How do sponges that come out of the package “pre-moistened” not grow mold/mildew?

Question

I just saw an ad for ScrubDaddy’s Damp Duster, and in the ad, they mentioned that the sponge will come out of the package squishy & damp. If it is left out, it will dry up. I’ve noticed this with other sponges too. What do companies “pre-moisten” their sponges with? Why isn’t it mildewy?

In: 253

Answer 1

You ever can stuff from the garden when you were growing up? You get stuff hot enough to kill everything then seal it up in a container that’s also hot enough to kill everything. Pasteurization is awesome. In the 50s they used to do it with radiation so you could have sealed up raw food that wouldn’t rot. Unfortunately everyone panicked about the term “irradiated” and it was a commercial flop.