Kitchen sponge stopped smelling bad after I stopped using conventional soap

I've concluded that using name-brand conventional dish soaps encourage sponges to become stinky.

One day I noticed that my kitchen sponge didn't have that usual funky "sponge" smell. Something clicked and I thought it might be the soaps.

I have been using diluted castille soap for some months now in the kitchen when washing dishes. I also like to use it on the stove. My spouse prefers conventional soap for the suds and fragrance.

For my test, I used only conventional soap over the span of a week, and the sponge got smelly in just a few days. The sponge I used had a cloth side and a steel wool side. The following week, I used diluted castille soap. The sponge then had no smell.

Thought I'd pass this on, in case anyone's still using conventional dish soap. I know some folks put their sponges in the dishwasher, or boil theirs, to deal with this issue.

(Apologies if this is not the right subforum for this.).

If it starts to smell it is likely bad.

The common kitchen sponge is often more dirty than your toilet! That is how bad it is. Web MD and the Mayo Clinic classify it is one of the most germ filled item in your home.



One of the best ideas is to boil your sponge regularly.

I boil mine every couple days.

Also boil anything that contacts meat.

Something often recommended nowadays is to get rid of the old sponges, as they are breeding ground for germs.

Folks often say silicone  makes better sponges. My mom has one, but uses it seldom. Preferring regular boiling of her sponge and throwing it away if it gets funky.

Me I just use regular sponges, and boil them often.

I quit using sponges years ago for this very reason. Now I'm in the habit of pouring boiling water over the dish cloth every other morning or so. Helps a lot.