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8 Smart Uses for Your Kitchen Sponge You Haven’t Tried

Adrienne FarrAdrienne FarrUpdated: Feb. 08, 2021

The lowly kitchen sponge can play several important roles around the house. Here's how to use a sponge for more than just doing dishes.

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Help Your Houseplants

Sometimes leaf shine products can clog pores and actually harm your houseplants.  Instead, use water and a wet sponge to get that desired shine.

Thomas_EyeDesign/iStock

Wash Away A Fever

Rinse a clean sponge in cool water and apply to your forehead, back, nape of your neck, or wherever else you feel flushed.  As the water evaporates, your body will cool down.

gojak/iStock

Save Your Soap

Ever noticed the gloppy mess your soap makes in the bottom of the dish after several uses? Blech!  Rest your soap on a sponge instead. It wicks away moisture and leaves your soap clean and ready to use.

Okan Metin/iStock

Keep Veggies Crunchy

Place a few new kitchen sponges in your crisper drawer and squeeze them out after they’ve absorbed excess moisture. This will keep your veggies extra crisp. So clever!

IvonneW/iStock

Wipe Away Pet Hair

We love our pets but their hair … not so much. A slightly damp sponge will easily remove Charlie’s leftover follicles from clothing and upholstered furniture.

Bryngelzon/iStock

Perfect Your Pedicure

To avoid smudged polish after an at-home pedicure, cut a sponge in wedges and place between the toes to separate.

DmitriMaruta/iStock

Make Mini Ice Packs

Regular-sized ice packs can be too big (and cold!) for kiddie-sized bumps and bruises. For child-sized ice packs, cut a sponge into a few pieces, soak in water and freeze.

More Cheap and Easy Solutions

The new book 99-Cent Solutions has more than 1,300 smart uses for
everyday items, from grocery store staples to cleaning supplies to
beauty products. Learn more and buy the book here.

Originally Published: August 03, 2015
Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest

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