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See why.The Best Sponge Holders
A device that keeps kitchen sponges handy—and off the sink bottom—means easier, safer cleanup every day.
By Published Feb. 17, 2022
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See Everything We Tested
What You Need To Know
We tested kitchen sponge holders made in a variety of designs, seeking models that were simple to attach to the sink and could easily fit a typical kitchen sponge. They should take up minimal space and stay anchored even if struck by pans or hands while the sink is in use. Plus, they should allow excellent air circulation to help sponges dry out as much as possible between uses, which helps thwart bacterial growth and extend the sponges’ usable life.
Our favorite sponge holder, the SunnyPoint NeverRust Kitchen Sink Suction Holder, met all our requirements. With a pair of large suction cups, it attached securely to our sinks, and it offered plenty of space to hold our winning sponge while its open, cage-like design helped the sponge stay dry and fresh.
What You Need to Know
Kitchen sponge holders solve a basic problem: They keep your sponge handy in a place where it can drain and dry between uses. When we tested kitchen sponges, we learned that they are more sanitary when rinsed, squeezed out, and left to air-dry—and are most prone to growing harmful bacteria when they’re (all too commonly) left to sit in the bottom of the sink, still wet and covered with bits of food. We focused on models wide enough to fit our favorite kitchen sponge, the O-Cedar Scrunge Multi-Use Scrubber Sponge, which is 1 inch thick, a bit thicker than many typical kitchen sponges. We knew that if the O-Cedar sponge fit, standard sponges would fit, too.
What to Look For
- Large Opening: Even though it took only seconds longer to slide a sponge into a snug holder, we appreciated the models with bigger, wider openings that allowed us to quickly toss the sponge in the right direction and be sure that it would fall into the basket.
- Secure Attachment: While manufacturers used many mechanisms to attach the sponge holders to sinks—including suction cups, clamps, loops, and support bars—alone or in combination, not all worked equally well. Our winner’s simple, large suction cups were surprisingly successful.
- Versatility: We appreciated sponge holders that could be affixed anywhere in the sink; some models required specific setups, such as dangling from the faucet.
- Open, Airy Shape: When we wetted identical sponges with an equal amount of water and placed them in holders for 10 hours, weighing them before and after (and repeating this test three times), it was clear that some holders trapped water in the sponges, while others encouraged good drainage and air circulation that helped sponges dry. The best models had minimalistic, open designs—and their sponges were always drier. These holders were also easier to keep clean.
Nice to Have
- Sleeke...
Everything We Tested
Highly Recommended
- Performance: 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 3 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup/Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
Spacious, airy, and solidly constructed, with a firm attachment to the sink, this sponge holder looked good and performed perfectly in our testing. Two oversize suction cups (2½ inches across), set far apart, helped it keep a better grip. (It was the only model where the suction cups sat on the edges of the holder and extended well beyond the basket, providing support to the lightweight aluminum cage.) We loved being able to toss the sponge and see it drop right into the wide-open basket. One of the top performers in our drainage test, it helped sponges stay dry between uses. It’s also available in a range of finishes.
Recommended with reservations
- Performance: 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup/Durability: 2.5 stars out of 3.
With its minimal design, this lightweight, simple holder did one of the best jobs helping sponges air-dry between uses. It needs an upright item to attach to, such as the faucet or a soap dispenser. Rubber-covered “arms” hold it in place, and rubber bumpers keep it from sagging against the side of the sink, so sponges get plenty of air circulation. Its sponge-holding slot is narrower than we’d prefer, meaning that we had to take an extra second to insert or remove the sponge. When we struck the holder during the abuse test, a rubber foot fell off. (It was very easy to pop back on but small enough to get lost, which would make the device hang unevenly.)
- Performance: 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup/Durability: 2 stars out of 3.
This wide, airy, shiny stainless-steel basket, held in place by two suction cups measuring 1⅞ inches across, did a fairly good job of letting sponges drip-dry between uses. Its large opening is an easy access point for inserting and retrieving a sponge, which fit with room to spare. When we struck this holder in our abuse tests, one of the suction cups slid, so the basket sat askew, but it was easy to reposition. The steel rim showed spots from soap residue.
Not Recommended
- Performance: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup/Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
This bouncy, bendable silicone holder has a long loop that allows it to be hung from a vertical sink part such as a faucet or soap dispenser. The loop can also be bent so that the holder stands alone or drapes across a sink divider. The slot can be shaped to fit most sponges, but the sponge bounced out if it wasn’t carefully placed. The perforated holder drained very well, and the device looked brand-new at the end of testing; however, it took effort to get this model to hold a shape, and it protruded into the sink area and got in the way. When struck, it bounced around and dropped the sponge. “Very annoying,” griped one tester.
- Performance: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup/Durability: 2 stars out of 3.
Despite this device’s big, 2½-inch suction cup plus an impressively firm clamp to hold it on the sink wall, twice we found it lying in the bottom of the sink when the attachment spontaneously failed. (The holder can also stand alone, but we found it tippy.) The sponge-holding slot is a bit narrow for our favorite sponge, so we had to take care when inserting and removing it. The holder’s hard plastic is perforated by oval holes, but these didn’t drain well, coming in second to worst in our air-drying test.
- Performance: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup/Durability: 2.5 stars out of 3.
This model’s four smallish suction cups (1¾ inches across) and big, bent metal bar to support its weight firmly anchored the caddy in the sink, but its tall, unventilated steel walls; fairly narrow, deep box; and poorly placed drip holes (located only on the plastic bottom) trapped moisture and bits of food, making it the weakest performer in our air-drying test. A bit large, it can hold two sponges inserted vertically. The brushed finish showed fingerprints, and it was spotted with soap film by the end of testing.
Reviews you can trust
The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing.
Lisa McManus
Lisa is an executive editor for ATK Reviews, cohost of Gear Heads on YouTube, and gadget expert on TV's America's Test Kitchen.
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