Although their initial price tag might be more than one of the synthetic loofahs or sponges you can pick up at the dollar or grocery store, a sea sponge, at least in my opinion, is a whole lot nicer to use. Obviously, if you’re going to buy a sea sponge the most frugal living friendly route would be to preserve your sea sponge as long as possible so as to avoid having to replace it. The good news is that with a little cleaning these sponges can last for quite some time.
Did you know that a sea sponge actually has natural enzymes that will inhibit mold, bacteria and mildew? This doesn’t mean, however, that these yuckies won’t start growing in your sponge, especially if you don’t let it completely dry after each use. So, in my efforts to keep my sponge mold, mildew and bacteria free, I did a little research on how to clean sea sponges:
A quick and easy cleaning technique is to add a couple of drops of tea tree oil to a small bowl of warm water. Place your sponge in the bowl and squeeze gently to allow it to absorb some of the solution. Tea tree is a natural and powerful germicide that will also wipe out any odours that might be lingering in the sponge. Allow to soak for a couple of hours then rinse with fresh water and ring dry.
*Picture from Flickr, courtesy of NOAA Photo Library
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