I’ve never been a fan of the sponge and have always viewed them as bacteria, mildew and mold traps. When I see one in someone’s kitchen sink, I cringe. Do they wipe the that thing all over everything? Eek. And who would ever use one while bathing their bodies?? Using an old pouf or sponge can irritate sensitive skin and cause infection, say you have an open scrape on your body. I did a little digging to find whether the pouf, loofah or sponge is more of a health hazard than the other, and how to keep them squeaky clean.
I’ve always used a colorful synthetic shower pouf, thinking it’s airiness prevents any kind of growth. Turns out I’m wrong. Pretty much anything that attempts to dry in a humid/moist environment will be a bacteria petri dish. The benefit of the synthetic loofah is you only need to clean it about every 2-3 weeks by conveniently tossing it on the top rack of your dishwasher.
Loofah sponges are made from the dried innards of a gourd from the cucumber family. They are an excellent exfoliant providing healthy glowing skin, but they are higher maintenance. This type needs disinfecting once a week using a bleach mixture, dishwasher in the sterilize mode or in an extra hot laundry cycle. Or, you can even microwave it. It’s ready once it starts to steam.
Sea Sponges are said to contain a natural enzyme that inhibits bacteria growth, but they still need tending to once a month. You can soak it in a cup of warm water with one tablespoon of baking soda. This not only cleans the sponge, but helps maintain it’s structure. Be sure to never pop it in the microwave, boiling water or dryer, as it will harden the sponge.