Sponges are sold in a spectrum of colors but these bright hues serve a purpose beyond aesthetics.
It took me 40 years to stumble upon this information, and it explains why a few of my stainless-steel appliances have become scratched beyond recognition.
Those bright greens, yellows and blues form a practical coding system that signals each sponge's designated function, surface texture and absorption capacity. Learning to decode these colors helps protect your surfaces from scratches and minimizes cross-contamination risks throughout your household.
Choosing the right sponge for specific tasks protects your kitchenware and your family's health while also prolonging the lifespan of appliances and home surfaces.
Below you'll find a guide to sponge colors and their intended uses.
Green: The all-purpose workhorse
Greens sponges are tough and versatile. Scotch-Brite
These scouring pads are the workhorse of the home cleaning world: multipurpose, dependable and ready to tackle just about anything.
Often designated for general cleaning and dishwashing, they offer enough scrubbing power to remove midrange residue but can be used for tougher stains or even outdoor cleaning tasks. Basically, if you're not sure which sponge to grab, green means go.
They're too rough for glass, stainless steel and other sensitive surfaces, but for caked-on cast iron and a filthy fridge, nothing works quite as well.
... continue reading