A Review of the Norwex Spirisponge

The Norwex Spirisponge has been around for a looooong time. And I have somehow neglected to write a review post for it! Since it’s long overdue, here is a review of the Norwex Spirisponge. I’ll share what jobs I love to use this sponge for, and if it deserves a 5-star rating.

What Is the Spirisponge?

The Norwex Spirisponge is a Polyurethane sponge, wrapped in a material made of a combination of Polyester and aluminum-coated Polyester strands. They are both BPA-free.

What Job Is the Spirisponge For?

This sponge is handy for cleaning surfaces that need something slightly abrasive, but also won’t scratch.

Great for scrubbing:

dishes, including non-stick pots and pans
bathtubs
glass top stoves
tile
shower doors

What Cleaning Products to Use the Spirisponge With

This sponge works best, in most instances, when used with another cleaner. My top three favorites to use it with are:

So when I’m tackling the tub or shower with the Bathroom Cleaner, I’ll let it sit, then scrub with a Spirisponge. The same goes for if I’m letting the Descaler sit on a surface covered in hard water deposits; the Spirisponge gives that extra ‘oomph’ to really scrub it off. When I’m cleaning off the burnt-on food on my stovetop, I’ll scrub it with Cleaning Paste and a wet Spirisponge. And if I’m cleaning food grime off dishes, it gets used with dish soap.

What’s To Love About the Spirisponge

I’ve always loved that this sponge delivers abrasion but doesn’t leave scratches on most surfaces. I had a customer go on a cleaning craze with it, and she discovered that it scratched the plastic covering on her microwave. But most surfaces can handle the abrasion level of the silver coating on this sponge.

What’s Not to Love

Longevity: The saddest part of this sponge is that it doesn’t last super long. It has a relatively short lifespan if it’s used frequently. The silver nubs eventually wear down and lose their abrasive qualities after time (within 3-6 months I find) and the sponge inside compresses, flattening with each use. This is definitely a more disposable product in the Norwex line.

Cleaning the Sponge: I also find this sponge challenging to clean. If I throw it in the dishwasher, it tends to get mutilated. I’ll add a squirt of dish soap and scrub it against itself under running water if it’s really dirty, but in general, it’s not easy to clean, especially if it’s used to clean a greasy surface.

I have a couple of customers who put it in the top of their dishwasher and they swear it cleans it wonderfully, but this is a “do at your own discretion” suggestion as it’s not in the official Norwex cleaning guide for the Spirisponge.

If you prefer something that’s more long-lasting, then you’d love either the EnviroSponges or the EnvrioScrubs.

EnviroSponge

The EnviroSponge offers a sponge size option and feel, with abrasion on one side and soft EnviroCloth on the other. Plus, it’s a sponge that comes with a two-year warranty.

EnviroScrub

The EnviroScrub is essentially a flattened sponge, with soft microfiber on one side, and an abrasive, non-scratching surface on the other. These scrubs also come with a 2-year warranty.

Both of these alternatives are easier to clean, as they can be tossed in the washing machine with no ill effects. They also both contain BacLock®* while the SpiriSponge does not, so they’re cleaner to begin with.

*BacLock is an antimicrobial agent solely intended to protect and self-clean the mat by inhibiting growth of odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew.

Both of these are newer product offerings from Norwex. Before they existed, I loved my Spirisponges, and they got lots of use and promoted them to everyone, especially to those purchasing the Cleaning Paste. However, since the EnviroSponge and EnviroScrubs have been introduced, I find myself using them more frequently than my Spirisponges. I love how they’re longer-lasting and just as abrasive as the Spirisponge, and I use them in all of the same scenarios as the Spirisponge.

My Review

If you’re looking for a traditional sponge that gives you non-scratch scrubbing quality, the Spirisponge will satisfy you. I’ve purchased comparable sponges from the cleaning aisle in stores and found they weren’t as effective at scrubbing surfaces as the Norwex brand.

However, if you prefer a product that’s long-lasting, you’ll be disappointed in this one, as you’ll likely need to replace your two-pack by the end of 12 months, perhaps even sooner. In that case, you may prefer to grab a pack of either the thick EnviroSponges or a three-pack of the flat EnviroScrubs.

As I enjoy the versatility of the Spirisponge on its own, but it doesn’t last a long time or wash easily, I give this Norwex product a 4 out of 5 stars.