How To Make Reusable Dish Sponges The Easy Way!

We have a fun new sewing project that will save you money. Today on Beginner sewing projects, I’m going to show you How To Make Reusable Dish Sponges The Easy Way! Many of you have asked me in the comments when I was going to do a write-up on reusable sponges. This quick and simple sewing tutorial is great for any skill level. You can make these little sponges for much cheaper than you can buy in-store, too! I ended up being able to make these for less than a dollar each because I found my fabrics on sale. I was tired of my store-bought sponges not lasting very long, especially for the cost. With seemingly everything going up in price, I decided to make my own and I love how they turned out. These sponges are great for general cleaning and dishwashing. You can make your sponges thicker or thinner depending on how much batting you use. You don’t need very much fabric to make these so you can give some away as gifts. This project will make 8 sponges from ¼ yard of fabric. You can pick out some fabric to match your kitchen decor or just get what was on sale like I did. 

For this project, you’ll need some basic sewing supplies like pins, matching thread, scissors or a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler. As far as fabric goes, you’ll need some cotton fabric, cotton batting, some washcloths, and a mesh bag to give your sponge some texture. I just used the leftover bag my avocados came in and it worked great. Gather up all your supplies from the list below and let’s get started!

What You’ll Need:

• ¼ yard cotton fabric ($4.44 per yard at Walmart = $1.11 per ¼ yard)
• ¼ yard cotton batting ($2.97 per yard at Walmart = $0.74 per ¼ yard)
• 1 washcloth (we got ours in a pack of 2 from The Dollar Tree)
• Mesh bag from Avocados, lemons, potatoes, etc.
• Matching Thread
• Scissors
• Rotary Cutter, Cutting Mat, & Ruler
• Washable marker
• Sewing Machine
• Iron or heat press
• Thread Clippers
• Sewing Clips
• Turning tool

Skill Level: Beginner

• Approximate time to complete: 15-20 minutes
• Approximate cost to make: $0.73 per sponge (each ¼ yard can make 8 sponges)

How To Make Reusable Dish Sponges The Easy Way!

The first step on this how to make reusable dish sponges the easy way sewing tutorial is to wash, dry, and iron your cotton fabric pieces. This process acts like a preshrink so that your stitches don’t pull out the first time you wash your reusable sponge (more on that later). Then, you can start cutting out all your material. You’ll need to cut (1) 4 ½” x 6” pieces from your cotton fabric, mesh, washcloth and 2-4 pieces from the cotton batting (depending on how thick you want your sponge)

Your pieces should look like the photo above when you are done.

On your flat work surface, layer your pieces as follows: (1) cotton piece right side up, (1) piece of mesh, (1) piece of a washcloth, the other cotton piece right side down, and the cotton batting on top. Pin or clip the layers together.

Now on this reusable sponge sewing project, it’s time to sew! Using a 1/4” seam allowance, sew all the layers together, leaving a 3-4” gap for turning on one of the long sides. This gap is so you can turn the sponge right side out in a later step.

Clip the corners to remove bulk, being careful not to clip through the stitching. This will help you turn it right side out in the next step.

Using your turning tool or a chopstick or a pen, turn the sponge right side out between the mesh and washcloth layers, pushing out the corners. Tuck in the raw edges of the opening and pin or clip closed.

For the last step in this diy reusable dish sponges sewing project, topstitch around the entire sponge, making sure to close the turning gap. Finally, topstitch around the sponge again 1/4-inch to the left from the first topstitch line. 

And that’s it! Now you know how to make reusable dish sponges the easy way! When your sponge is dirty, you can place it in the washing machine and air dry. These little sponges are a great alternative to store-bought ones. I think they last longer and do a better job honestly. This is a super simple sewing project that you will be able to make for the rest of your life. I have made these reusable sponges so long, I can’t even remember when I first started using them.

I get a lot of comments and questions about how to care for reusable sponges. I usually wash mine in the top rack of the dishwasher. You can also wash them in the washing machine on a light setting with other dish towels. If you go this route, just be sure to tumble dry low, no heat. You don’t want to mess up your sponges. You can also soak in bleach for 30-60 seconds and then simply rinse. No matter how you wash them, I recommend rinsing and squeezing out your sponges after each use. Enjoy!

If you liked learning how to make reusable dish sponges the easy way, make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make this simple project on your own, be certain that you take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the fabrics and color choices that people use!

More Fun Sewing Projects:

• How To Make A Doll Dress The Easy Way
• How To Make A Nursing Arm Pillow
• DIY Ironing Board Organizer
• How To Sew A Half Apron With Pockets

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