SPONGE BUDDY - No More Moldy Sponges

College Students @ Virginia Tech :)

Do you ever encounter the unpleasant surprise of a smelly, moldy sponge? My mom constantly grumbles about this issue and ends up tossing out numerous sponges. To tackle this problem, I brainstormed a quick solution for automatically drying sponges to prevent mold. My initial idea revolves around enhancing airflow around the sponge, facilitating faster drying. This project requires only a few basic supplies, such as a 3D printer, laser cutter, or even just cardboard, making it accessible to anyone interested in creating this gadget.

Quick Note: This project was designed in Tinkercad and Tinkercad Circuits. It is a great idea to use Tinkercad Circuits if you want to test out a circuit before hand. Its has an easy drop and drag interface with tons of electronics.

Most small kits on Amazon cost around 12$ and have all the parts you need. You can also use spare parts like a simple computer fan a switch and a battery.

Necessary Parts

1. 9 volt battery clip
2. Plastic fan blades
3. Small DC motor
4. Micro switch

If your using 3D printed material or laser cut material, glue the first side on.

Next insert the fan through the provided hole. You may need to adjust the hole depending on your motor. Once inserted you could glue it into place and then add your fan.

Next insert the switch into the front hole.

Use the red wire from the motor and connect it to the switch as shown.

Connect the negative wire from the battery to the switch.

Wire the red wire from the battery to the negative side of the motor.

Note: The reason why the polls are reversed is to ensure that the motor pushes air instead of pulling air.

You should now have an assembled sponge dryer.