How and what is the loofah sponge used for?

There are a few natural alternatives to synthetic sponges. One of them is the loofah sponge, which is one hundred percent vegetable and, If cared for properly, it can be used much longer than a conventional sponge.

Besides It can be used not only in the kitchen, but also for the care of our body, an important point if you value a house without waste or want to live as free of plastic as possible.

What exactly is a loofah sponge?

The loofah (Luffa cylindrica or Luffa aegyptiaca) belonging to the pumpkin familyCucurbitaceae). It grows as a climber in Asia, Australia and the South Pacific. The plant is also cultivated in Africa and Latin America.

The loofah fruit resembles a cucumber or zucchini and is mainly used as a vegetable in Asia. We use it above all as an alternative to plastic sponges. loofah sponge it is the dried pulp of the loofah fruit and is therefore a pure natural fiber sponge.

You can find many products made from loofahs, from sponges for the bath or kitchen to bands for back rubs. You will find them in some drugstores and in organic supermarkets.

How is the loofah sponge used?

The ingenious thing about loofah sponges is that You can use them both in the bathroom and in the kitchen. We show you how to use them optimally.

loofah in the kitchen

the natural sponge It is perfect for use in the kitchen to wash dishes and pans and to clean surfaces. Due to its fibrous consistency, loofah scrubs without scratching surfaces. You should not use it for very sensitive or rough surfaces that are best cleaned with a cloth.

loofah sponges They are also suitable if you want to clean the soil from potatoes and other vegetables. You just have to moisten the sponge with water and scrub the vegetables.

loofah in the bathroom

The loofah can also be used in a variety of ways in the bathroom. Given the does not contain harmful chemicals or dyes, our skin tolerates it fine and can be used for body care

You can use the natural loofah as a bath sponge to lather up, but it is also perfect for a massage that cleanses dead skin cells and stimulates the blood circulation.

You can do it after the shower, once a week. Rub the skin with very soft circular movements.

The natural sponge too can be used for the face. This is how you get rid of dead skin cells during facial care and your skin glows.

For the face, the loofah should only be used once a week, otherwise the effect is too strong. Run it under running water before use so it gets nice and smooth.

Last but not least, the loofah It is ideal for peeling the feet. Use it to slowly and gently remove hard skin.

How to care for loofah sponge

After each use, you should thoroughly rinse your natural loofah with soap and allow it to dry. Before storing it, it must be really clean and completely dry.

Also You can occasionally wash the loofah sponge at 60 °C in the washing machine. If you do, skip the fabric softener and put the natural sponge in a laundry bag.

If you have a microwave, dip the sponge in it for half a minute every once in a while to kill the bacteria.

If your loofah smells bad even after cleaning it, or if it starts to fall apart, you can throw it in the compost or in the brown container for organic waste.

4 reasons why you should trust the loofah sponge

Zero microplastics. Unlike conventional plastic sponges, it does not release microparticles that become a big problem.It is biodegradable. With good care and proper use, the loofah will outlast plastic sponges. And when it has deteriorated you can throw it in the compost pile or in a container for organic waste.You can grow them yourself. Like zucchini or cucumbers, loofahs can also be grown if there is no frost in your region. In autumn, pick the fruit, dry it, peel it, remove the seeds and cut it to the desired size. New plants can be grown from the seeds.