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Sponges Around the Sink?

051508_sponges.jpgAt the risk of sounding incredibly dumb, I discovered last night that my kitchen has one of those sink front trays (they're located directly below the sink, and they flip out so you can store sponges). Yes, it took me a year to find it. A year! And during the past 365 days, I've been slinging the sponge in a suction-cup wire holder attached to the side of the sink to minimize clutter in that area. How do you store your sponges in the kitchen and bathrooms?

[ Photo from Chez Larsson ]

Comments (18)

via a suction-cup wire holder attached to the side of the sink to minimize clutter in that area

posted by kimg924 on 2008-05-16 13:53:24
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i keep mine on a special small plate by the sink. somehow it seems sanitary... don't trust the sponge tray for some reason

posted by Nevi on 2008-05-16 13:57:58
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I installed those sink trays in the front and use them. I have two one for the brush and one for the sponge and drain stopper. I grew up with them so it was one of the first things I did we got the condo.

posted by Signe on 2008-05-16 14:03:37
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I have a colorful little teacup on the corner of my sink where I keep a small Trader Joe's sponge.

posted by clancy on 2008-05-16 14:17:09
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I like the sponge to be able to dry out and not stay damp, so I put a suction cup wire holder in the kitchen. In the bathroom, I installed a corner wire basket under the pedestal sink. Unobtrusive, and lets the sponge and gloves I use for cleaning the bathroom dry out between uses.

posted by 212gretchen on 2008-05-16 14:17:28
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My kitchen sponge sits on a large flat rock, on the counter next to the sink - because I'm all zen like that.

posted by blackbird on 2008-05-16 14:22:10
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I use a small vintage pedestal candy dish next to the sink to hold stopper, sponge, and scrubbers.

posted by Courtney S on 2008-05-16 14:32:23
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I don't--I use a soft-bristled brush which permanently lives in the dishwasher (and gets washed each time to dishwasher runs).

posted by Molly Margarita on 2008-05-16 14:41:00
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mine lives in one of those green plastic containers you get strawberries in

posted by jenny! on 2008-05-16 15:14:06
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mine was resting on the dish drainer in the sink until I went outside and discovered it torn up into pieces all over the lawn. Apparently my dog thought this was a good way to keep the sponge fresh.

posted by Seaside on 2008-05-16 15:23:40
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"How do you store your sinks in the kitchen and bathrooms?" lol i had to.... its friday afternoon and i am bored at work!

to answer the question you're really asking, i store my sponge on the side of the sink, on the stainless steel sink but i hate that and tend to not use it because it doesn't feel sanitary... if i had a little sponge dryer, i'd be happy. but i would also feel excessive!

posted by sarahjam on 2008-05-16 15:28:54
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It has its own little niche on the dish drainer.

Where are those bird sponges from? They are adorable.

posted by Cassis on 2008-05-16 15:56:38
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Yes, seconding the bird sponges comment, they are so cute!

posted by Amphetamine on 2008-05-16 16:05:13
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I got little fishies that have a hole in their tails so they hang from the faucet to dry from Cosa Bella, I think, from Ross when I was looking for a white blanket my black cats could get their fur all over. Wasn't looking for sponges, but I thought it was funny given that Cashmere likes "tuna juice" that my parents and sister give me for her, since I am a vegetarian. Decor and my cats: at least I have a black leather sofa that they like to toast themselves on when it's sunny.

posted by kaanswfm on 2008-05-16 18:47:48
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Mine hangs out on a little sushi dish (shaped like a fish) I got from Cost Plus. But my parents have the little pull out trays that were talked about at the beginning of the post and I loved them when I still lived with my parents.

posted by girlonthem00n on 2008-05-16 19:02:05
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Watch out with stainless steel and dishsoap -- the detergent will corrode and pit the steel slowly over time. It's not a good idea to store detergent bottles and soapy sponges directly on the steel.

I installed an in-sink soap dispenser to keep the sink clear of bottles, and keep the sponge in the dishrack.

http://showerbuddy.com/Showroom/Kitchen_Fixtures-Discount_Kitc/Kitchen_Accessories/Kitchen_Sink_Soap_Dispenser/Moen_Soap_Dispenser/moen_soap_dispenser.html

posted by nashdp on 2008-05-16 22:12:08
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I keep all of my kitchen/dish cleaning supplies in a bread box by the sink. This keeps the dish soap and sponges out of sight (but handy) when not in use.

posted by RichardinLA on 2008-05-17 07:46:05
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a nice trick for those of us obsessively concerned about hygiene:

get your sponges good and sopping wet, and microwave them on high for two minutes.  lab analysis has shown this to be a quite effective way of disinfecting them (and thus also helps with smells).  just don't put them in dry, because they will catch on fire!

posted by le_sacre on 2008-05-17 09:30:38
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