Washing the Bath Sponge?

preissless1

So C sharted all over his bath sponge last night.  Is this something we can/should wash in the washing machine, or should we just buy a new one?  I feel like I should know the answer to this, but my sleep deprivation is stunting my logic.

To add insult to injury, after we washed out the tub and removed the sponge, filled up the tub again, he proceeded to pee in his new clean bathwater. 

Sofka

it's OK if he pees in the bath, I think every baby/toddler/kid does it, you are only supposed to remove them after pooping.

We use washclothes, not sponges and with a washcloth, I'd probably wash it b/c that's what I do with the clothes. But if it's really bad, I'd throw it out. Not sure about a sponge though!

 

smacb

Pee is sterile and ok in the tub.  we didn't use sponges either. We used washcloths.  I think it depends how bad it is.  Are the sponges machine washable?

Hey Jellisy

We wash our kitchen sponges in the dishwasher - that's where I would wash the bath sponge.  I don't know how a sponge would handle the oscillation of a clothes washer, it might break apart.

preissless1

We use wash cloths to bathe him, the bath sponge is the thing we put under his body at the bottom of the tub to support him.  It's contoured like this.

Oh, and we didn't change the water after he peed.  That was just the "of course he would pee after we changed the poopy bathwater" moment. 

tracy042206

I would either wash it in the washing machine on hot with some bleach or if it won't fit, let it soak in the tub in hot water and bleach and then rinse thoroughly.  People clean cloth diapers so I don't see why the sponge wouldn't come clean too.

kbalb

I know that it might be a waste of water, but I would wash it in the dishwasher on a light, sterile cycle with non-very dirty dishes.

BTW: Did you know you can wash (cheap) flip-flops in the dishwasher?  I read that in Real Simple last season and thought it was brilliant!

QueSrah

The idea of putting something with poop on it in the dishwasher grosses me out - I don't think I could handle things I eat off of being cleaned in the same place as something poop-covered.  I would throw it in the washing machine and if it breaks up in there just buy a new one.  Aren't they relatively cheap to replace?

belizeitornot

we don't use a bath sponge, but i microwave our kitchen sponges frequently to sterilize them. about 2 minutes for one of those ocello sponges. maybe it would work for yours?

ch ch ch chia

I'd get a new one...

The one we used was super cheap - around $5-6

It was this one:  https://www.albeebaby.com/safety-1st-comfy-bear-bath-sponge.html?utm_source=Google_Products&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=GoogleProducts

Not super cushy, but worked fine.

kbalb

QueSrah:

The idea of putting something with poop on it in the dishwasher grosses me out - I don't think I could handle things I eat off of being cleaned in the same place as something poop-covered.  I would throw it in the washing machine and if it breaks up in there just buy a new one.  Aren't they relatively cheap to replace?

Completely forgot it was pooped on!  I kinda agree.