Why should we leave a dish sponge in the freezer? This is its secondary utility that few people know.
We are all familiar with the classic dishwashing sponge, the yellow and green one consisting of a soft side and an abrasive side. We often use it to wash and degrease dishes, to clean the bathroom or many other surfaces and objects. Its primary use is generally for cleaning. Yet there is another way to use it totally unexpected. Let’s find out together.
The dish sponge
Yellow and green sponges for dishes are very common and very versatile, present in practically every kitchen. These sponges, mainly used in the kitchen for washing dishes, are designed with a softer side, usually yellow, and a rougher side, green. There are also other colors and different shapes on the market, but the composition always includes a larger and softer part and a thinner rough part. Thanks to their structure, they are perfect for different types of cleaning, both in the kitchen and in other domestic and non-domestic environments.
The soft side is ideal for soaping and gently cleansing, while the rough side is particularly effective at scraping away stubborn dirt, such as that found on pots and pans. Essential for effective cleaning, these sponges are a valuable tool for simplifying dishwashing activities and more, especially if accompanied by soap or degreaser. Yet, as with the many objects that populate our homes, these sponges also have an alternative use that involves storing them in the freezer.
Sponge in the freezer, an alternative solution
Why should we put the dish sponge in the freezer? Definitely not to get a better result when washing dishes. Indeed, for the use we will make of it, it is advisable to use a new sponge. First of all, although new, it is advisable to wash it to soften it and, while we are at it, sanitize it properly. Once this is done, get an airtight bag for food and insert the sponge inside, which you can then place in the freezer.
In a short time, depending on the refrigeration time of your appliance, you will have transformed a simple dishwashing sponge into something really useful, namely a homemade “instant ice”, useful both for bruises, fever or even to maintain the temperature in the cooler.
In this way we will have a versatile and completely recyclable object, as unlike the cooling gels that can be purchased on the market, the sponge can always be “thawed” to be used to wash dishes or clean surfaces or tiles at home. In addition, its small footprint also makes it very practical to keep in the freezer without reducing the space for food.
And if when we wash the dishes we use the sponge with detergent, why not refrigerate the latter too?
Detergent in the freezer
As well as the sponge, dishwashing detergent is also very useful if frozen. It can be easily poured into an airtight bag and then placed in the freezer to obtain an object very similar to bags containing cooling gel. Also in this case we will have a useful product for different needs that has much less impact on the environment around us.
