Underdog Kitchen Review — Spongemail Eco Sponges

Underdog Kitchen is a small, sustainability‑focused brand that’s already earned multiple awards for these products. Their mission is simple: make everyday cleaning products eco‑friendly, plastic‑free, and enjoyable to us, and they’re doing it with style.

I had the chance to try out three of the Spongemail eco kitchen sponges from Underdog Kitchen, and these might be the cutest, most creative cleaning products I’ve ever reviewed. The company has a really fun concept: each sponge is designed to look like a USA landmark, pets, and fine‑art illustrations. Mine featured Michigan themes — Great Lakes, Lake Michigan, and Lakehouse Memories.

What Makes These Sponges Different

These aren’t your typical kitchen sponges. They’re made from 100% plastic‑free compressed cellulose, which means:

• They’re biodegradable

• They’re naturally absorbent

• They expand to full size when wet

• They don’t shed microplastics into your sink or the environment

When you first open them, they’re thin and postcard‑flat, but as soon as you run them under water, they puff up into full‑size, sturdy kitchen sponges.

The printed artwork is a limited‑edition feature, and it’s not just decorative. It’s functional. The designs fade over time, acting as a built‑in reminder that it’s time to replace your sponge. No guessing or sniff‑tests.

The three designs I received were:

• Great Lakes

• Lake Michigan U.S.A.

• Lakehouse Memories

They look like vintage travel stamps, with bold colors, nostalgic artwork, and a really charming aesthetic. If you’re someone who loves themed décor or cute kitchen accessories, these are an instant win. Check out my short video of the sponges expanding to see how they go from flat to squishy in seconds.

Performance & Use

Once expanded, the sponges are:

• Soft but durable

• Great for everyday dishwashing

• Strong enough for counters and stovetops

• Easy to rinse clean

• Quick‑drying

They don’t get slimy, they don’t crumble, and they don’t have that weird synthetic smell some sponges get after a few uses. They’re also gentle enough for nonstick cookware. These designs are part of their limited‑edition patriotic and regional collections, and they release new themes regularly, so check back often to see what they have available.

Final Thoughts

These sponges are adorable, functional, and genuinely eco‑friendly which is a rare combination. I love that they start as flat “stamps,” expand in water, and slowly fade as a reminder to replace them. The Michigan designs are beautiful, and the quality is excellent. If you’re looking to reduce plastic in your home or just want kitchen tools that make you smile, Underdog Kitchen is worth checking out.

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