Acme Duro-Cel Brand Sponges
Our Duro-Cel brand sponges are popular with professional tradesman as well as household users. Our broad selection of sponges can be used for many different types of applications, including masonry floating, drywall finishing, painting, cleanup, etc… Duro-Cel sponges are also used for general purpose cleaning projects including auto, flooring, tile, kitchen, walls and painted surfaces. Duro-Cel cellulose sponges have a structure that gives them exceptional capillary action for maximum absorption and a durability that makes them useful through multiple projects. Duro-Cel, quality cellulose sponges for quality results.
What are Duro-Cel Brand Cellulose Sponges?
Our Duro-Cel cellulose sponges, like all cellulose sponges, are made from a form of wood pulp. The most common types of cleaning sponges on the market, cellulose sponges are extremely versatile and are sold in a variety of shapes and colors. Cellulose sponges are not only durable, but also completely biodegradable. Cellulose sponges are extremely absorbent, soft, durable and inexpensive.
Cellulose sponges work well for everyday spills on kitchen and bathroom countertops, for general cleaning, washing dishes and for a variety of home projects. Although cellulose sponges can be sterilized with heat or an antibacterial soap, cellulose sponges should not be used to wipe up raw egg or meat juices, as bacterial growth can occur. Larger cellulose sponges are easily cut into smaller pieces for smaller or specialized jobs.
How are Duro-Cel Brand Cellulose Sponge Made?
Cellulose sponges are typically made from a mixture of wood pulp (cellulose), sodium sulphate crystals, fibers and softeners (materials, such as flax, are often added to provide additional strength or chemical resistance). The process of manufacturing cellulose sponges begins with large stiff sheets of cellulose that are then soaked in a vat of water and mixed with softeners. Once the sheets have been softened and become “jelly-like”, they are moved to a revolving mixer where sodium sulphate crystals and dye are added. After the ingredients have been thoroughly mixed, they are poured into a mold and heated.
As the mixture is “cooked”, the sodium sulphate crystals melt and drain out through the bottom of the mold. The voids left behind by the the crystals create the pores in the finished sponge. The size of the crystals determine the size of the pores.
Cellulose sponges with larger pores, such as those used for washing a car or truck, are made with larger crystals. Finer pore sponges, such as those used for applying makeup, are made with much finer crystals. The cellulose mixture hardens into a porous block as it cools and is finally cleaned and colored before being dried and cut into the appropriate sizes for packaging.