How To Clean Makeup Sponges: Expert Tips On What Actually Works 

Makeup sponges are beloved by artists and amateurs alike, as they make for a dewy, oh-so-natural finish. And with the plethora of shapes and sizes out there, you can rely on them for everything from foundation and concealer to even shadows or blush. And all of their uses out there brings us here: How do you clean these little things?

You need to wash your sponges for the same reason you need to wash your makeup brushes: In the same way they're good at soaking up and transferring makeup, they're good at doing that for a whole bunch of other gunk. "Your natural oils, bacteria, makeup, dead skin cells, dirt, and grime accumulate on the brush, and then you are just reapplying that on a daily basis," says holistic dermatologist Keira Barr, M.D. "This can lead to a lot of skin issues—acne, contact dermatitis, infections."

There's what we know we should be doing and what's, ahem, realistic. In a perfect world, experts say to wash them with every use. "I highly recommend cleaning your sponge daily. With daily use, any makeup tool can accumulate dead skin cells, dirt, oil, pollution and bacteria," says makeup artists Rea Ann Silva, founder of Beautyblender. "So just like washing your face or brushing your teeth every day, this will help keep your makeup tools in tiptop shape."

But in case you just know you're not going to be that diligent, makeup artists Jenny Patinkin—who boasts her own collection of sponges, brushes, and tools—says every three to four uses is OK, or "at least once a week!"

It's pretty simple: Grab your sponge and soap and head to the sink. Wet the sponge, apply a small amount of your soap, and start working up the lather between your hands. Rinse regularly while doing this. At first rinse, the water will likely look pretty full of makeup, but with diligent work, it will start to clear up. You've done your job when the water is back to transparent and there's no more lather left. 

As for the soap, there are plenty of sponge-specific washes on the market, but any gentle option will do in a pinch. "Any fragrance-free cleanser will do," says Patinkin. "I personally prefer to stay away from sodium lauryl sulfates because that's a detergent that runs off into our waterways, and I avoid fragrances because they can damage the sponge foam."

She goes on to explain that more severe or harsher soaps (like traditional shampoos or dish detergents) may cause issues in another way: "One of the most important steps is you must fully rinse out the soap," says Patinkin. "If you don't fully rinse, your sponge can get kind of hard and dense. Liquid dish soap and shampoos do get sponges clean, but there are so many foaming agents in them, they can be really challenging to fully rinse."

For true makeup fans who opt into everything, you can also use cleaning pads. These are simply silicone tools that have small indents, spikes, and nodules that help you work the sponge or brush more thoroughly. (They're especially helpful for brushes, as they allow you to get in between the bristles.)

While there are several varieties out there, most more or less function the same: Apply soap and water, grab your pad, and move the sponge around in circular motions, being mindful to work all the sides.  

There seems to be an endless number of articles and posts about how you can use the microwave to zap away germs and bacteria. But nearly all the experts say to skip this hack, as it doesn't hold up to scrutiny—plus, good old-fashioned soap and water does just fine. 

"I have seen and heard of so many different, crazy ways that people have tried in order to clean their blenders. And I have tried them all myself, just to see if I was missing anything," says Silva. "The first time I tried this, I set my blender on fire. So I don't recommend it."

After you've rinsed, you must always allow for proper drying time and ventilation. "After washing or using your sponge, you always want to make sure you let it air dry in an open space," says Silva. Never simply toss it back into a makeup bag. Remember that you just washed your sponge, so why would you want to dirty it again by exposing it to all the things you just spent time washing away?