scrunge hunting

for years i did my hand dishwashing with a product called "scrunge." it had a blue abrasive side and a yellow foam pad on the other side. as of about 2 years ago, i can't find that product anywhere. it's driving me batty, though admittedly, i'm driven batty easily.

since then, i've used other, more sponge like products, and i absolutely hate them as they get mildewy really quickly (the scrunge never stunk) and don't perform as well as my old scrunge.

i've found products called "scrunge," but they're not the poduct i grew up with. the closest approximation i've found has a green abrasive side and a green foam pad on the other side. it's larger than the scrunge i'm used to, and while it's better than the spongy junk, i still find myself waxing nostalgic (sad, i know).

anyone know where i can find my scrunge?

it seems to me i've seen these "sponges" at dollar stores.

leesh

i've been to a few and, alas, have come up scrungeless.

Don't know how accurate it is, but this site offers some info for the scrunge hunter.

http://www.hatrack.com/osc/reviews/revi ... ndex.shtml

I've never had any trouble finding the blue and yellow Scrunge at any Walgreen's (allowing for availability). I use those S-shaped sponges for general dishwashing, the green and yellow sponges for heavier work, and the blue and yellow Scrunges for the heaviest jobs, and although occasionally they're sold out, as I say, I've never felt there was any supply issue. In fact, I can see two two-packs on my kitchen windowsill right now. (Maybe I just always get to Walgreen's just before you? )

I, too, was/am a Scrunge fanatic and felt lost when I could no longer find them. The next best thing seemed to be a product that had the SOS name on it, but even putting it in the dishwasher from time to time didn't help the odor problem. However, I was thrilled to see that the Scrunge has recently reappeared in my local Dominick's. I have started hoarding them in preparation for the next drought.

Hi,

Last night I found a variety of Scrunges at Jewel. I bought every variety to try out since everyone here is quite excited. I noticed on at least one package the country of origin is Germany. Since almost everything seems to come from China lately. I found it quite exciting to find a European consumer item available despite the Euro-Dollar exchange.

My Dad was very surprised to see I actually bought a sponge. I am kind of anti-sponge, I generally prefer wash clothes. I whipped up a quick excuse, "They're supposed to be great for hard to clean pots." If I said I was influenced, again, by the LTHforum friends he'd roll his eyes. Some things are just better left unsaid.

Regards,

ok, very sad, but i've done a decent amount of searching for my beloved scrunge (been to several jewels, oscos, dominicks and walgreens), but, alas, i've come up empty.

i have discovered that there are several products named "scrunge." i believe all are made by a company called, vileda. problem is that several have, on the non-abrasive side a sponge material (which gets mildewy quickly) instead of a foam pad. i've found one scrunge that has a foam pad, but it's not the kind i previously used. instead, it is green, much bigger, and thinner. because it is so thin, it cracks very easily, rendering the sponge difficult to use. too bad, because otherwise it'd be perfect.

following up on the post by Food Nut, i stumbled across http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/story.html?id=357, a subsequent piece by the same author in which he seems to have found the scrunge. from the picture on the vileda site, it looks, from the picture in the bubble that the scrunge is the one i'm looking for. but, from the watermarked picture, it looks like the non-abrasive pad is a sponge and not foam. i might try ordering to find out.

in the meantime, i'd be mighty appreciative if bob s. could tell me which walgreen's he found the scrunge at.

foo d,

I, too, have noticed this shortcoming. Wasn't Johnson Wax the original manufacturer of the Scrunge? Once I use the last of my Scrunge supply I think I'm going to go back to the scrubber that S.O.S. makes.

Kim

i can't remember who made the scrunge, but johnson wax does not sound right for some reason. what's the scrubber that S.O.S. makes that you refer to?

Hi,

From your descriptions, I assumed the Scrunge came from 3M, because they produce/license similar products for industry. In my other life, when I used to sell lasers I always had some 3M products for cleaning ... and occasionally some ended up in my house!

I can't navigate the miserably designed Vileda Web site, but the three Walgreens I've patronized in the last year are 430 N Michigan, Wilson & Clark, and, in Evanston, the one on Chicago just north of Keeney. Other stores include the Domenick's at Howard & Clark and the Jewels at Berwyn & Broadway and at Bryn Mawr & Ashland. The yellow side is indeed a sponge rather than a foam pad, but I've never seen any other kind. HTH. Here's the picture of it from the Walgreens site:

alas, that is not my beloved scrunge.

The 3m Scrunge had a thin blue scratchy side and a thick yellow foam side in the shape of a rectangle. I loved how the foam side picked up little food bits, and then rinsed out so easily. I can only figure they didn't copyright the name.

I can only figure they didn't copyright the name

3M is a pretty clever company. They may have sold/leased the license which allowed use of the name.

foo d,

S.O.S refers to them as "All-Surface" scrubber sponges. They have a rough blue surface on one side and a blue sponge on the other. I usually see them in 3-packs. I still have the odor problem with these, but find that if I put them in the dishwasher I cen get just a little more use out of them.

Kim

I think I may have found the scrunge you're looking for. I ordered it and if I find it, I'll give you a phone number to order it. I too loved it for the dishes and in the kitchen - it's a foam rubber sponge and a blue pebbled surface for scrubbing. Hopefully, I'll get them this week and I'll post on the website a phone number and item number for ordering it if this is the right scrunge.

Ok, folks for all of you just like me who were looking for the wonderful scrunge for the kitchen. It is still made by Vileda and yes, they make several items called scrunge. The one you want with the foam yellow sponge and the blue top is called a cookware and dishes scrunge. You can order it directly from them at 1-800-543-8105 - item is M621 and they are $1.09 each. I just got my order yesterday and they are the real deal !
I'm happy to share this information as I know how hard I looked for it too.

JFonville wrote:Ok, folks for all of you just like me who were looking for the wonderful scrunge for the kitchen. It is still made by Vileda and yes, they make several items called scrunge.

JF,

Thanks for posting the info.

To view the elusive Vileda Scrunge in multi-media glory click Here

Click -> Vileda -> Products -> Scouring Sponges

This must be one hell of a sponge.

Enjoy,
Gary

Yes, the mighty 621 is the one that I've been purchasing at my local Dominick's. Gary, thanks for this amazing link.

Kim

JFonville -- is the M621 the cookware & dishes scrunge? i couldn't find model numbers. if so, i had thought that one looks like the scrunge i used to buy, but it appears bigger.

thanks for taking the plunge for the scrunge, in any event.

Kwe730 -- what dominick's did you find your scrunge at?

foo d,

I've found the 621 at both the Dominick's in Lake Zurich as well as the one on Half Day Rd. in Buffalo Grove. They've had them for several months now.

Kim

hmm. thanks. i'm in the city, and none of the supermarkets or major drug stores seem to carry it (just inferior variations using the name). if i'm in the suburbs, i'll make sure to check out a supermarket. otherwise, i'm pinning my hopes on mail order.

HI,

I checked out the website, scrunges are recommended by DuPont to clean Teflon non-stick surfaces, which is quite notable.

I bought all the scrunge types available over Christmas at Dominicks in Bannockburn. I will have to check if I indeed bought the "mighty" 621.

Thanks for alerting me to a household cleaning product worth its weight.