Gardeners are being encouraged to repurpose their old dishwashing sponges by putting them in their gardens. Washing up sponges can contribute significantly to your garden’s nourishment, promoting flower growth, aiding fruits and veggies, and fortifying hedges. This is because natural sponges can be added to the compost bin, creating a fertile and beneficial soil enhancer.
Traditionally, compost heaps have been thought to only accommodate garden waste such as leaves, withered flowers, and kitchen scraps like potato skins, banana peels, and spoiled apples. These items gradually decompose into a nutrient-dense mulch useful for enriching soil quality and supporting plant growth.
Beyond these typical additions, however, your compost heap can benefit from a host of other household items, including non-synthetic washing-up sponges.
Richard King, a gardening guru and director at Dino Decking, revealed how to use waste creatively by listing unexpected compostable materials that could make your garden flourish.
He said: “As we start spring coming in with longer days and warmer temperatures, gardeners will now see their compost piles thrive and for those who are just starting theirs, now is a great time to get recycling.
“Compost heaps are great for the soil, feeding plants rich nutrients and are a great way to give back to nature. By composting these often-overlooked materials, you’re reducing waste while enriching your soil with diverse nutrients.”
According to Richard, old sponges made from natural sources, such as loofah or cellulose, can be repurposed by chopping them up and adding them to the compost.
This helps balance the nitrogen-rich materials and absorbs water, maintaining the ideal damp conditions for microbial activity.
However, synthetic kitchen sponges should not be composted, as they can introduce toxins into the compost.
Richard also recommends incorporating bread and pastries into the compost. He added: “Plain bread, cracker crumbs, and even stale mince pies (minus the foil obviously) can be composted as long as they aren’t covered in butter or dairy.”
Baked goods serve as carbon-rich “browns” that counterbalance the “greens” from fruit and vegetable scraps, promoting a balanced and diverse compost mix.