5 Frugal Uses for Sea Sponges

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Popular today with spa goers and eco-enthusiasts looking to reduce waste, the sea sponge has actually been a home, health, and beauty tool for generations. While I’ve always been a fan, I was recently interested to learn that one of the main locations for sea sponge harvesting in the world is just down the road from me in Tarpon Springs, Florida. 

Sea sponges last a long time when properly cared for, making them a great natural product for those looking to go green and save money. Here are five frugal uses for sea sponges. (See also: 10 Ways to Go Green and Save Money at the Same Time)

Wash Your Car

Many car geeks prefer sea sponges because of the amount of sudsy water these things are able to hold. Also, they are great at drawing smaller dirt particles away from the painted surface of your automobile. This makes washing your car with a sea sponge even more frugal, since you save on paint touch ups as well as automatic vehicle washing fees.

Make Your Wine Glasses Sparkle

If you’ve never washed out your glassware with a sea sponge, you’re missing out. It’s one of my favorite kitchen hacks. As mentioned above, a natural sea sponge holds a ton of suds and water. It also provides terrific surface contact for cleaning glass, china, and other shiny dishes, helping to get all of the residue off in the first round of washing. I’ve also found that a sea sponge lasts longer than a bargain sponge, so I don’t need to replace it nearly as often.

Make a Sea Sponge Tampon

Interested in eco-friendly feminine hygiene, or just plain curious? Women have been incorporating sea sponge tampons into their menstrual routines since at least Roman times. There are commercially available sea sponge tampons, or you can cut a cosmetic-quality sea sponge to the desired size and let it expand internally to fit your body.

Apply Makeup

If you love to keep things natural by making your own beauty products, then using a sea sponge to apply your cosmetics is likely the next logical step. Try applying foundation and blush for a smooth finish, then rinse and dry for use another day. If the idea of the sea sponge tampon suggested above appeals to you, then you could purchase a box of cosmetic sponges to keep in your bathroom supply closet. That way, you’ll have replacements for both uses when you need them.

Add Luxury to a Bubble Bath

I’m always looking for ways to amp up the spa bathroom experience at home, and having a sea sponge on hand for late-night bubble bath is an affordable luxury I truly enjoy. Throw in a loofah and a lava rock, and the world is your eco-oyster.

Create a Custom Paint Job

Sure, color is the most important thing in painting a room. But if you really want to take design on a dime to the next level, try incorporating a sea sponge into your home decorating efforts. You can create a variety of different looks with your paint job that will bring a level of professionalism to your finished project. Just because you need to incorporate cheap decorating tricks to stay on budget doesn’t mean the end result needs to be anything less than spectacular.

As you can see, sea sponges are a natural product with many practical uses at home. For sea sponges for decorative and auto projects, look no further than your local hardware store. For cosmetic uses, check out online retailers, health food stores, and occasionally, the Dollar Tree.