Sewing ecological sponges

Back in January a lady I knew from school asked if I'm still taking sewing commands, as she wanted to order reusable sponges and kitchen cloths. I told her I haven't time to sew orders since I have my association and the crafting classes, but her request gave me a push as I have been thinking already about how a sponge could last longer in my kitchen. I normally use a sponge first for dishes and pots, then for cleaning windows and in the end for cleaning real dirty stuff, mainly in the basement. I once tried to wash a sponge in the dish washer to see if the light greasy touch would clean of, but it was even worse after.

So I surfed the internet and found plenty of ways to make sponges yourself. I liked the idea of using jute for the scratchy side best - mainly because I had it in the house ;-) and I took terry cloth for the other side (those I had also on stock from the time I have been sewing bibs - long long time ago)

In the first go I tried two models. The first one I stuffed with polyester cushion filling, as I like to have something in the hand when rubbing over a dirty pan. 

I thought the polyester filling might dry easily and so the microbes won't have a happy home in my kitchen, but it didn't work at all. The sponge stayed wet for days after using. So this one isn't the solution.

The second model I liked mainly because of the idea of having a strap to put the hand through while scrubbing. Inside is one layer of fleece.

This is a quite good one, but the strap isn't very practical. It is in fact disturbing. 

Both models aren't perfect but they showed that the jute and the terry cloth are very good materials for cleaning. The jute scratches enough to get crusts off, but not leaving marks on the surface like some other scratchy sponges. Washing those sponges isn't a problem neither and they don't mind the landry dryer!

I made model number 3 with two layers of fleece inside and no strap. The size for cutting the layers is about 10x15cm.

And with this ones I am very happy! :-)

I will soon make a whole bunch of them to have on stock. I already made a couple for a friend as a birthday gift and for having a tester! 

I will start long term tests to see how long they last and how often you can wash them before they'll fall appart. If I don't forget I'll post a résumé in half a year!

A bientôt,
Jane