Koh UK logo
Koh UK logo
All articles

How do you wash Dish Sponges?Updated 4 hours ago

TL;DR: Rinse Dish Sponges under running water with a little Dishwashing Liquid after use. For a deeper clean, machine wash them in a laundry bag on a cold or delicate cycle up to about 30°C. Skip bleach and fabric softener, then air-dry them fully.


Read on ↓

Koh Dish Sponge in use
Koh Dish Sponges 6pk

How do you wash Dish Sponges?

You can wash Dish Sponges by hand or in the machine. For a quick refresh, rinse the sponge under running water with a little Dishwashing Liquid, rub it to release the soil, and rinse again. For a deeper clean, put the sponges in a laundry or wash bag and machine wash on a cold or delicate cycle at up to about 30 degrees Celsius with Sensitive Laundry Sheets. Avoid bleach and fabric softener.

Quick hand wash

Rinse under running water with a little Dishwashing Liquid, rub to release the soil, then rinse again and squeeze gently.

Every use Quick refresh

Machine wash

Put the sponges in a laundry bag and run a cold or delicate cycle at up to about 30°C with Sensitive Laundry Sheets.

Laundry bag Cold or delicate Max 30°C

⚠ Never use bleach or fabric softener

Both break down the natural cellulose fibres faster and affect how well the sponge composts at end of life. Skip them in the sink and in the machine.

No bleach No softener

How should I dry and store them?

Let Dish Sponges air-dry completely between uses. Wring out the excess water gently without twisting, then leave the sponge somewhere with good airflow rather than sitting in a full sink. Direct sunlight helps it dry faster and stay fresher where that is practical.

Dry it fully

Leave the sponge out until it is completely dry. Trapped moisture is what makes a sponge smell, not the sponge itself.

Dry fully Between every use

Airflow and sunlight

Store it somewhere ventilated rather than in a damp sink corner. A spell in direct sunlight helps where practical.

Good airflow Sunlight helps

⚠ Wring, do not twist

Twisting a wet sponge hard snaps the cellulose fibres and is one of the quickest ways to shorten its life. Squeeze the water out gently instead.

Squeeze gently No hard twisting

When should I replace a Dish Sponge?

Replace the sponge when it becomes excessively worn, loses its shape, or develops an odour that washing no longer removes. With good care a sponge lasts up to about 5 weeks. A sponge that crumbles, tears, or no longer soaks up water has reached the end of its useful life.

Time for a fresh one when

1

It still smells after washing. That is the clearest signal.

2

It crumbles or tears. The cellulose fibres have broken down.

3

Absorbency has gone. It no longer soaks up water properly.

Expected life

Up to about 5 weeks with good care. Rinsing, wringing gently and drying fully between uses is what gets you there.

Up to 5 weeks Care extends life

Where can I read more about Dish Sponges?

Other articles cover using a sponge day to day, how long one should last, and how to compost it at end of life.

How to use them

Hydrating, using and caring for a Dish Sponge day to day. Read the how-to

Disposing of them

Home compost, industrial compost, and why they are not kerbside recyclable. Read the disposal guide

Koh Dish Sponges

Dish Sponges

6-pack of wood-pulp cellulose sponges. Plastic-free, machine washable and home compostable.

Koh Dishwashing Liquid

Dishwashing Liquid

The natural pairing for dishes, glassware and greasy cookware.

Browse all Dish Sponges articles

Last reviewed: August 2026 · Koh UK

how do you wash dish sponges, wash dish sponges uk, dish sponge machine wash, dish sponge laundry bag, dish sponge hand wash, dish sponge 30 degrees, dish sponge no bleach, dish sponge air dry, dish sponge care uk, clean dish sponges, koh dish sponges

Was this article helpful?
Yes
No