Made out of silicone,
Kuhn Rikon's silicone sponges are non-porous, which means they don't stink, dry quickly, and are a whole lot less gross than traditional options.
Even if you constantly nuke your sponges in the microwave or throw them in the dishwasher for a quick spin, there's still something a little ... gross about them. And if you're a germaphobe, rather than using cellulose sponges, you'll probably want to take a look at the non-porous Kuhn Rikon silicone sponges instead.
They don't feel anything like the sponges that you're accustomed to, nor do they hold onto and disseminate germs like traditional options do. Rather, these silicone sponges are designed to be used for a long time. Silicone, after all, is much hardier than cellulose, and because it's not being constantly inundated with germs, you don't have to worry about the health risks associated with keeping them in your kitchen for several months on end.
If ever a sponge can make cleaning fun, the Kuhn Rikon can do it. The sponge takes some getting used to because it has supremely soft bristles, and is extremely flexible. Honestly, it may feel like you're holding a bowl of jelly. As Apartment Therapy puts it, "the sponge itself is wiggly like a sturdier-than-usual Jell-O mold." The reviewer actually ended up preferring it for cleaning countertops and other surfaces versus dishes.
And because of this wiggliness, you'll want to be careful when soaping the sponge up for its cleaning purposes. If you use too much soap, it'll be hard to hang onto the Kuhn Rikon. That said, I didn't have a ton of trouble getting a decent clean with this silicone sponge.
If you're accustomed to a traditional sponge (which I assume you are), this will take some getting used to, but once you've familiarized yourself enough with the feel and the abilities of the Kuhn Rikon, it's a much less smelly and germy way to take care of your dirty dishes.
These sponges are also great for a number of other purposes around the house, like scrubbing potatoes, picking up lint, or even cleaning your makeup brushes. And because you can just throw this sponge in the dishwasher to get it clean, you can technically use the same sponge for all these purposes (though you might as well just buy a few).
A "serial sponge hater" on Amazon has been converted by the Kuhn Rikon, while another happy customer noted that this silicone version "lasts much longer than a traditional sponge."
Pros: Super sanitary, silicone has a strange but oddly comfortable texture, practically odorless, long lasting
Cons: Some customers have noted issues with using the Kuhn Rikon in a traditional dishwashing setting, but have found other effective applications of the sponge
Buy the Kuhn Rikon Silicone Sponge from Amazon for $5.99 (originally $7.99)