what to do with old sponge scourers any suggestions

COOLTRIKERCHICK

hi... just finished washing the dishes, and the sponge scourer is ready for the bin... or is it..

has anyone got any suggestions on what they can be used for after their washing life is over...

it does seem a waste..i know they are cheap enough to buy, but it does seen a waste....plus i hate putting things in the bin...if they can be reused or recycled in some way.....

pozalina

Not really got any suggestions here but feel the same way as you! I remember Penny Poyzer from that environmentally friendly programme telling off a family for putting the sponge things in the bin. She suggested using them to clean the bathroom - I already do!

A local nursery/school might be grateful for them cut up into quarters for sponge painting?

COOLTRIKERCHICK

hi... by the time i have finsished with my sponge scourers they are quite grubby, so i dont think that the school would be to pleased...

i have thought of cutting them up and putting them into my hanging baskets and pots to see if they would help retain water.....

what do you think...? would that work ?

wishingonastar_3

my granddad does just that in his hanging baskets of strawberries, he's been doing it for years. he swears it helps stop the water drying up so much, he puts a layer of them at the base of the basket,

hth

woas.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

thanks wishingonastar...so its been tried and tested..then....they can be used for pots and baskets..
great thats one extra use for them....lets see if there are other suggestions...

as it does look as though other people feel the same..about throwing them away.....

Caterina

When the sponges get grubby, you can boil them in a pan of water and vinegar (of course hehe!!!) for 10 minutes. This treatment disinfects and deodorises them and you might find that they still have a lot of life left after it.

In my family we call this 'Sponge Soup' because when the twins were little they saw me do this and asked me what I was doing, and I replied 'sponge soup for your dinner' - they went 'YEUGHHH' and it has remained our joke ever since.

HTH

Caterina

Bossyboots

I put mine in the washing machine with the floor cloths. They will go through several washes before they need to be pensioned off.

ariba10

You could put them in a box and tell the kids they are Shreadedwheat.

astonsmummy

i wash mine in the washing machine and use them to wash pans and baking trays.

filigree_2

I wash mine, they go a bit tatty but they're ok for dirty jobs like cleaning the loo. After that I do throw them in the bin.

Chipps

I wash mine, too. There are all sorts of jobs they can be used for before they finally look beyond use.
But now that I have seen the suggestion about the hanging baskets etc, I think I can extend their life even longer!
Don't forget that you can give them a burst in the microwave to sterilise them, before they get to the stage of needing their first wash!