# Afro Character Sponges The Washing-Up Sponge Adds Fun to Your Dish Washing Routine By Mesel Isaac | Published 2014-02-05 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/washingup-sponge References: [fancy](http://fancy.com/things/520260710014386404/Eliz-A-Brush-Washing-Up-Sponge) & [paladone](http://paladone.com/Diva-Washing-Up-Sponge) Add a little more fun and whimsy to the daily chore of dish washing with the Washing-Up Sponge by Paladone. Available in a variety of different characters, the Washing-Up Sponge is a clever take on the brillo pad, transforming the common household item into outrageous hairstyles made for washing dishes. Choose from amongst six different characters like the Diva, the Punk, the Disco, the King, the Elizabeth and the Soldier. The bodies of the Washing-Up Sponges act as the handle and are dressed in [colorful costumes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dr-squatch-ninny-scrubbins) of the stereotypical characters they're meant to represent. Buy the Washing-Up Sponge for yourself to make washing dishes more fun, or as a way to [get your kids](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soap-pen) to start to doing the dishes. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 59% | Activity: 42% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Gen Alpha, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Fun Dish Washing Tools:** Create fun and whimsy in the daily chore of dish washing, by reimagining common household cleaning items with trendy and stylish designs. - **Character-based Household Items:** Create character-based home essentials such as sponges, towels, and other cleaning tools, to engage consumers, especially children, and make household tasks more enjoyable. - **Household Chores as Entertainment:** Incorporate elements of fun and entertainment into household chores through either incorporating colorful designs or by gamifying the tasks with rewards and incentives. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Household Goods:** Created for household cleaning, the trend for whimsical dish washing sponges showcases an opportunity for product makers and marketers to create trendy designs for other typical household items. - **Children's Toys and Games:** The trend in dish-washing sponges highlights a market opportunity to transform household chores into playful activities that both children and adults can enjoy. - **Gaming and Entertainment:** Introduce elements of gamification into household chores, providing consumers with rewards and incentives for every task completed. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Playful Sponge Holders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sponge-holder1.md) - [Character-Themed Cleaning Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scrub-daddy-and-disney.md) - [Soap-Dispensing Dish Wands](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wand-daddy-kit.md) - [Sustainable Rounded Dish Sponges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sun-sponge.md) - [Scrubbing Sponge Cleaning Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/home-cleaning-kits.md) - [Actress-Approved Kitchen Sponges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skura-style-x-eva-mendes.md) - [Smiling Sponge Costumes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scrub-daddy-costume.md) - [Cartoon Anniversary Soap Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nautical-nonsense.md) - [Biodegradable Kitchen Sponges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spongik-eco-dishwasing-sponge-set.md)