A sour sponge smell can make you want to hold your nose every time you go into your kitchen. You’ll want to get this under control right away so that you aren’t spreading it every time you try to clean your dishes or wipe off counters in this busy room in your home.
The stank in the sponge is caused by bacteria. To get rid of it, you are going to have to kill it. The techniques listed here will get rid of the bacteria so that you won’t be bothered by this particularly nasty brand of stink again.
How to Get Smell Out of Sponge
1 Let the Sun Bleach the Stink Out
The sun’s UV rays can be your friend if you want to freshen up a stinky sponge. You’re going to need to be patient, though; this solution involves leaving the sponge in the Great Outdoors for at least four days. Depending on where you live, you may need to leave it outside for a week to restore it to its original freshness. When you retrieve your sponge, it will be dried out and hard. This is completely normal. Give it a sniff to see if any odor remains before bringing it back inside. Wet it thoroughly and you will be good to go.
2 Zap it in the Microwave
This solution will only work when the sponge is wet, so do not place a dry sponge in the microwave. Put the sponge in a microwave-safe dish. Heat it on “high” for 20 seconds. Your sponge will be odor-free at the end of the cycle. Take care when removing it from the dish, as it will be quite hot.
3 White Vinegar Soak
Vinegar is well known for its odor-absorbing qualities. To freshen up a smelly sponge, pour 1/2 cup of vinegar into a shallow bowl. Place the sponge in the bowl and allow it to soak up the vinegar for a few hours. Rinse it thoroughly and allow it to dry. The acid in the sponge will go to work and kill the germs, which will reduce the funk factor considerably.
4 Dishwasher Clean-up
Your dishwasher can help you keep your kitchen sponge clean and door-free, as well as look after cleaning your plates, glasses and cutlery. The next time you are loading it, place your sponge on the top rack. Run it through on the regular cycle as usual. Your sponge will be clean and fresh, and you won’t have to perform any extra cleaning work to get it done.
5 Baking Soda Soak
Baking soda is a common household product that will adsorb door without damaging the sponge. Try adding a small scoop of it to a sink full of water with your dish detergent to freshen your sponge. You could also try pouring a small amount of the baking soda directly onto the sponge and working it into the holes on its surface. Rinse thoroughly with water. It’s non-abrasive, so you wouldn’t need to worry about the powder scratching the surfaces of your dishes, countertops or anything else the sponge comes into contact with
Another way to use baking soda to get rid of stale sponge smell is to add pour a small amount of it into a container of water. Place the sponge in the container. Let the sponge soak in the baking soda and water solution overnight.
6 Boil the Stank Out
Hot water will kill the bacteria that causes sponges to go all smelly. Boil some water on the stove and place your sponges in the pot for a minute or two. That interval is long enough to kill any germs lurking inside. Remove the sponges carefully with tongs and rung some cold water over them before you use them again.
7 Bleach and Water Solution
Add two Tablespoons of bleach to a small dish of water. Place your sponge in it. Leave it there overnight. When you remove it in the morning, the smell should be gone.
How to Get Smell Out of Sponge using bleach, baking soda, sunlight, a microwave oven, a dishwasher, and boiling water.
How to Get Smell Out of Sponge using bleach, baking soda, sunlight, a microwave oven, a dishwasher, and boiling water.
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