Ask Wirecutter: How Do I Stop My Spouse From Leaving Wet Sponges in the Sink?

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Dear Wirecutter:

The worst sensation known to humankind is having to touch a wet, soggy kitchen sponge at the bottom of the sink. My husband does not care. Is there a sponge-holding option that will keep me from gagging every time I’m in the kitchen?

—K.H.

Oh, K. Because I am a meticulous sponge-squeezer, I didn’t fully comprehend your question until a childhood friend came to stay at my house. During their visit, I kept finding our Wirecutter-recommended Jetz-Scrubz Scrubber Sponge—which normally rests casually against the faucet spray nozzle to dry—languishing in a fetid pool at the bottom of our kitchen sink. Blech. I chose to suck it up for a few days because the house guest was doing dishes, and there’s no reason to upset that apple cart. But you have committed to your spouse for a lifetime! You can’t be forced to live like this forever.

I agree that what your husband is doing is gross. Soggy kitchen sponges are a great environment for bacteria to grow in, and your sponge will last longer if it’s kept dry and sanitized. Tell your husband that sponges last longer if they are wrung out after each use (and this will allow more of your budget to go toward fancy condiments).

A 2017 New York Times Trilobites column on kitchen sponges had some more wisdom for keeping them clean.

• Your sponge isn’t meant to be all-purpose. Use a paper towel to wipe up raw meat. And use a dedicated paper towel, sponge, or towel for the floor or any surface with a high risk of cross-contamination.
• Experts disagree on microwaving or putting your sponge in the dishwasher to clean it. The makers of the Jetz-Scrubz Scrubber Sponge claim it can be cleaned in the top rack of the dishwasher or in the microwave on low for 60 seconds.
• Replace your sponge when it starts to stink (and more frequently if you live with someone who is immunocompromised).

As far as behavior modification for your spouse goes, it’s a bit of a duh question: Have you mentioned this? Sometimes in relationships we think we’re being clear, but we’re really just screaming about our partner’s annoying traits in our heads. It seems your husband doesn’t even notice what he’s doing. So a gentle “looking at this nasty thing floating in a puddle of old coffee every day is taking years off my life, help me out here” might do the trick.

But if you’ve laid bare your pain, and your partner still can’t get it together, the Wirecutter staff has a few product-based solutions for you.

1. Buy a caddy or a dish to act as your sponge’s home base. Hopefully this will help deliver the message that the sponge has a place to live, and your partner will start returning it to its home. Although the following items have not been given the full Wirecutter vetting treatment, they are used daily and loved by Wirecutter staff members.
• Universal Kitchen Sink Magnetic Sponge Holder: The magnet sticks to the back side of your sink, so before you buy this one, make sure you can access that area.
• Yamazaki Home Faucet-Hanging Sponge Holder: This holder is simple and suction-cup-free!
• Sawyer Ceramics Handmade Stoneware Sponge Holder: “It’s like a hug for your sponge,” says kitchen staff writer Anna Perling.
• Any pretty plate: We like the Jono Pandolfi 6" Coupe Crudo Bowl.
2. Keep your caddy clean. Prevent mold and bacteria from growing by periodically washing and completely drying your sponge holder. (That includes any silicone gaskets that might need to be disassembled for cleaning, since those get really grody really fast.)
3. Just skip the sponge. Brushes take up more space, so they are less likely to get sodden and abandoned in the nether regions of the sink. We like the OXO Good Grips Dish Brush and the OXO Good Grips Bottle Brush. (Hot tip: If you buy the baby-bottle version of the brush, it comes with its own stand.) You could store the brushes in IKEA’s Ordning utensil holder, which has handy holes for airflow.

Either way, I hope that by establishing a system, you can gently bring your spouse onboard. Try not to let your irritation balloon every time your partner slips up, because at the end of the day, we all have annoying habits. You just might be the person who leaves your socks lying around everywhere or never recaps the toothpaste, and a little grace goes a long way.

If you have a dilemma related to buying, using, or maintaining your stuff, Wirecutter would like to help you solve it. Email your situation to [email protected].