Patent ID: 7892485

Claim:
A method for sanitizing a sponge used for cleaning, comprising the steps of: a. inserting a sponge to be sanitized into a device comprising: a base unit, comprising a top opening, an interior floor, and walls of sufficient dimensions to contain a bath of enough cleaning solution to fully engulf a sponge; a carrier assembly comprising a pair of generally planar carrier elements for supporting a sponge in vertical orientation for insertion and withdrawal from the base unit, each carrier element having a multiplicity of channels to facilitate movement of liquid into and out of the sponge; and a guide-track system in the base unit to stabilize the carrier assembly along a vertical path during insertion and withdrawal from the base unit, b. compressing the sponge in the carrier assembly; c. lowering the compressed carrier assembly and sponge into the base unit to immerse the sponge in a cleaning solution; d. releasing compression to allow the sponge to absorb the cleaning solution; e. compressing the sponge again to expel absorbed liquid or foreign matter; f. raising the compressed carrier assembly and sponge from the cleaning solution; and g. removing the sponge from the device.