How do you clean foundation sponges

[Liveinthepresent]

Am sure I was sold them ( Laura mercier) on basis they could go in the washing machine.. Not sure though now ( ages ago)
What do others do - or do I bin them and start again?

Shampoo! Rince well and air dry.

Shampoo or hand soap.

I stick around a weeks worth in the washing machine in a delicates bag, low temp, no fabric conditioner. Mine do change colour after going through the wash first time (slightly yellow rather than bright white) and eventually change texture and get binned but they last plenty long enough.

I use soap & squeeze them dry with a towel, then leave them to airdry. Only takes seconds.

Thanks for all the replies I have just hnd washed them. mind you am now quietly horrified at realisation of how long I have been using them without washing them - so might have to replace them and vow to be a little more hygiene focused next time!

Definitely use a fresh sponge each day! Brushes and sponges are a breeding ground for bacteria and ideally should be washed after each use. A bit of a pain for brushes (unless you clean them using isopropyl alcohol or similar which dries almost instantly), but you can buy bulk packs of sponges cheaply, use a fresh one daily and then bung a whole load in the washing machine. I bought bulk blocks of around 100 when I was working as a makeup artist, but you can get a bag of 20 for around £2, like these. They should last you a while.

Get a foundation brush (and keep it clean using shampoo). It may seem like a lot of money to spend, but the amount you will save by not chucking away half of your foundation because more of it's been absorbed by your sponge than has gone on your face, it will end up paying for itself in the long run!

I will second kittens as I have A Bobbi Brown foundation brush which I've had for about 12 years. I wash it every time I use it with some hand wash or shampoo in the palm of my hand and then rinse it in tepid water under the tap.