- Organic sponges of animal origin
- Organic sponges of plant origin
- Synthetic sponges
- Metallic foam sponges
- References
Sponges are obtained from species of animal sponges, from species of plant origin and from synthetic materials such as polyurethane. Sponges are multipurpose utensils found in most homes.
Due to their absorbent capacity, they are ideal for handling liquids, either to be used as a means of transporting detergents and disinfectants or to absorb liquid and dirt during cleaning.
Sea sponge
In addition, as its porous texture tends to allow air to pass through, it favors the creation of bubbles and foam that are ideal for cleaning and grooming.
Some industrially manufactured synthetic sponges also include a layer of also synthetic scouring pad, usually pine green in color, ideal for removing grease and dirt from surfaces.
But why are household cleaning sponges so different from personal hygiene ones? The answer lies in the origin of the sponges, or more specifically, in the material with which they were made.
There are natural sponges of animal or vegetable origin and synthetic sponges, industrially made of polyurethane or metal.
Organic sponges of animal origin
Animal sea sponge (Aplysina archeri). Source: Nhobgood (talk) Nick Hobgood / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Poriferous or marine sponges are multicellular invertebrate animals, of which more than 9000 different species are known.
It is believed that they were discovered by the Egyptians and their use for toilet was common during the Roman Empire.
The use of marine sponges for grooming has existed for more than 2000 years, but today its use in the home is scarce due to the drastic decrease in the volume of the species and the development of artificial synthetic alternatives.
Organic sponges of plant origin
Luffa aegyptiaca. Source: Uploaded by User: Tomas nevado (right photo), Jerry Crimson Mann (upper left photo), Rik Schuiling / TropCrop - Tropical Crops Services (bottom left photo), montage by User: RoRo. / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
The well-known loofahs or vegetable sponges are fruits of the Cucurbitaceae family, directly related to the cucumber, very popular in Asia.
There are several species, but the most widely used is Luffa aegyptiaca, native to Vietnam but currently cultivated in various parts of the world.
When the fruit ripens it is highly fibrous and after a drying process only this fiber remains. It has been used for centuries to cleanse the skin.
Although they are not as absorbent as traditional sponges, they are capable of retaining a certain amount of liquid which, together with their fibrousness, make them ideal, natural and eco-sustainable scourers.
Synthetic sponges
After the development of plastic polymers in the 20th century, synthetic sponges were created, of which the “yellow with green” sponges that are traditionally seen in kitchens stand out.
The yellow coating is made of polyurethane, a type of plastic quite common in the last 50 years. It is normally porous and highly absorbent thanks to these openings, while the green coating is used to remove grease and tough stains and tends to be relatively abrasive, sometimes comparable to sandpaper.
That is why it is recommended to avoid the use of this type of sponge on Teflon pans, because their aggressiveness could deteriorate the non-stick surface that covers their surface.
Metallic foam sponges
Metal sponges are made primarily of aluminum, which is treated in such a way that pores are created on its surface.
These pores are made after injecting gas into the molten metal after combining the aluminum with some material that promotes the creation of foam, similar to what baking powder would do in a dough.
Some sponges for home use are made of a synthetic base covered by metallic threads or may simply come as a swarm of metallic threads without any other material.
The amount of air between the metal wires can retain a certain amount of liquid, but their use is focused more on their abrasive capacity than absorption.
References
- This Old House - 10 Uses for Sponges. Taken from.thisoldhouse.com
- University of Minnesota - Growing luffa grouds Taken from extension.umn.edu
- Earthlife - The Phylum Porifera. Taken from earthlife.net
- Wikipedia - Ethylene-vinyl acetate. Taken from en.wikipedia.org
3M - Scoth Brite. Taken from scotch-brite.com.