SciTechDaily – Melamine sponges may be magic when it comes to scrubbing away grime, but they’re releasing an invisible mess into the environment—trillions of microplastic fibers every month.
These sponges break down as they’re used, especially the less dense ones, shedding fibers that can make their way into waterways and the food chain.
The Hidden Cost of Magic Sponges
If you’ve ever cleaned scuff marks off white shoes or scrubbed crayon from a wall, you’ve likely used a melamine sponge. These sponges are popular for their ability to lift tough stains with just water, thanks to their naturally abrasive texture.
However, despite their cleaning power, these so-called “magic” sponges come with an environmental cost. As they wear down, they release microplastic fibers.
According to research published in Environmental Science & Technology by the American Chemical Society (ACS), melamine sponges may be contributing more than a trillion microplastic fibers into the environment each month across the globe.
What Makes Melamine Foam So Effective—And Problematic
The material behind this cleaning tool is melamine foam, made from a type of plastic called poly(melamine-formaldehyde). This polymer forms a web of rigid plastic strands that, when shaped into a sponge, becomes both lightweight and highly abrasive—ideal for scrubbing.
But as the sponge is used, the foam gradually breaks apart, shedding microplastic fragments that can be carried into wastewater systems. These fibers can eventually reach natural ecosystems, where they may be consumed by animals and enter the food chain.
To better understand this issue, researchers Yu Su, Baoshan Xing, Rong Ji, and their team investigated how the sponge’s foam density and the texture of the surfaces it is used on influence how quickly the material deteriorates and how many microplastic fibers it releases.
Millions of Fibers from a Single Sponge
The team purchased several sponges from three popular brands, then repeatedly rubbed them against textured metal surfaces, causing the foam to wear down …
