I know I'm not the only one who gets this. Don't you hate when you leave the washcloth or sponge in the sink and it gets that gross metallic smell to it. I just replaced the last one yesterday and some time last night the new one must have fallen out of it's dish. So now THIS one smells too! I'd hate to trash it because it's new but the smell is so bad and it transfers to your hands too. Does anyone else have this problem and if so what have you done to save the sponge and get rid of the smell!? 

Make sure you rinse it out COMPLETELY...I had this issue SO many times until I started making sure I got every drop of soap and water out (that I possibly could)...and I set it on a saucer on the counter to dry...

I have heard you can microwave them too...I have not attempted THAT though...Lol. 

I don't use washcloths or sponges to "wash" the dishes I use my dishwasher religiously. But I do use a sponge to get the big pieces of food off of the items before putting them into the dishwasher. While my mom was here visiting, about 3-4 times a week, she would put my sponge in the dishwasher and run it through. That always seemed to help. I just use a new one every week. But we also have a water softener tank set up so ours doesn't have that bad of a smell. 

I just throw mine into the washing machine! I put them in with a load of whites and I use bleach. You can dry them in the dryer too, but usually I just take them out and put them back in the kitchen. I have never had mine get smelly. 

I don't use washcloths or sponges to "wash" the dishes I use my dishwasher religiously.

Toni - I wish I could rely on my dishwasher...Lol. Ours is craptacular - I have had to call maintenance out four times within the past year for one thing or another. We have a brand new microwave, stove/oven, and fridge...but the dishwasher is older and it SUCKS.

However...I should try running my sponge through a cycle...I love my sponge and would rather not have to get a new one every week...lol. 

I don't have that problem, my sink is cast iron with a black enamel finish. Heavy as all get out, but no stain or metal issues for me. 

You can also use a microwave safe dish and fill it with water... submerge the sponge and "cook" for about 5 mins. The sponge comes out clean and smells new again. 

Really? That seems neat, where did you hear that?

I am pretty sure I was googling something about the smell. Lol. Supposedly it kills the bacteria or whatever...

Googled it again - Microwaving sponges 

It's not that it's smelling from the soap or it being wet. It will smell when it get's left IN the sink. It will be fine left in the soap dish but as soon as it stays sitting in the sink even for the smallest amount of time, for whatever reason it gets a metallic smell off the sink. I've even scrubbed the heck out of the sink, thinking maybe it was the sink itself that smelled but it still happens. 

Thanks Sapphire, i'll try that! 

Supposedly it kills the bacteria or whatever...

Yes I had heard it kills the bacteria, but I always feel that it really isn't "clean". I guess I gotta see soap to feel that it really is clean lol.

Lauren you should try calling the central housing line and tell them that maintenance has been out 4 times, and you are tired of it not working properly and you would like to get a new dishwasher. 

I wash mine too. Or you can spray it a few time with cleaner and wring out completely. 

It's not that it's smelling from the soap or it being wet. It will smell when it get's left IN the sink. It will be fine left in the soap dish but as soon as it stays sitting in the sink even for the smallest amount of time, for whatever reason it gets a metallic smell off the sink. I've even scrubbed the heck out of the sink, thinking maybe it was the sink itself that smelled but it still happens.

Try washing your sinks out with bleach frequently..and just don't leave the sponge in the sink. I have a black wire basket that I keep my sponges in and I put clean kitchen towel in the bottom of the basket so that the wet sponges don't rust my basket. 

Lauren you should try calling the central housing line and tell them that maintenance has been out 4 times, and you are tired of it not working properly and you would like to get a new dishwasher.

Well - so far we have not had any major issues since the last time they came out (about three months ago)...the only thing I have an issue with is the white residue from the water being so hard...but I run an empty cycle with CLR and it fixes it. If I have to call again - I plan on calling housing. Bleh on crappy appliances. Lol. 

Bleh on crappy appliances. Lol.

I hear ya 

You can boil water & then put your sponge in it to kill bacteria/smell.
I think you need to leave it in the boiling water for 5 minutes.
I just did it last week & my sponge is as good as new. 

Microwaving them actually works, it completely kills 100% of that bacteria. Good House keeping suggests you microwave them for 3 minutes when you are done with them. It completely dries them out so no mildew or any other bacteria can grow. 

Thanks for all the advice ladies! 

" Good House keeping suggests you microwave them for 3 minutes when you are done with them. It completely dries them out so no mildew or any other bacteria can grow.  "


Holy moly! 3 minutes? I do 2 minutes and make sure the sponge is saturated. If they dry out in the micro, they'll burn. Burnt sponge smells way worse than moldy sponge. 

i throw my sponges in the dishwasher, i can't stand wet rags/washcloths in the kitchen sink. 

I never had one burn PV. 

Yep either the dishwasher, or I microwave mine as well. 

I buy the bulk pack and change it out every three days and put it through the dishwasher daily. I'm also anal about keeping my sink clean, so no stink there. 

I never had one burn PV. 


Huh, I have. Maybe I'll try 3 minutes next time. 

They also have all natural/organic sponges that you just put in the dishwasher to sanitize too. 

pop ur sponge in the microwave... make sure it had water in it of course.. and dont touch it right away when u want to take it out lol its gonna be hot!