If Sponges Give You the Ick, You Need This $4 Gem (It Doesn’t Smell!)

Even though I’ve used dish sponges for most of my life, I totally understand why they give some people the ick. The porous material is a breeding ground for bacteria, and gives soggy bits of food plenty of places to hide (and get smelly over time). Lots of sponges promise to keep bad odors at bay, but few deliver. So you can imagine my surprise when I found one that actually does: Scotch-Brite’s Odor Resist Non-Scratch Sponge. 

Treated with an innovative antibacterial agent, the Odor Resist Sponge claims to keep odor-causing bacteria at bay for up to three weeks. It’s also easier to clean than your standard sponge; clingy foods like cheese and eggs rinse effortlessly off its surface, so nothing gets lodged inside. Together, the easy-clean design and antibacterial treatment disrupt the grime-to-odor pipeline, so your sponge stays fresh (and stink-free) for longer. Scotch-Brite says you can even put the sponge in the top rack of your dishwasher up to 20 times before it needs to be replaced (hooray for less waste!). 

The Odor Resist Sponge comes in packs of three and six, and can be used on virtually everything — from dishes and nonstick cookware to countertops, stovetops, and even bathtubs and showers. Its scrubby backside cleans it all without scratching. 

The Odor Resist Sponge might be the best sponge I’ve ever used — mostly because it really is quite easy to keep clean. Its scrubby surface is flat and fine, which allows scraped-off food particles to slide off with relative ease. The spongey side doesn’t appear all that different from other sponges at first glance, but after using mine for over two weeks I can say that I haven’t noticed any stinkiness (which means its antibacterial treatment must be doing its job!).

An issue I had with other sponges was that the scrubby side would start to shed after a while, leaving bits of what I assume are plastic fibers scattered in my sink. But I’m pleased to report that my Odor Resist Sponge has held up great after daily use. I love how the sponge’s fine, gritty backing is especially effective at gently buffing away dried-up food residue or burnt bits at the bottom of nonstick pans without causing any damage to their coating. What’s more, the sponge’s curvy shape feels soft and pliable in my hands, which makes it easy for me to wrap it around dishes and utensils.

The fact that you can get a three-pack of these game-changing sponges for only $4 is truly fantastic. I also love that the sponge’s longer lifespan means I don’t have to replace it as often, which gives me even more bang for my buck. 

Buy: Scotch-Brite Odor Resist Non-Scratch Sponges 3-Pack, $4