Where to Keep the Sponge in the Kitchen (and Keep It Drier)

The kitchen sponge usually lives in the worst possible spot: flat on the edge of the sink or the counter, sitting in its own puddle. It never fully dries, it starts to smell, and in a small kitchen it takes up space you don't have. Where you keep the sponge matters more than most people think, because a sponge that can drain and dry between uses stays fresher. Here's where to keep it, and how to set it up without drilling.

What a good sponge spot needs

• Drainage. Water should drip away from the sponge, ideally straight into the sink, not pool under it.
• Air. A sponge that's open to the air on all sides dries faster than one lying flat or tucked in a closed cabinet.
• Close to the sink. If it's not within reach, it ends up back on the counter.
• Off the counter. Every inch of a small counter is worth keeping clear.

1. Hanging on the faucet (our pick for small sinks)

A holder that hangs on the faucet checks every box: the sponge sits in an open basket, water drips straight into the sink, and it takes up zero counter space. Our over-faucet sponge holder installs with no tools and no drilling.

Check the fit first: it fits round faucets 0.6 to 1.0 in (15 to 25 mm) in diameter, and it's not for square or flat faucets. To measure, wrap a strip of paper around the faucet where the holder will sit, measure the length of the strip, and divide by 3.14. Our guide to measuring before you buy walks through it.

2. On the wall or backsplash next to the sink

If your faucet is square, flat or the wrong size, the wall beside the sink is the next best place. The same sponge holder can also mount on a smooth wall, and suction or stick-on caddies work too. Look for one with an open or slotted bottom so water drains, and place it where drips land in the sink, not on the counter. Adhesive and suction need a smooth, clean surface like tile or glass; test adhesive on a small hidden spot first.

3. In a sink caddy

A caddy that sits on the sink ledge or hangs over the divider of a double sink keeps the sponge, brush and soap together. It's a fine option if you have a wide sink edge. In a tiny single sink, though, it takes up space you'll want for washing. Choose one with drainage holes and empty any water that collects in it.

Where not to keep it

• Flat on the counter or sink edge: it sits in its own water and never dries.
• In a closed cabinet or drawer: no airflow, so it stays damp.
• Inside a solid dish or soap tray with no drainage: it's a puddle with a rim.

Help your sponge dry faster

1. Rinse and squeeze it out hard after every use. Less water in, less drying time.
2. Stand it on its edge or hang it so more of it is open to the air.
3. Keep it out of the bottom of the sink, where food scraps and dirty water collect.
4. Swap it out as soon as it smells, stays slimy, or starts to fall apart. Keep a few spares in a drawer so it's easy to replace.

Set up the whole sink zone

The sponge is one part of a sink area that works. Hang your dish towel on a bar over the cabinet door below the sink so it's in reach and dries flat (see Where to Hang Dish Towels in a Small Kitchen), and keep the counter next to the sink clear for drying dishes. The over-faucet sponge holder is also part of our Renter Starter Kit, together with cabinet door storage boxes, cut-to-fit drawer dividers and chalkboard labels, with free shipping to the contiguous US.

For more renter-friendly fixes around the kitchen, read How to Organize a Small Apartment Kitchen Without Drilling.