Reusable Scrub Pads for Cleaning?
Reusable sponges can last hundreds, if not thousands of washes before you need to replacement. This makes reusable sponges a more eco friendly option when it comes to using a sponge in home cleaning.
I usually keep a set of 10-15 washable reusable sponges for my home and use about 4-6 at a time when doing a whole-home cleaning. You’ll want to have 2 for each bathroom and a few for the kitchen sink area.
Washable sponges are not only more cost effective than buying the throw-away kind, but they’re also more antibacterial than a cellulose sponge. The typical cellulose sponge can harbor bacteria (such as E. Coli…yikes!) when improperly stored. A reusable scrub pad, can be discarded into the laundry bin and washed in between uses.
The caveat with reusable sponges: they don’t have an abrasive backing on them. That said, there is a time and a place for for the cellulose sponge. An abrasive backing can come in handy for some cleaning application methods, such as shower scrubbing. However, there are areas that reusable scrub pads DO come in handy.
🧼 These netted washable sponges have held up nicely over the span of many years and on a commercial level. Our team at The Tidy People used these to clean thousands of homes.
I’m a big fan of reducing waste — especially landfill waste. Since water is a renewable resource when properly managed and used responsibly, reusable sponges are great for certain cleaning tasks:
Image by Miriam Alonso
Toilet Cleaning
My unpopular opinion: reusable sponges are far superior over toilet brushes. These can be washed after each use. If you have a reusable towel management system at home, you can easily throw these into the wash on laundry day with your other reusable cleaning towels.
The great thing about using cloth reusable sponges is that you’re using a clean tool every time you clean your toilet. Invest in a good set of long armed gloves and you can throw these into the wash as well. And yes, in order to scrub your toilet, you’re using your hand. Using the glove will protect your hand.
Image by Taryn Elliott
Bathroom Sink Cleaning
The nature of buildup that occurs in a bathroom sink is typically loose debris. Most of what you’re cleaning up in a bathroom sink is toothpaste waste, hand soap, hair, and any other loose debris that might end up in your sink from the vanity or countertop area in your bathroom. Bathroom sinks aren’t necessarily hard to scrub. A soft reusable washable sponge is a great option and tool for bathroom sink cleaning.
Pair The Tidy People Sink+Toilet Cleaner with a netted washable sponge. Squirt a few dollops of the super concentrated cleaner onto the sponge, then turn on the sink for a few seconds to run water over the cleaner, sponge, and sink. Scrub, rinse, and dry.
Image by Cottonbro Studio
Dishes
For most dishes that you’re going to hand wash, I do recommend a tool that’s at least mildly abrasive. Ensure it’s a tool that won’t scratch fragile dishes, such bone china, crystal, and hand painted wares. Use a combination of a dish brush and a reusable washable dish sponge. This will get you a variety of scrubbing power when dish washing.
Try this washable bamboo sponge that comes in an 8 pack. Keep back ups by the sink that can cycle through the laundry.
