Why you shouldn’t throw out that old kitchen sponge just yet
<p>Of all the items hanging around your kitchen sink, the sponge may well be the most misunderstood. When you consider the surfaces these items are designed to clean, it’s understandable why many people are quick to buy new sponges on the first sign of mess. But with a bit of creativity, it’s possible to give an old sponge new life.</p>
<p>Few people would relish the prospect of using a six-month-old sponge for tasks like cleaning your kitchen counter and cooking utensils, but your old kitchen sponge can have a second life as the perfect tool for those dirtier jobs.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">New York Times</span></strong></em></a> microbiologist Markus Egert advises savvy shoppers to hold on to their old sponges and transform them into the perfect tool to wipe down dirty spots around the house like windowsills, garbage bins and doors.</p>
<p>A clever tip to make sure you don’t mix your sponge up with the cleaner ones in your arsenal is cutting a small tip of the corner off with a pair of scissors.</p>
<p>And that’s just the start. <a href="https://www.thisoldhouse.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">This Old House</span></strong></a> has a range of tips on how to get creative with your old kitchen sponges, from putting one underneath a planter’s soil to retain water, to placing them at the bottom of furniture feet.</p>
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<p>What are your thoughts? Do you generally discard old sponges?</p>
