Picking the right bath sponge means comparing the material, durability, washability, shape and overall aesthetics of the sponge. Cost is also a factor. Bath sponges are basic hygiene items people use to cleanse their bodies, and because people have different preferences when it comes to bathing, several sponges may need to be tried before finding the right fit.
People do not have the same type of skin. Thus, one of the first things to check when selecting the best bath sponge is the components from which the sponge is made. This includes the basic material, but also any dyes or additives to prevent wear or mold. Often, people with sensitive skin do better with all-natural sponges that are only mildly abrasive. For someone who needs to exfoliate more deeply, such as a person with mild eczema, a slightly more abrasive sponge might be more appropriate.
Next, evaluate the durability of the sponge. Even though sponges are considered disposable hygiene tools, they have to stand up to the friction present when a person bathes or showers. No loose seams should be present, and the sponge should not rip easily. The sponge should not become overly brittle or start to disintegrate when exposed to agents common in shampoos, conditioners, bath gels, soaps and bath creams. In general, natural bath sponges tend to win out in the durability department.
Related to durability is the concept of cleaning and drying. The best bath sponges are ones that have an airy or porous design despite holding water or a hygiene product well. This characteristic allows the sponge to dry quickly, which translates to better control of bacteria growth on the sponge. Synthetic materials often dry faster than natural ones. To further keep the sponge in a hygienic condition, the consumer should be able to toss the sponge into the laundry without worry.
Once it's clear the bath sponge is a good fit for the skin type and is durable, dryable and cleanable, look at the overall shape of the sponge. Some sponges fit more easily into the hands than others. Others are shaped to allow the user to reach hard-to-access areas of the body such as the middle of the back. The fact everyone has a slightly different body shape means that the bath sponge that works for one person might not be the best for someone else, especially if the bath sponge naturally has a little more stiffness to it.
Having considered all the functional aspects of the sponge, the consumer can move on to looking at the aesthetics of the sponge. For instance, if a person has a blue bathroom, they might want a blue bath sponge to match. Similarly, a person might look at whether the bath sponge has an image or character that suits their personality and interests. Young children, for instance, often enjoy sponges depicting animals, or which have a character as part of the handle.
Finally, look at the cost of the item. Although an excellent sponge can be worth a little extra cost, after about three weeks, the consumer needs to replace the sponge with a new one — if the sponge is mesh, the consumer should toss it after eight weeks. This ensures that the sponge doesn't breed bacteria and guarantees that the abrasiveness of the sponge stays at the appropriate level. The ideal sponge has a cost high enough to represent good quality but low enough to make disposing of the sponge as necessary affordable.
