Sponge (tool)

The word comes from the Ancient Greek term σπόγγος (spóngos),[1] which in turn is probably derived from a Mediterranean Pre-Indo European substrate.

Competitors of the Olympic Games bathed themselves with sea sponges soaked in olive oil or perfume before competing.

The Greek philosophers Aristotle and Plato mentioned sea sponges in both scientific and historic contexts in their works.

The belief that sponges had therapeutic properties led to their usage in medicine for cleaning wounds and treating disease.

[3][5] Synthetic sponges were made possible to be manufactured only after the invention of polyester in the 1920s and the commercial production of polyurethane foam in 1952.

[14] Leaving sponges soaking in a dilute solution of dish detergent discourages bacterial growth.