9 ways you never thought to use a kitchen sponge

If you’re only using your kitchen sponges to wash dishes, you’re tapping just a fraction of their potential! Check out these extraordinary uses for the humble kitchen sponge.

Dip a sponge in water, place it in a ziplock bag and freeze overnight. These DIY ice packs are great to relieve pain from bumps and bruises, or you can throw one in a lunch box to keep your food cold.

Place a few dry sponges in the refrigerator’s fruit or vegetable crisper, then place your produce on top. The sponges will help absorb any excess moisture, keeping your fruit and veggies nice and crisp.

You can have a perfect at-home pedicure with the help of a regular (unused) kitchen sponge. Cut the sponge in half lengthwise. Then cut four slits, equal distance apart. Slide your toes in each cut and you’re ready for polish!

If you’re moving, or simply putting glassware into storage, try packing it with sponges. They’re affordable and the perfect texture to squeeze into any crevice. Place your valuable stemware and tumblers in a box, then surround each piece with a couple of sponges to prevent breakage.

Help your kids cut sponges into fun shapes, dip into paint and stamp onto paper. Or simply squeeze paint directly onto a sponge and go to town! They’ll love experimenting with different sponge painting techniques.

To easily remove pet hair from upholstered furniture, try this quick trick. Dampen a regular kitchen sponge, then wipe the fur-covered chair or sofa. Watch as the pet hair lifts away from the upholstery and sticks to the sponge like magic!

Here are some other strategies to reduce pet hair around the home.

Fridge smelling a little funky? Sprinkle a damp sponge with bicarbonate of soda and place on a refrigerator shelf (away from any food). The bicarb and sponge work together to absorb foul odours.

And while you’ve got the bicarb out, discover what else you can do with this miraculous product.

Place a sponge on your bathroom or kitchen sink and use it as a bar soap holder. The sponge absorbs any excess soap suds, keeps the soap dry and protects your benchtop.

Since you’re in the bathroom, find out what plants can add colour and purify the air.

Grab a small jam jar and roll up a sponge to fit inside. It should fill up the whole space. Pour nail polish remover into the container so that the sponge soaks it up. That’s it! Now simply dip your finger in the jar and rub it against the sponge to remove polish.

Here are a few clever things you can do with your nail polish.

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Source: Reader’s Digest Canada