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Asponge (/ˈspʌndʒ/SPUNJ) is a cleaning aid made of soft, porous material. Typically used for cleaning impervious surfaces, sponges are especially good atabsorbing water and water-based solutions.
Originally made from naturalsea sponges, they are most commonly made from synthetic materials today.
The word comes from theAncient Latin termσπόγγος (spóngos).[1]
The first reference of sponges used for hygiene dates fromAncient Greece. Competitors of theOlympic Games bathed themselves withsea sponges soaked in olive oil or perfume before competing. In the bookOdyssey by the Greek poetHomer, the godHephaestus cleans his hands, face, and chest with a sea sponge, and the servants in theOdysseus palace used sea sponges to clean the tables after the meals thesuitors of Penelope had there. The Greek philosophersAristotle andPlato mentioned sea sponges in both scientific and historic contexts in their works.[2][3]Ancient Romans used sea sponges extensively for hygiene. The belief that sponges had therapeutic properties led to their usage in medicine for cleaning wounds and treating disease.[2] Ancient Greeks and Romans also used sea sponges tied to sticks foranal hygiene, a tool known as thexylospongium, and washed them with sea water.[4]
In theNew Testament, a Roman soldier offersJesus Christ theHoly Sponge soaked in vinegar on the tip of his spear (some versions say staff) for Jesus to drink during hiscrucifixion.[3]
Synthetic sponges were made possible to be manufactured only after the invention ofpolyester in the 1920s and the commercial production ofpolyurethane foam in 1952.[5][6]
Synthetic sponges can be made of polyester, polyurethane, or vegetable cellulose. Polyurethane is used in polyester sponges for theirabrasive side. Polyester sponges are more common for dish washing and are usually soft and yellow.[7][8]Microplastics andnanoplastics can be released from kitchen sponges during use.[9]
Vegetable cellulose sponges made ofwood fiber are used more for bathing and skin cleaning, and are usually tougher and more expensive than polyester sponges.[citation needed] They are considered more eco-friendly than polyester sponges as they arebiodegradable and made of natural materials.[7][10]
A sponge can be a medium for the growth of harmfulbacteria orfungi, especially when it is allowed to remain wet between uses.[11] Studies have found some sponges can harborSalmonella bacteria for more than seven days.[12]
Several methods have been used to clean sponges. A 2009 study showed that the microwave and thedishwasher were both effective ways to clean domestic sponges.[13] Leaving sponges soaking in a dilute solution of dish detergent discourages bacterial growth.
Studies have investigated the use of themicrowave to clean non-metallic domestic sponges that have been thoroughly moistened. A 2006 study found that microwaving wet sponges for two minutes (at 1000 watt power) killed 99% ofcoliforms,E. coli, andMS2 phages, butBacillus cereus spores required four minutes.[13] After some fires were caused by people trying to replicate the results at home, the study's author urged people to make sure their sponges were wet before treatment.[14]
Countries around theCaribbean and theMediterranean Sea are the largest sea sponge exporters, whereas the largest importers are developedEuropean andNorth-American countries.Tunisia is the world's main sea sponge exporter, exporting 90% of its sponge production.[15]France is the main importer, being supplied by Tunisia, but France's sponge demand has fallen in recent years.[16]
| Exporters | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tunisia | 74 | 71 | 84 | 81 | 91 | 88 |
 Cuba | 36 | 33 | 38 | 33 | 41 | 41 |
 France | 25 | 26 | 33 | 31 | 35 | 30 |
 Greece | 32 | 42 | 36 | 27 | 32 | 22 |
 Bahamas | - | 8 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 14 |
 Turkey | 11 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
 Egypt | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
 Japan | - | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
 Philippines | 9 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
 Libya | - | - | - | 6 | 3 | - |
| Total | 192 | 202 | 232 | 213 | 245 | 225 |
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