Are you my sponge?
By Jolie K err
The Washington Post
YOU PROBABLY
don’t think of yourself as a person who has opinions about sponges. But take a beat to think about sponges, and you may be surprised to realize that you are, in fact, a person with strong feelings about a sponge you quite like, or more likely, a sponge you despise.
Take this exercise a bit further, and you may also come to realize that you’re unhappy with your current sponge, that you have a dramatic point of view about it, that you’re suffering through life using a sponge you hate — hate! — and that you’d like a better product for doing dishes or other household jobs.
Help is here — or at least some options. Perhaps you will find a sponge that solves the problem of a perpetually messy-looking bathroom sink (microfiber sponge), or one to remove soot from around your fireplace (dry cleaning sponge, which, weirdly, is also the one for getting pet hair off furniture). Read on to learn more about these sponges and all sorts of other sponges that might be the sponge for you.
Cellulose sponge
Best for: Dishes, countertops, spills
Materials and finishes: Any, including Grandma’s china and other delicate pieces
Soft and absorbent, cellulose sponges are what most of us picture when we’re asked to “think of a sponge.” Cellulose is a naturally derived material made of wood pulp, biodegradable, compostable and suited for many household tasks.
Popup sponge
Best for: Dishes and other household jobs
Materials and finishes: Any, including Grandma’s china and other delicate pieces
Made of compressed cellulose, these flattened sponges expand when soaked in water and are highly absorbent when activated. They are
nonabrasive, compostable (if made from 100 percent cellulose) and get bonus points for the novelty factor.
Abrasive scrub sponge
Best for: Scouring non-coated pots and pans, oven racks, cleaning tools and outdoor surfaces
Materials and finishes:
Safe for non-coated cookware, concrete, brick
Scratch warning! Test this product on an inconspicuous area to ensure it won’t cause damage to scratch-prone materials and finishes.
Typically made from plastic and resin, abrasive scrub sponges are suited for tougher cleaning jobs.
Steel wool sponge
Best for: Scouring, scrubbing and burnishing
Materials and finishes: Safe for tempered glass and porcelain, and for removing rust from metal
Steel wool sponges, also called wire sponges, are made from flexible steel filaments. Some steel wool pads are infused with soap for household cleaning uses.
Copper sponge
Best for: Copper and aluminum cookware
Materials and finishes: Not safe for cast iron, including cast-iron stove burners and griddles
Primarily designed for use in the kitchen, these scouring pads are ideal for heavy-duty jobs like scrubbing broiler pans, oven racks, barbecue grills and stovetop burners.
Chain mail scrubber
Best for: Cast-iron cookware
Materials and finishes: Designed for scrubbing cast-iron cookware and fixtures such as stovetop burners
Chain mail scrubbers allow
you to safely scour the surface of a cast-iron skillet without removing the layers of seasoning that give cast iron its nonstick property — in fact, these scrubbers are said to improve the top layer of cast iron’s all-important seasoning by gently scuffing it, giving the next layer of seasoning you apply a more textured surface to cling to.
Sparkle sponge
Best for: Scouring dishes and other delicate surfaces; beauty contests
Materials and finishes: Safe for stone, plastic, porcelain, glass, wood, nonstick pans
These non-scratch scrub sponges are best for jobs where gentle scouring is called for — cleaning the microwave, for example.
Their sparkly exterior sets them apart from similar non-scratch scrub sponges and lends a bit of flair to mundane chores. Warning: Sparkle sponges contain metal and cannot be cleaned in the microwave, but they are dishwasher safe.
Dobie pad
Best for: Daily dishes; cleaning major household appliances and countertops
Materials and finishes: Safe for plastic, nonstick cookware, glass cooktops, granite, marble, soapstone, Grandma’s china and other delicate pieces
This non-scratch scrub sponge, made of plastic mesh-wrapped polyurethane foam, presents an alternative to abrasive sponges, providing scouring power without posing the risk of damage to scratch-prone surfaces like plastic.
Scrub Daddy
Best for: Heavy-duty household cleaning tasks and restoring stained pots and pans
Materials and finishes: Safe for ceramic, concrete, glass, granite, marble, nonstick, stainless steel, wood
Viral sensation Scrub Daddy and his bride, Scrub Mommy, feature several design elements that set them apart from other non-scratch scrub sponges.
Above left, an example of cellulose sponges; at right, an abrasive scrub sponge. (ADOBE STOCK PHOTOS)
steel-wool sponge is best for scouring. (ADOBE STOCK PHOTO)
lee
reich | In the Garden
YOU SAY “TOMAYTO,” I say “tomahto.” You say “filbert,” I say “hazelnut.” (“Filbert” is from St. Philibert to whom Aug. 22 is dedicated and which is the day of first ripening of hazelnuts in England.) Although hazelnuts originally referred to native American filberts, hazelnut and filbert are now equivalent.
It’s been over 20 years since I planted my first hazelnuts. Fortunately, hazels bear quickly, often within three or four years. Unfortunately, a disease called eastern filbert blight can decimate the trees and not begin to do so for about a decade.
Our native hazels (Corylus americana), having evolved with the blight, are resistant. Not so for European hazels, which are the hazelnuts of commerce. My first planting was of our native hazel, which I planted
for beauty and for nuts. It did turn out to be an attractive, suckering shrub that lit up fall with its boldly colored leaves. The nuts themselves were less notable: small and not very good tasting.
Next, I planted a few old varieties of hybrid hazels, Graham, Gellatly, and Halls Giant, followed, a few years later by Tonda di Giffoni, Lewis, and Clark. All were billed as blight resistant and did quite well. In the 1960s eastern filbert blight made its way to the Pacific Northwest, the hotbed of commercial hazelnut production in the U.S. (providing 99% of domestic hazelnuts), which prompted breeding of resistant varieties. Lewis and Clark are two such varieties. Two more such varieties, Santiam and Yamhill, were added to my collection 11 years ago.
To shell an abundant crop of hazelnuts, there’s the Turkish nut sheller.
(LEE
Right on schedule after about 10 years, black pustules of blight began to show up on branches, which start
to die, then expire. But the varieties I planted were blight resistant, you say. Resistance is a matter of degree (“immune” means no disease), and the varieties I planted evidently were not sufficiently resistant. This doesn’t at all reflect poorly on breeders of these not-quite-resistantenough hybrids. The blight fungus is capricious, changing with location and, perhaps, over time. I dug up and out all the nonproductive, diseased plants.
But I like filberts. Enter a few breeders breeding filberts right here in the northeast. One is Dr. Tom Molnar of Rutgers University, from whom I got a few selections (with non-luscious, early selection names like CR X R03P26 and CR X R11P07), which I planted back in 2014.
REICH PHOTO)
And Jeff Zarnowski, of Z’s Nutty Ridge Nursery. And others. So now I grow Geneva (aka Gene, from Grimo Nut Nursery), Truxton, Dorris (another selection from Oregon), Raritan (a more advanced selection from Rutgers), as well as my original Rutgers plants.
I’m ready to cull again any varieties that catch blight or whose nuts are too small. For wherever plants are culled, I have potted plants
GARDEN NOTES
SPRINGFIELD
2025 Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl Poster contest
The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts together with the USDA, Forest Service and National Garden Clubs, Inc., are giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of wildfire prevention and basic environmental conservation principles through original drawings of Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl.
Children from first through fifth grade are invited to participate in this annual drawing contest featuring conservation icons Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl. Individual children can enter but groups, clubs and schools are encouraged to use this as an opportunity to impress upon their members or students the importance of taking a personal role in preventing wildfires or conserving natural resources.
Posters are to be completed by individual students, have correct spelling and all posters must feature Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl.
Smokey Bear posters must include Smokey’s wildfire prevention message: Only You Can Prevent Wildfires! Woodsy Owl posters must include Woodsy’s conservation messages: Give-A-Hoot,
of Monmouth, Hunterdon, and Somerset — all advanced Rutgers selections — waiting in the wings. Last year was the best ever for nuts that I grow. Even the English walnuts (Juglans regia) bore a crop this year, their first substantial crop, all from six walnuts I planted back in 2006. I didn’t have high hopes for walnuts because they are susceptible to anthracnose disease, late frosts, and squirrels, which could conveniently harvest the nuts from the overhead squirrel highway along the road.
And the filberts — oodles of them. Mostly, we just shell and eat them. That’s fine. But for cooking with them or concocting a delicacy such as, say, fig-hazelnut jam, shelling nuts one at a time is too slow. A quick web search turned up a couple of very elegant, homemade shellers that work reasonably well. Luckily, before I delved too deeply in how I was going to fabricate one of these out of metal, I did a web search and
found one available for about $30.
(These kitchen counter hazelnut sheller are manufactured in Turkey, which grows 70% of the world’s hazelnuts. Want another fun fact? Around 25% of the world’s production goes into making Nutella and Ferrero Rocher, both hazelnut and chocolate confections made by the Luxemburger company Ferraro.)
In years to come, I could
be on my way to hazelnut butter, chopped hazelnuts sprinkled on everything, that fig-hazelnut jam, perhaps even homemade Nutella. No rush. Once sufficiently dried (to 6 % moisture, which takes a couple of weeks), hazelnuts store well in their shells for over year. Shelled and refrigerated, they keep for about six months.
Come visit my farmden at http://leereich.com.
Don’t Pollute or Lend a Hand — Care for the Land. Complete rules including size requirements, allowed materials and other important contest rules can be found on the GCFM website at www.gcfm.org/ ngc-youth-contests. Being a member of a garden club is not a requirement, but all contest entrants must be sponsored by a GCFM recognized local garden club. Entries must be submitted to the sponsoring club by Jan. 10, 2025. For more information or to connect with a recognized garden club contact Mary Bandouveres at gcfmyouthcontests@gmail.com.
WILBRAHAM Garden Club meeting
The December meeting of the Wilbraham Garden Club will be held at the St. Cecelia Parish Center on Main St. in Wilbraham at noon on Thursday, Dec. 5. The speaker for the day will be Matthew Flatow, owner of Flowers, Flowers in Springfield. He will share his innovative and cutting-edge techniques with us. Flatow’s beautiful arrangements will be raffled off at the end of his program.
Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.
Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting
20th-century piece mirrors the past
SOME ANTIQUE ARTS
fade in popularity but are never truly lost. Embroidery is one of them. There are surviving examples of embroidered fabric that date back thousands of years. There is even evidence that Cro-Magnons practiced embroidery! By comparison, the embroidery of 17th- and 18th-century Europe and Colonial America seems much more modern. This was the heyday of the craft. It had grown increasingly accessible to amateurs and was established as an important part of women’s education.
Queen Mary II, who co-ruled England with her husband William III from 1689 to 1694, was known for the crewel embroidery practiced at her court. “Crewel” is a broad term for embroidery made with wool thread. Many types of stitches are used and designs often have images like flowers and animals in vibrant colors and thick textures.
The furniture and decoration style known as William and Mary came to the American colonies a little later than the monarchs’ reign in England; the American William and Mary period is generally considered to have lasted from about 1690 to 1720. This, of course, included embroidery.
William and Mary furniture experienced a revival around the 1930s.
This vintage mirror, which sold for $600 at Leland Little auctions, was made about that time. Its frame features crewel embroidery in the style of the 17th to 18th century, with traditional plants and animals as well as a couple in period costumes.
Q. I have an odd vintage mushroom-shaped lamp with glass rods coming out of the top. It measures about 10 inches tall by 8 inches wide. It comes as two pieces — the base and the top. It’s an electric lamp with a fabric covered cord. Can you tell me about it?
Crewel embroidery has existed for hundreds of years and keeps coming back in style. This mirror with an embroidered frame was made in the 20th century in the style of the William and Mary period. (LELAND LITTLE AUCTIONS)
A. Lamps with glass or metal rods radiating from the center were a popular midcentury modern style. This style is often called “Sputnik” after the first artificial satellite, which was launched in 1957 by what was then the Soviet Union, kicking off the Space Age and its futuristic style. Many midcentury modern designers made Sputnik lamps in various shapes and materials. The most famous are the chandeliers. However, lamps like this pre-date the Sputnik launch. It’s possible that yours is earlier; electrical cords covered with rubber or plastic instead of fabric were used after World War II. If you are planning to use or sell the lamp, you may want to have the wiring checked. A mushroom-shaped electric lamp like yours sold at an auction last year for more than $500. It had a black iron base and was 34 inches tall. Because yours is smaller, it may have a lower value, depending on its condition and possibly the base material.
Q. Is Paul Revere pottery food-safe? Or do the glazes
is chipped or cracked. Highly acidic foods, high temperatures or storing food in the pottery also increase the risk.
Q. I am closing an old country store. All the decor was made up of old antiques. I have two “wooden molds for barrels or baskets” and would like to know if they are worth anything.
CURRENT PRICES
Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.
contain lead?
A. Paul Revere Pottery was made by the Saturday Evening Girls clubs in Massachusetts between 1906 and 1942. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration introduced regulations for the use of lead in dinnerware in 1971. We do not know if Paul Revere pottery used lead in its glaze. When in doubt, it’s best not to use pottery for food unless you know it is safe. If you want to test yours, you can buy lead testing kits from hardware stores. A museum or historical society with a collection of Paul Revere pottery, like The Museum of Fine Arts Boston (mfa. org) or Historic New England (historicnewengland.org) may have information on the content of their glazes. Historically, lead was used in ceramic glazes to keep the colors bright and the texture smooth and shiny. Orange, red and yellow glazes were more likely to contain lead. If pottery with lead glaze has been fired properly, the lead fuses to the pottery and should not leach off into food. However, it is possible for lead to leach out if the glaze
A. The “country store” look is a popular decorating style. Molds for baskets or barrels may interest collectors of antique tools, or a collector may want to display them as folk art. Some basket molds can sell for high prices. Earlier this year, a signed Shaker basket mold, 9 inches in diameter and 23 inches tall including its maple handle, sold at auction for more than $500. Basket makers’ and barrel makers’ tools without a known maker, date and origin sell for lower prices. Smaller, unsigned basket molds can sell for less than $50. We recommend contacting an auction house that specializes in Americana, country antiques or folk art.
TIP: If a thread in a woven fabric, carpet or sweater pulls or tears, do not cut it. Get a crochet hook or large pin and weave the thread into the fabric.
Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectors gallery@kovels.com.
Lamp, oil, silver plate, urn shape, flame finial, two burners, goat masks, footed, marked, England, late 1800s, 9 x 8 1/2 inches, $90. Doll, Mattel, Barbie, Happy Holidays, Special Edition, blond, long hair, red dress, silver sash, box, 1988, 11 inches, $110.
Sports, snowshoes, bear paw shape, woven trefoils, multicolor tassels, Native American, 31 1/2 x 19 inches, $245.
Music, accordion, Venice, Bakelite, black, three buttons, faux mother-of-pearl keys, strap, case, Italy, mid-1900s, 7 1/2 x 15 inches, $260.
Silver plate, coffee set, coffeepot, sugar and creamer, bud finial, ebony handles, leaf and dart bands, short foot, Christofle, c. 1975, coffeepot 10 inches, three pieces, $435. Royal Crown Derby, dinner service, Traditional Imari, dinner and luncheon plates, teacups and saucers, teapot, sugar and creamer, biscuit jar, cake server, 12 forks and knives, $560.
Furniture, chair set, Centennial, Chippendale style, mahogany, carved, pierced splat, relief scrolls and grapevines, upholstered seat, H-stretcher base, 39 1/2 inches, six pieces, $640.
Durand, vase, peacock feather, cobalt blue, opalescent pulled feathers, cut to clear flowers around shoulder, flared lip and foot, c. 1930, 10 inches, $710.
Rug, Heriz, navy blue medallion, salmon center, red field, ivory subfield, navy blue main border, serpentine vines and leaves, blue and gold guard borders, c. 1925, 12 feet 2 inches x 8 feet 5 inches, $1,385.
Furniture, chest, campaign, camphor wood, two parts, drop-down desk between two drawers over three long drawers, turnip feet, 1800s, 42 1/2 inches, $1,750.
Average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the US slips to 6.81%
By A lex Veiga Associated Press
The average rate on a 30year mortgage in the U.S. eased this week, though it remains near 7% after mostly rising in recent weeks.
The rate slipped to 6.81% from 6.84% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Wednesday. That’s still down from a year ago, when the rate averaged 7.22%.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance their home loan to a lower rate, rose this week. The average rate climbed to 6.1% from 6.02% last week. A year ago, it averaged 6.56%, Freddie Mac said.
Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including the yield on U.S. 10-year Treasury bonds, which lenders use as a guide to price home loans. The yield, which mostly hovered around 4.4% last week and was below 3.70% in September, has eased this week. It was at 4.23% at midday Wednesday.
Elevated mortgage rates and rising home prices have kept homeownership out of reach of many would-be homebuyers. U.S. home sales are on track for their worst year since 1995.
“The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage moved down this week, but not by much,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Potential homebuyers are also waiting on the sidelines, causing demand to be lackluster. Despite the low sales activity, inventory has only modestly improved and remains dramatically undersupplied.”
Mortgage rates slid to just above 6% in September following the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut its main interest rate for the first time in more than four years. While the central bank doesn’t set mortgage rates, its actions
and the trajectory of inflation influence the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield. The central bank’s policy pivot is expected to eventually clear a path for mortgage rates to generally go lower. But that could change if the next administration’s policies send inflation into overdrive again.
September’s pullback in mortgage rates helped drive a pickup in sales of previously occupied U.S. homes last month, and likely helped give a boost to demand early last month.
The National Association of Realtor’s pending home sales index rose 2% in October from the previous month, its third straight monthly increase, the trade group said Wednesday. Pending transactions were up 5.4% compared to October last year.
A lag of a month or two usually exists between when a contract is signed and when the home sale is finalized, which makes pending home sales a bellwether for future completed home sales.
Still, because mortgage rates have mostly kept rising in recent weeks, that could dampen sales this month and next in what’s already typically a slow season for the housing market.
“Though mortgage rates are likely to decline in the coming weeks, the dip will be too little and too late to boost home sales in December,” said Ralph McLaughlin, senior economist at Realtor. com.
Forecasting the trajectory of mortgage rates is difficult, given that rates are influenced by many factors, from government spending and the economy, to geopolitical tensions and stock and bond market gyrations.
Economists predict that mortgage rates will remain volatile this year, but generally forecast them to hover around 6% in 2025.
Deeds
AGAWAM
Ashley M. Sullivan to Kaitlin Mastello, 5 Maple View Lane, Unit D, $322,000.
CAAC LLC, to Ricky L. Tessier and Mckayla Smith, 27 Vadnais St., $280,000.
Charles E. Girard, Lauri A. Sico and R. Michael Girard to Sudhirkumar Patel, trustee, Mukesh K. Patel, trustee, and Yash Realty Trust, trustee of, 94 Mill St, $375,000.
F. Paul Mikuszewski III, and Lida E. Vanasse to Yasin Yusuf Akgul and Sahinde Dogruer Akgul, 127 Coyote Circle, $760,000.
George J. Beauchane to Jacob W. Adams, 65 Homer St., $235,000.
Judith A. Pagella to Juan Tirado, 93 Dogwood Lane, $284,000.
Renee G. Trench and Renee C. Trench to Daniele Korona, NS School St., Par A-1, $3,500.
Rui Silva to Antonio J. Tchingui, 57 Riverview Ave., $285,000.
AMHERST
Diane M. Bagg to Diane M. Bagg, trustee, and Diane M. Bagg Revocable Trust, 80 Grantwood Drive, $100.
Phyllis J. Pike, trustee, and Phyllis J. Pike Revocable Trust to BHO Realty LLC, 88 Eames Ave., $290,000.
Gary M. Cunningham, Jayne M. Walas and Gail A. Hammel to Lynn C. Hayes, Lynn M. Hayes, Lynn Hayes and David E. Hayes, 509 Pine St., $300,000.
Nathaniel F. Kane, trustee, Nathaniel Fredrick Kane, trustee, Margaret-Anne Kane Testamentary Trust and George Frederick Kane to Frances Kraver, 26 Greenleaves Drive, $352,000.
Richard Schrader and Diane Berg to Henry C. Theriault and Yoko Harumi, 62 Pine Grove, $425,000.
Vasudevan Raghavan and Mythreyi Krishnan to Diana Grand Masters, 10 Mcintosh Drive, $365,000.
Alexander Reyes to Madeline Johnson, 500 Sunderland Road, 502 Sunderland Road, 504 Sunderland Road and Route 116, $632,000.
Guangyu Xu to Donald Ross Korobkin and Susan Holland, 51 Hop Brook Road, $860,000.
BELCHERTOWN
Walter Pacheco and Nathan Pacheco to Pacheco Property Holdings LLC, 248 Liberty St., $100.
Pamela Ondrick trustee, and Theodore J. Ondrick Trust, to Mark Harasimowicz, 74 State St., $110,000.
Kenneth I. Hislop, Lyle G. Hislop and Robert L. Hislop to Kevin R. Vickers and Carrie M. Vickers, Jensen Street, $115,000.
Paul E. Grudgen and Debra J. Grudgen to Ashley Bonin and Daniel Rossi, 34 Shea Ave., $410,000.
Tracy Ann Wehr to James Bachand, Amherst Road, $55,000.
Robert D. Krider to Robert D. Krider and Sarah N. Krider, 36 Sarah Lane, $100.
BLANDFORD
Dale Sparr to Stephen Weeks and Rosemarie Weeks, 14 Sunset Road, $359,900.
BUCKLAND
Richard Belair and Toni Stewart to Fletcher C. Clark, 4 South Conway Road, $404,000.
Janet L. Stevens-Nolan to Jyllian Finkle and Joshua Musial, 179 Lower St., $318,000.
CHARLEMONT
David Sobocinski and Linda Sobocinski to Rebecca Carvalho and Aurelien Fromeaux-Dallaserra, Cherrie Pierson Road, $70,000.
10K Properties LLC, to Brittany Black, 214 Main St., $225,000.
CHESTER
John W. Noble Sr., representative, and Ellen M. Noble, estate, to Gene R. Boisseau Jr., and Rebecca Boisseau, 25 Taft Road, $203,400.
CHESTERFIELD
Thomas J. Janik to Joshua S. Ragoza, 145 South St., $200,000. Richard J. Mathisen to Damon Reeves, 33 South St., $67,000.
CHICOPEE
Brien A. Couture and Cindy Lee M. Laramee to Joseph Canata, 67 Ross Ave., $333,000.
James J. Sullivan and Kerri A. Sullivan to Kerrian A. James, 578 Springfield St., $400,000.
Jeffrey P. Kowarsky and Jeffery P. Kowarsky to Misael M. Suarez, 343 Chicopee St., Unit 31, $176,000.
Jerome Talbot to Cheikh Biaye and Lindsay Talbot, 60 Lagadia St., $188,000.
Joao C. Santos and Joao Dossan-
tos to Dilenes Ortiz, 224 Lafayette St., $400,000.
Michael Charette, representative, and Margaret Charette, estate, to Meika C. Riley, 33 Lemay St., $240,000.
COLRAIN
Julio Dejesus to Ronald F. Schulz, 48 Call Road, $220,000.
DEERFIELD
Charles Apanell, personal representative of the Estate of Eunice M. Apanell, “aka” Eunice Merriam Apanell, to Expedio Group LLC, 89 Sugarloaf St., $275,000.
EAST LONGMEADOW
Alison T. Manley, representative, Mary Manley, estate, and Mary L. Manley, estate, to On The Mark LLC, 378 Elm St., $230,000.
Brian Gonzalez, Mikayla Gonzalez and Mikayla Rice to Geoffrey Mikita, 23 Powder Hill Road, $460,000.
Happy Acres LLC, to Nayana A. Patel, Farmer Circle, Lot 23, $175,000.
Luisa Romolo to Adam Dubois and Angela Dubois, 800 Somers Road, $320,000.
Matthew J. Fontaine, Kellie E. Fontaine and Kellie E. Mahoney to Yanlecc Rivera Gonzalez and Valerie Otero Perez, 72 Cara Lane, $415,000.
Paul C. Long and Janet S. Long to Ryan Medeiros and Jessica Medeiros, 155 Orchard Road, $670,000.
Russell Morton, trustee, and Morton Family Trust, trustee of, to Were A Farm LLC, Somers Road, $500,000.
Tuyet Nguyen to Ryan Nguyen, 120 Franconia Circle, $530,000.
EASTHAMPTON
Susan Sachs, personal representative, and Elaine M. Pourinski, estate, to Therese Rose Kaufman, 41 South St., $255,000.
ERVING
Christie L. Carme, personal representative of the Estate of Deborah A. Isles, to Orrin W. Isles, trustee of the Orrin W. Isles & Susan G. Isles Real Estate Trust, 6 West High St., $130,000.
GILL
Kimberly R. Godin, personal representative of the Estate of Richard S. Niedzwiedz, to Blast-Tech Inc., 182 Main Road, $120,000.
Deeds
GOSHEN
Thadeus Wojcik, trustee, Thadeus Wojcik, Dorothy L. Wojcik, trustee, Dorothy L. Wojcik and Thadeus Wojcik & Dorothy L. Wojcik Revocable Trust to Kelly Magee, 92 Aberdeen Road, $475,000.
GRANBY
Alison J. Kuley to Elias Salgado Jr., 55 Pleasant St., and 17 Crescent Valley, $240,000.
Russell A. Ducharme Sr., to Erick Funk and Aimee D. Funk, 148 Amherst St., $241,000.
GRANVILLE
Theresa Koloski, conservator, and Claire Chapman to AGA Brothers LLC, 96 Silver St., $150,000.
GREENFIELD
Rebecca A. Smith to John L. Rackham, 31 River St., $220,000.
Joseph J. P. Grover and Lori A. Grover, trustees of the Lori A. Grover Revocable Trust, to Courtney L. Hogue and Jacob Hogue, 14 Mackin Ave., $515,000.
Rosenberg Property LLC, to Real Pickles Cooperative Inc., 311 Wells St., $550,000.
Dianne Novotny and Abigail M. Stankowski to John Robert William Young-Milus and Morgan Young-Milus, 99 School St., $327,000.
Suzanne Patnaude, trustee of the Myers Farm Realty Trust, to Four Rivers Educational Foundation, Colrain Road, $275,000.
HADLEY
Frank J. Szelewicki Jr., and Mary Beth Kennedy to Xiaoqiu Wang and Zhongchao Zhao, 29 Stockwell Road and 29 Stockwell Road Rear, $530,000.
HAMPDEN
Charles R. Lareau Jr., representative, and Charles R. Lareau, estate, to Bedrock Financial LLC, trustee, and Tennessee Jed RT, trustee of, Stony Hill Road, Lot 51, $75,000.
Michele L. Strum to Ryan Wilder and Shailyn Wilder, 86 Thresher Road, $585,000.
HEATH
Karolyn Kiehn to Ralph Maselli, 302 Number Nine Road, $184,000.
Ann S. Pacino to Jane Stevens-Nolan, 1 Shawnee Drive, “fka” 2 East Brook Drive, $189,900.
HOLLAND
Michael D. Patota to Sonia L. Patota, 66 North Wales Road, $100.
HOLYOKE
Jennifer C. Abild and Christopher B. Abild to Post Investment LLC, 54 Taylor St., $55,000.
Joan M. Roberts, trustee, Joseph D. Whitehead, trustee, and Whitehead Family Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Mary Alice Dupont, 27 Longwood Ave., $265,000.
Karla Sheehan, Karla Rojas and Neil P. Sheehan to Kevin James Trempe, 71 Sun Valley Road, $330,000.
Laura E. Roell-Villani, trustee, and Villani Revocable Trust, trustee of, to Paul A. Dombrowski and Janine M. Dombrowski, 58 Pleasant St., $472,000.
Olmedo Gomez, Dorian Molina and Duver Gomez to Yamilex Vega, 45-47 North Bridge St., $185,000.
Scott Family Properties LLC, to Marelenia Ortiz, 911 Main St., $252,500.
LEVERETT
Sue A. Alexander and Lysa Sim Bennett, “fka” Lysa S. Sim, to Emily Florence Edwards Lash and Cody Winger Tannen-Barrup, 255 Long Plain Road, $650,000.
Tyler S. Shearer, personal representative of the Estate of Judith H. Hobart, to Randy B. Shearer, 327 Long Plain Road, $510,000.
Heston C. Scheffey to Andrew K. McCallum and Donna K. McCallum, Pratt Corner Road, $170,000.
LONGMEADOW
Amy L. Cohen to Carina Del Valle, 167 Hopkins Place, $401,000.
Johanna K. Fregeau to Brigid O’Brien, 423 Williams St., $455,000.
Kimberly S. Staggs to Madona J. Zerbe, 63 Ardsley Road, $917,000.
Wayne E. Bergeron, trustee, Marybeth Bergeron, trustee, and Wayne E. Bergeron Trust, trustee of, to Somin Chowdhury, 77 Magnolia Circle, $685,000.
LUDLOW
Adelina Goncalves and Adelina Goncales to Kyle Condino, 191-193 East St., $350,000.
Diane D. Cousineau, trustee, Karen F. Drazek, trustee, and Lewison Family Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to S & C Investors LLC, 0 West Street, $150,000.
Kyle M. Oliveira, Kyle M. Whelan, Stephanie R. Oliveira and Stephanie R. Fahey to Kwadwo Boakye and Susana Boamah, 185 Kendall St., $365,000.
Patrick Spagnoletti and Laipang Spagnoletti to Eliza Pesuit and Jean Sifrin, 75 James St., $409,900.
Tracy Lanou to Luisa Romolo, 88 Roy St., $320,000.
William J. Topham and William John Topham to June Anne Lombardi, 110 Moore St., $115,000.
MIDDLEFIELD
Richard McKenna to Richard Brian McK-
enna, trustee, and Richard Brian McKenna Living Trust, 27 Reservoir Road and West Hill Road, $100.
Susan M. Scott and Whitney L. Scott to Peter J. Stone, 147 Chipman Road, $380,000.
MONSON
Nicholas E. Smart to Nicholas Peter Manolakis and Nicholas Manolakis, 48 Main St., $515,000.
Teresa Rose and Theresa L. Taylor to Christina Henriques, 0 Woodhill Road, $68,000.
MONTAGUE
Debra Beck to John Jackson and Jaimie Remillard, 39 Oakman St., $335,000.
Gary E. Cowan, William R. Cowan Jr., and Catherine E. Zellmann to James Fanning and Rosamaria Fanning, 49 Hillside Road, $310,000.
Nicholas B. Worthley to Hannah Dastous and Joseph Dastous, 11 Sunset Drive, $375,000.
MONTGOMERY
Anthony C. Fastiggi to Western Mass LLC, 3 North Road, $276,000.
NEW SALEM
Anne E. Pelski, personal representative of the Estate of Thomas Richard Rudolph, “aka” Thomas R. Rudolph, to Candice Allard and Zachary Allard, 75 Old North Dana Road, $325,000.
NORTHAMPTON
Robert W. Holley and Heidi H. Holley to Alexander Michael Ziter and Thalia Aguilar-Nolan, 40 Crestview Drive, $385,000.
June C. Ritcher to Marie Chapman, trustee, Sheryl Champagne, trustee, and June C. Richter Irrevocable Trust, 44 Deerfield Drive, $100.
Christin Reuter and Christin R. Christoph to Colin Reuter, 16 Water St., $360,000.
Marketplace Associates LP, and Janet E. Gezork, general partner, to Brick Market Properties LLC, 12 Market St., 16 Market St., and 26 Market St., $2,000,000.
Revocable Indenture of Trust of Marcy Eisenberg and Marcy Eisenberg, trustee, to Sara Crawley, 20 Bridge Road, $1,150,000.
O’Connell Hawley LLC, and O’Connell Development Group Inc., to Bryan Eric Lee, 10 Hawley St., $750,000.
Erica Graham and Erica L. Graham to Marianne Gregersen, 308 Brookside Ave., $362,000.
Joel M. Bierwert to Joel M. Bierwert and Tiana Bierwert, 92 Barrett St., $100.
Gatepoint Enterprises LLC, to Sean McCarthy and Joy C. McCarthy, 23 Columbus Ave., $650,000.
Marketplace Associates LP, and Janet E. Gezork, general partner, to Salon 241 Market Properties LLC, 30 Market St., $400,000.
NORTHFIELD
Carol N. Ziegenhagen and Robert L. Ziegenhagen, trustees of the Carol & Bob Ziegenhagen Trust, to Rebecca Foster, 7 Linden Ave., $132,500.
ORANGE
James Gleason to Annette M. Cormier, 22 Horton Road, $215,000.
Sea Mountain Ventures II LLC, to Agree Central LLC, 83 New Athol Road, $4,000,000.
Tina M. Jess to Edward Benevides, 89 East Road, $25,000.
PALMER
Sarah Gould to Christina Creel and Brian McDaniel, 25 North St., $265,000.
ROWE
Thomas Bruffee, personal representative of the Estate of M. Arlene Andognini, to Donald W. Haney and Juanita S. Haney, 163 Hazelton Road, $210,000.
SHELBURNE
Elizabeth C. Miranda, personal representative of the Estate of Barbara Jean Watts, “fka” Barbara Jean Abston, to Wendy CR Catlin, 30 Main St., $380,000.
James S. Roman, trustee of the James S. Roman Trust, to Jesse Roman, 104-106 Main St., $235,000.
SOUTHAMPTON
Dylan Mailloux, Sarrah Mailloux and Sarrah Houghton to Rachel Pantermehl, 26 Hillside Meadows Drive, $500,000.
John D. Fitzpatrick and Robin Fitzpatrick to Matthew J. Fontaine and Kellie E. Fontaine, 17 Miller Ave., $575,000.
Donald E. Warren, Donald E. Warren, trustee, E. Ingrid Olson Warren, trustee, E. Ingrid Olson Warren and Donald & Ingrid Warren Living Trust to Zachary C. Swanson and Lisa M. Swanson, 230 College Highway, $425,000.
SOUTHWICK
Bryan J. Richton, Katie Zavistoski and Katie Richton to Kolby Palmer and Caleb Palmer, 37 Grove St., $459,900.
Christopher Balboni to Stephanie Lavallee and Justin Lavallee, 194 Granville Road, $574,000.
Glennice W. Carlson, Diane Lynn Metivier and Richard A. Metivier to Dorothea Neuwirth, trustee, and Dorothea Neuwirth Revocable Living Trust, trustee of, 68 Rosewood Lane, Unit F-12, $252,500.
Julio Ayala to Keren Ruiz, 28 Lakemont St., $325,000.
Martin R. Henley and Patricia A. Montagna to Dawn M. Bonneau, 27 Wynnfield Circle, $425,000.
Sponges
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F2
Eye holes allow users to insert fingers into the center of the sponge for a better grip, and the smile is designed to clean both sides of utensils like spoons in one pass. The Scrub Daddy is made from a temperature-controlled FlexTexture that gets soft in hot water and remains firm in cold water to accommodate different types of cleaning tasks; Scrub Mommy features FlexTexture on one side and highly absorbent and sudsing ResoFoam on the other.
Silicone sponge
Best for: Daily dishwashing, picking up pet hair, avoiding smells
Materials and finishes:
Safe for glass, plastic, porcelain, stone, wood
Nonporous silicone sponges enjoy a few advantages over their more traditional cellulose counterparts. For one, they will not develop an odor. They are also incredibly durable, and can be cleaned in the dishwasher and reused for six months to a year. While they lack the scouring power of, say, steel wool, they do have a bonus use: When dry, silicone sponges can be run over upholstered furniture, bedding and even clothes to quickly pick up pet hair.
Two-sided
cellulose scrub sponge
Best for: Scouring non-coated pots and pans, oven racks and outdoor surfaces; cleaning tools; scrubbing grime off sinks and tubs
Materials and finishes: Safe for non-coated cookware, concrete, brick
Scratch warning! Test this product on an inconspicuous area to ensure it won’t cause damage to scratch-prone materials and finishes.
Sponges that combine cellulose and abrasive materials are popular for washing dishes, allowing you to scour away stuck-on food without having to reach for a separate cleaning tool.
SEE SPONGES, PAGE F10
Deeds
CONTINUES FROM PAGE F8
Nicholas Anthony and Sidney Leigh Anthony to Natalia Rosulschi, 114 South Loomis St., $400,000.
R M Blerman LLC, and RM Blerman LLC, to Ian Richard Deluca, 3 South Loomis St., $370,000.
Sheryl Litchfield, representative, Steven Randall Schmid, estate, and Steven R. Schmid, estate, to 109 North Lake Avenue LLC, 109 North Lake Ave., $300,000.
Theresa Koloski, conservator, and Claire Chapman to Donna M. Koloski, Henry G. Koloski, Henry J. Koloski and Theresa Koloski, 69 Rosewood Lane, Unit C-12, $250,000.
SPRINGFIELD
Abdullah Mohammed Jashaami to Amie Matos, 69 Merrimac Ave., $320,000.
Alexander E. Samol, trustee, Harriet L. Samol, trustee, and Harriet L. Samol Living Trust, trustee of, to Joshua Tiago and Emely Bonilla Rodriguez, 66-68 Shawmut St., $250,000.
Anthony Cruz Soto and Luz M. Fontanez Rodriguez to Aida Colon and Raymond Pedraza Serrano, 64 Fox Hill Road, $295,000.
Candace L. Sherokow to Melvin Rivera and Marta Evelyn Rivera, 101 Regal St., $285,000.
Carol I. Grochmal, representative, and Ruth E. Holman, estate, to CNP Investments LLC, 27-29 Wilcox St., $370,000.
Christine Cornejo-Harvey and Christine M. Harvey to Kimeisha Winkle, 137 Wollaston St., $390,000.
David S. Rhodes and Donna M. Rhodes to Brian Kavanagh, 90 Nassau Drive, $220,000.
Dilenes Ortiz to Howard Michael Bennett and Heather Blais-Bennett, 143 Redlands St., $344,000.
Dionne Real Estate LLC, to Emtay Inc.,14 Lafayette St., $1,000,000.
Dominic Santaniello, trustee, Lucas Giusto, trustee, and Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, to Christian Lopez Rodriguez, 278 Talmadge Drive, $240,000.
Douglas Guyette to B Dream Inc., 33 Derryfield Ave., $180,000.
Elibil LLC, trustee, and 112 Bay Street Realty Nominee Trust, trustee of, to Round Two LLC, 112 Bay St., $200,000.
Esteban Dominguez, representative, Ana Lydia Davila, estate, and Ana L. Davila, estate, to Priscilla Ashley Perez, 109 Abbe Ave., $229,000.
Halle A. Watt to Amanda Rodriguez and Yessenia Toro, 114 Davis St., $320,000.
James Ernest Menard Jr., and Angelina Victoria Estrada-Menard to Halle Watt, 150 Jamaica St., $451,000.
Jane W. Sullivan to Christian De La Cruz, 70 Castlegate Drive, $245,000.
Jessica O’Brien to Jonan Manuel Liriano Jimenez, 72 West Bay Path Terrace, $243,000.
JJS Capital Investment LLC, receiver, Springfield City and Dieu M Tai to JJS Capital Investment LLC, 480 White St., $300,000.
Joan M. Przybycien to Michael T. Donovan and Andrea J. Donovan, 33 Sherwood Road, $260,000.
John M. Collier to Kevin J. McCarthy, 33 Madison Ave., $265,000.
Jose Domena to Naples Home Buyers Trust, trustee of, Lucas Giusto, trustee, and Dominic Santaniello, trustee, 50-52 Sherman Ave., $168,000.
Karen Buoniconti, representative, Todd Klisiewicz, representative, Patricia M. Taft, estate, and Patricia Taft, estate, to Jessica S. Maldonado Santana, 48 Peekskill Ave., $310,000.
Karen Chiaro and Glorie Glynn to Nicelia Irizarry and Misael Irizarry, 51-53 Miller St., $350,000.
Karen L. Bennett to Neal McNamara and Patricia Huzar, 182 Dayton St., $310,000.
Manifesting Income LLC, to Round Two LLC, 56 Kenyon St., $295,000.
Melissa Horsler to Mahendra Jagdharry, 15 Garcia St., $316,000.
Muna Tiwari, Ganga M. Tiwari and Mina Tiwari to Arjun Thapa and Sharada Paudel, 408 Roosevelt Ave., $357,000.
Pah Properties LLC, to Alondra Perez Rivera, 86 Malden St., $260,000.
Richard Griffin and Ethel L. Griffin to JHN Investments LLC, 252 King St., $235,900.
Robert A. Buoniconti to Jillian Wilson, 116 Garland St., $320,000.
Ryan V. Nguyen to Saad Abduljabbar and Wamedh Jassaim, 971-973 Sumner Ave., $390,000.
Sadie L. Murray to Alexis J. Martinez Montalvo, 1017 Roosevelt Ave., $260,000.
Samuel Pantojas and Mirelis Otero to Nathaniel Martinez, 93 Melville St., $243,500.
Thomas M. Collins Jr., and Sean P. Collins to 26-28 Parallel LLC, 26-28 Parallel St., $300,000.
Thomas Wilson to Luis D. Santos Vazquez, 665 Belmont Ave., $325,000.
Todd W. Downie, representative, Cheryl Lee Downie, estate, and Michelle Downie to Kyle Kreyeski and Clarissa Kreyeski, 124 Pennsylvania Ave., $321,750.
Topher Properties LLC, to Chantelle A. Francis, 31 Parallel St., $314,000.
Winston Francis to Pierre-Bony Louis, 143 Wilbraham Ave., $187,500.
SUNDERLAND
Daniel P. Rattelle and Elizabeth H. Wassmann to Joseph Delfino, 14 North Plain Road, $305,000.
TOLLAND
Dianne A. Pothier to Kevin A. Hull and Krista A. Hull, 42 Woodchuck Hollow Road, $200,000.
WALES
Amy L. Desorcy to Jurisdised Agencies LLC, 73 Main St., $170,000.
Rachel Smith to Paul Kerness, 8 Woodland Heights, $10,000.
Richard S. Skinner and Jane F. Skinner to Guy M. Bacon, 14 Lakeshore Drive, $100.
Richard S. Skinner, Jane F. Skinner and Guy M. Bacon to Guy M. Bacon, 12 Lakeshore Drive, $100.
Taylor D. Kibbe and Hailee A. Kibbe to Julia Brown and Zachary P. Dill, 14 Shaw Road, $270,000.
WARE
Genevieve M. Swiszcz, trustee, and Revocable Trust of Genevieve M. Swiszcz to Benjamin Ramsey, 196 Sczygiel Road, $310,000.
Beaver Associates Inc., to John Thompson Wilbanks and Carolina Almeida Antunes Rossini, Babcock Tavern Road, $52,500.
WARWICK
Douglas A. Baker to Cody F. Gibbons, Warwick Road, $40,000.
WENDELL
Byron J. Ricketts and Byron J. Ricketts III, to Donna E. Dwyer and Thomas J. Dwyer, Wickett Pond Road, $55,000.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Donna L. Palmer, representative, and Franklin C. Palmer, estate, to Brendan Culver and Danielle Culver, 93 Nonotuck Ave., $440,000.
Rebecca Casino, trustee, and Wilhelmina Irrevocable Trust, trustee of, to Property Advantage Inc., 192 Kings Highway, $185,000.
Terrence P. Roberts, Barry G. Roberts, Christopher M. Roberts and Harvey E. Roberts Jr., to West Co. Investments LLC, 101 Westwood Drive, $250,000.
WESTFIELD
Aaron P. McNamara to Tracy Ann Torres, 111 Union St., Unit 17, $271,250.
Brian Plante, representative, George A. Plante, estate, and George Plante, estate, to Nathan J. Schreffler, 15 Schumann Drive, $325,000.
Cynthia Ducharme, representative, and Patricia A. Connors, estate, to Hedge Hog Industries Corp., 141 Falcon Drive, $87,500.
Donald W. Fanska and Vicky Lynn Fanska to Elkin Anibal Lorenzo Pineda, 36 Cranston St., $300,000.
Hedge Hog Industries Corp., to Skyspec LLC, 141 Falcon Road, $135,000.
Joanne V. Farrell to Jeffrey P. Mackey, Jeffrey Mackey and Nicole Mackey, 283 Russellville Road, $425,000.
Katherine A. St. Mary to Zachary Hall, 266 Hillside Road, $350,000.
Kolleen M. Jandaczek, trustee, and Kolleen M. Jandaczek Living Trust, trustee of, to Drew T. Heath, 11 Hamlin Place, $490,000.
Robin R. Sheldon to Emily Galvin and Melanie Gaudet, 86 Montgomery St., $309,900.
WHATELY
Howard P. Terry, Jr., personal representative of the Estate of Judith Arlene Terry, “aka” Judith A. Terry, to Helena Farrell and Carsten Homstead, Grass Hill Road, $18,000.
WILBRAHAM
Bruce Laviolette, David Laviolette and Lorraine M. Belliveau to John Machado, 395 Three Rivers Road, $250,000.
Christopher J. Reed and Caren L. Reed to Frank Paul Mikuszewski III, and Lida E. Vanasse, 2 Webster Lane, $825,000.
David A. Parke and Patrice M. Parke to Benjamin Fennell and Martha Fennell, 9 Old Farm Road, $645,000.
Laura Haapanen and Cristina Liquori to Earl D. Wilson and Marcelle E. Wilson, 576v Ridge Road, $315,000.
William Christopher Lynch and Ann McCracken Lynch to Caren L. Reed and Christopher J. Reed, 2205 Boston Road, Unit C-25, $325,000.
Sponges
Coconut or walnut sponges
Best for: Daily dishes and surface cleaning
Materials and finishes: Safe for dishes, pots and pans, ovens and glass stove tops; hard, nonporous surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen; stainless steel.
Scratch warning! Test this product on an inconspicuous area to ensure it won’t cause damage to scratch-prone materials and finishes
While matching or nearing the effectiveness of traditional two-sided scrub sponges or plastic scrubbers, coconut or walnut sponges are made of 100% natural materials, and are biodegradable and compostable.
Knitted dishcloths
Best for: Dishes and regular household cleaning jobs
Materials and finishes: Any, including Grandma’s china and other delicate pieces
The precursor, in a sense, to the Swedish dishcloth craze, knitted dishcloths are typically square-shaped and larger than a traditional kitchen sponge and act as a paper towel substitute. They can be laundered and used over and over for washing and drying dishes, as well as for wiping down surfaces, but they are not as absorbent as a traditional sponge.
Dry sponge
Best for: Dust, dirt, lint, pet hair and soot on dry surfaces
Materials and finishes: Anything, including things you might never have thought to clean in the first place (books, car interiors, computers, televisions, workout equipment, projection screens, speaker grills, fire places, lampshades, paintings, painted walls, upholstery, vents, fan blades, wallpaper)
Made of vulcanized latex rubber, dry sponges can also be used wet or dry, though they are most commonly used dry to avoid smearing or smudging. They can be washed and reused and, in addition to soot and dirt removal, can be used on soft surfaces to pick up pet hair.
Eraser sponge
Best for: Removing stains
Materials and finishes: Hard, nonporous surfaces; sneakers. Do not use on nonstick coatings, granite, marble or high-gloss surfaces.
Scratch warning! Test this product on an inconspicuous area to ensure it won’t cause damage to scratch-prone materials and finishes. Eraser sponges can be used on painted walls, for example, but you must test it first.
will disintegrate — it is akin to a pencil eraser in that way.
Dusting sponge
Best for: Dust, dirt, hair, crumbs
Materials and finishes: Baseboards, blinds, glass, plastic, porcelain, radiators, stone, vents, wood
Soft, slightly tacky sponges designed to be used when slightly damp, dusting sponges grab and trap dust, dirt and other particulates. They can be rinsed under running water and reused; they should be stored slightly damp in an airtight container, zip-top bag or plastic wrap to maintain their sponginess.
Car wash sponge
Best for: Outdoor cleaning jobs, including patio furniture, play sets, pool toys and sporting equipment
Natural sea sponge
Best for: Hestia cosplay, bathing, detail work, windows
Materials and finishes: Glass, including mirrors and windows; window tracks and sills; walls
Sea sponges are the original sponges: First used in ancient Greece for personal and household cleaning, these multicellular organisms have pores and channels through which water can circulate. Today, sea sponges can be farmed under controlled circumstances or collected by divers, but have been replaced largely by sponges made by manufactured or synthetic materials.
Swedish dishcloths
Best for: Dishes and regular household cleaning jobs
Materials and finishes: Any, including Grandma’s china and other delicate pieces
Made of cellulose and cotton, Swedish dishcloths are larger and flatter than traditional kitchen sponges.
These highly absorbent, quick-drying cloths are somewhere between a sponge and a paper towel, but because they can be machine washed, they have a longer lifespan. And, when they wear out, Swedish dishcloths are biodegradable and compostable.
You probably know the eraser sponge by its stage name, Magic Eraser. Made from melamine foam, these abrasive sponges work almost like very fine sandpaper and can be used to remove stains, scuffs and dirt from hard surfaces including baseboards, doors, light switches, bathroom surfaces and refrigerator interiors.
To use, wet the eraser sponge and wring it until just barely damp. After testing it in an inconspicuous area to ensure it will not damage the surface, gently rub it on the stain; as you work, the sponge
Materials and finishes: Ceramics, glass, grout, metal, plastic, stone and wood
These oversize cellulose sponges, designed to cover large flat surfaces in fewer passes, are not the best choice for washing a car (that would be a microfiber mitt or sponge) — the sponge’s small holes can trap dirt and debris that can scratch the car’s clear coat, leaving the paint vulnerable to the elements. Instead, car wash sponges are recommended for other outdoor cleaning jobs, such as washing patio furniture, children’s play sets or sporting equipment like kayaks, bikes and horses (yes).
Microfiber sponge
Best for: Dust, dirt and hair, wiping bathroom and kitchen surfaces
Materials and finishes: Safe for glass, plastic, porcelain, stone and wood
Microfiber should not be used or washed with chlorine bleach or cleaning agents that contain it; additionally, when laundering microfiber, avoid the use of liquid fabric softener or dryer sheets. These absorbent, machine washable sponges can be used wet or dry for a number of household cleaning jobs (probably not washing dishes). When dry, microfiber cleaning cloths and sponges use an electromagnetic charge to attract dust and other particulates. Warning: Microfiber can melt when exposed to heat or hot surfaces.
Copper kitchen scourers are ideal for heavy-duty jobs like scrubbing broiler pads. (ADOBE STOCK PHOTO)
A Scrub Daddy eponymous sponge in the shape of a smiley face is made from a strong high tech polymer. (ADOBE STOCK PHOTO)
A silicone red dish washing brush. These brushes are very durable and can be reused for six months up to a year. (ADOBE STOCK PHOTO)
PUBLIC AUCTION
PUBLIC AUCTION
PUBLIC AUCTION
MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE AT PUBLIC AUCTION
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
1:00 PM-CHICOPEE
29 Albert Street
sgl fam, 768 sf liv area, 0.21 ac lot, 5 rm, 2 bdrm, 1 bth, Hampden: Bk 22447, Pg 351 2:00 PM - SPRINGFIELD
115 Hood Street
sgl fam, 840 sf liv area, 0.17 ac lot, 5 rm, 3 bdrm, 1 bth, Hampden: Bk 16652, Pg 131
Terms: Cashier’s or certified check in the sum of $5,000.00 as a deposit must be shown at the time and place of the sale in order to qualify as a bidder. No CASH No personal checks will be accepted. Cashier/ certified checks should be made out to whomever is going to bid at the auction. The balance to be paid within thirty (30) days at the law offices of Korde & Associates, P.C. 900 Chelmsford Street, Suite 3102, Lowell, MA 01851, Attorney for the Mortgagee. Auctioneer makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information contained herein.
(978) 251-1150 www.baystateauction.com
MAAU#: 1029, 2624, 2959, 3039, 2573, 116, 2484, 3246, 2919, 3092, 3107, 0100030, 3099
Bengal Kittens,
MORTGAGEES’ REAL ESTATE AUCTIONS TO BE SOLD ON THEIR RESPECTIVE PREMISE MONDAY DEC. 9, 2024
12:00PM-SPRINGFIELD, MA 26 DWIGHT ROADDEPOSIT $5,000
2:00PM - SPRINGFIELD, MA 62-64 HOWES STREETDEPOSIT $5,000
3:00 PMWEST SPRINGFIELD, MA 76 WOLCOTT AVENUEDEPOSIT $10,000
4:00 PM - HOLLAND, MA 10 PINE TREE DRIVEDEPOSIT $5,000 MONDAY DEC. 16, 2024
11:00AM-SPRINGFIELD, MA 57 ELLSWORTH AVENUEDEPOSIT $5,000
TERMSOFSALES:DEPOSITSINTHEAMOUNTS SPECIFIEDABOVEARETO BEPAIDBYTHEPURCHASER(S)ATTHETIME ANDPLACEOFEACH SALEBYCERTIFIEDOR BANKCHECK.ALLBALANCESDUEARETOBE PAIDWITHIN30DAYSOF EACHINDIVIDUALSALE. OTHERTERMS,IFANY, TOBEANNOUNCEDAT EACH SALE.
