Multipurpose Durable Sponge Kitchen Thicken Scrubber

I grew up in a non-sponge household. We used washcloths to clean our dishes, and those cheap, plastic, net scrubbies for the tough jobs (even though they didn’t really work). But as soon as I moved out, I completely converted to Multipurpose Durable Sponge Kitchen Thicken Scrubber — specifically the dual-action kind with a scrubby part on one side. No longer did I have to put up with a cold, wet, dripping cloth (that became smelly within days) hanging over my kitchen faucet. Never again did I have to struggle with an ineffective scrubby getting bits of food stuck in its mesh. With my sponge and scrubby in one, cleanup got a lot easier.

Of course, sponges get stinky and can wear out pretty quickly. They’re not perfect, but I recently set out to find the best one. Was there one sponge that would last longer and not get a funky smell so soon? I rounded up all the different kinds I could find and put them to the test.

How I Chose the Sponges

I scoured local stores and the internet to find a lineup of unique contenders — not just the same kind of sponge under different labels. I shopped for cellulose sponges with no scrubby side, a wackier option that looked like sandpaper spaghetti, eco-friendly options, and more. I gathered them all for a shot at the Best Sponge title.