03 Mar 2026
smol’s plastic-free sponge cheat sheet:
- Arrive flat-packed. Expand in water (then stay that way)
- Made from plastic-free cellulose (plant fibre)
- Tough on washing up and gentle on surfaces
- Washable in the dishwasher or washing machine (up to 90°C)
- Flat-pack design means less bulk in transit.
What’s actually in your average kitchen sponge? Brace yourself…
Researchers in Germany¹ analysed used kitchen sponges in the home and found 362 different species of bacteria with up to 45 billion bacteria per cm². That’s similar to the inside of a toilet. Eeek.
More on how to keep things clean later… but aside from all those germs…
most kitchen sponges contain plastic.
Yep. And because sponges shed tiny fragments as they wear down, that plastic doesn’t just disappear. It washes away down our drains and hangs around in our waterways.
So we asked a simple question: what if a sponge didn’t need plastic at all?
what makes our sponges different?
Our smart sponges are made from cellulose. A plant fibre sourced from sustainably managed FSC forests.
- No plastic fibres
- No unnecessary extras
- Just a simple material that does the job fantastically
Here’s what else you’ll love. They’re:
- Super absorbent (soak up around 15x their own weight)
- Hard-wearing enough for everyday kitchen chaos
- Perfect for wiping worktops, washing up and wiping spills
And because they’re made from plants, we think they feel different too. Softer and more “spongey”.
flat-pack genius.
Here’s the fun part. Your smol sponges arrive flat because shipping air around the country is a bit silly. So we remove the bulk before they reach you. Here’s how it works:
- Take your sponge out of the paper wrapper
- Dip it in water
- Watch it instantly expand
- It will stay that way for good
why flat is better.
The flat design means:
- They take up less storage space in your cupboards
- Less wasted space in transit
- Smarter shipping
- Less packaging required
keeping your sponge clean.
Despite spending its life alongside multi purpose spray or washing up liquid, a kitchen sponge works hard and needs a little TLC to be at its most fresh. Luckily that’s super simple. After each use:
- Rinse thoroughly
- Squeeze out excess water
- Allow to dry fully
And whenever they need a deeper clean, just pop them in the dishwasher or wash in the washing machine (up to 90°C, with similar colours).
smol sponge FAQs.
why do smol sponges arrive flat?
They’re compressed to remove unnecessary bulk during storage and shipping. Hold them under running water or dip them in a sink and they’ll expand to their full size then stay that way for good.
what are smol sponges made from?
They’re made from cellulose which is a plant fibre sourced from sustainably managed FSC forests. They do not contain plastic.
are they durable enough for everyday washing up?
Yes. They’re designed for all your daily kitchen cleaning.
can I wash my sponge?
You can refresh it in the dishwasher or washing machine (up to 90°C). Allow it to dry fully between uses.
are they scratchy?
Not at all. They’re tough on mess but gentle on most everyday kitchen surfaces.
¹ Microbiome analysis of used kitchen sponges. Scientific Reports in 2017