Choose a soap specially formulated for makeup brushes or go with a natural body or face wash that’s free of chemicals and fragrances. Avoid using face washes for acne-prone or oily skin. Baby shampoo and “gentle formula” organic shampoos work especially well, but most soaps that are safe for use on your skin or hair can be used here.
The dish should have enough water in it to completely cover the blender sponge. If there isn’t enough water initially, simply add more as needed. As the sponge soaks, the water will likely begin to change color. Expect the water to take on a dingy beige or tan hue as it draws the foundation and other cosmetics out of the sponge. The sponge should also expand to its full size as it soaks in the soapy water.
Spend 2-3 patient minutes massaging the cleanser into the sponge. Only use your fingertips; do not use a scrubbing brush or other abrasive tool since doing so could damage the sponge.
You may need to gently squeeze the sponge under the running water to help remove the soaps and makeup.
If the sponge is still damp after you blot out the water with paper towels, let it sit in a dry location to continue air drying. Wait until the sponge is completely dry before using it as an applicator.
This is more likely to happen if you use your blender sponge multiple times per day or if you forget to clean it for one or more weeks. You’ll know if your blender sponge needs deep cleaning by looking at it. If the rinse water at the end of your basic cleansing routine seems dirty, or if there are visible stains on the sponge after it dries, try deep cleaning it.
Alternatively, you could place the blender sponge in a bowl of warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. You do not need to use soapy water, nor do you need to wait for the water to change color before continuing to the next step.
As with the basic cleaning procedure, you should only use gentle cleansers on your sponge. Specially formulated “Blender Cleanser” works well, but if you’d prefer another option, solid castille soap, liquid baby shampoo, or “sensitive formula” organic shampoos will also work.
The scrubbing should be vigorous and more intense than the scrubbing used during your basic cleansing routine. Note, however, that it should still be gentle enough to avoid distorting the shape of the sponge or tearing the sponge material. As you scrub, the cosmetics lying deeper inside the sponge will be drawn out through the surface. You should notice the suds on your palm becoming tinted with the color of your foundation.
You may need to rinse the sponge for several minutes before you clean out all the soap. It’s important that you rinse out all of the soap, though, so don’t rush the process.
Apply more cleanser to the sponge and rub it against your palm. If the resulting lather is white instead of gray or beige, the sponge should now be clean.
The sponge will probably still be damp after this, so set it aside in a dry place and allow it to air dry. Only use the blender sponge as an applicator once it is completely dry.
You may need to sterilize the sponge more than once a month if you notice the bacteria building up more rapidly. Signs of intense bacteria build-up include uncharacteristic acne breakouts and a foul/unusual odor coming from within the sponge. Note that you’ll still need to perform a basic cleaning procedure after sterilizing the sponge. Sterilization will only kill the bacteria; it will not remove any cosmetic stains or foundation.
You must sit the blender sponge in water. Do not microwave a fully dry sponge since doing so could damage the material or cause the sponge to catch fire.
Keep an eye on the blender sponge as you microwave it. Don’t be alarmed if it expands slightly or if small trails of smoke develop, but stop the microwave immediately if it balloons up past its full size or if heavy smoke starts to form.
The sponge will likely be very hot once the microwave cycle ends, and the waiting period is primarily for your own protection. You can actually handle the sponge as soon as it is cool enough to touch.
If you plan on performing a basic cleansing routine on the sponge after sterilizing it with heat, you can do so immediately after pulling it out of the microwave. You do not need to dry the sponge first. Wait until the blender sponge is completely dry before using it as an applicator.
