By now, we hope you know the importance of keeping your brushes clean [1], but there may be a tool that you're forgetting also needs washing: your makeup sponge.

Sponges can blend liquid products [2] like nothing else and are awesome for baking your base makeup, but when your tool is looking a little grungy, it's time to commit to cleaning it. While you should be cleaning your sponge after every use, we won't tell if you get lazy. Just make sure you eventually get to the sponge laundry at some point with one of the best methods, ahead.

Clean a Makeup Sponge in a Microwave

If all else fails, try the microwave trick. Grab a bowl, and fill it with water and a small amount of soap. Stick your sponge in the bowl and place the entire thing in the microwave for one minute. It's going to be hot, so make sure you let it cool down before removing it. Your blender should be spotless.