How-to · Yado Market Blog
The African net sponge (sapo in Ghana, the "African net" or African exfoliating net) is a long, stretchy nylon bath net that reaches your whole back and turns a little soap into a big lather. Here's how to use one step by step, how to keep it clean, and how to use body wash without a loofah if you're still deciding.
Quick answer: how to use an African net sponge
- Wet the net with warm water.
- Add body wash, shower gel or rub it on a bar of soap.
- Scrunch it in your hands for a few seconds to build lather.
- Stretch it behind you, hold one end in each hand and pull it back and forth across your back.
- Bunch it up for arms, legs and feet, using light pressure.
- Rinse it well, squeeze out the water and hang it to dry.
Whole back
Reach it on your own
Any soap
Bar, body wash or gel
Open mesh
Rinses out and dries fast
Months
Of daily use with care
Shop the net
Our African Net Sponges
Both are the real nylon net used in West African homes. Pick it up today at our Chicago store or get it shipped anywhere in the U.S.
Everyday pick
African Net Sponge – Authentic Exfoliating Bath Net
Our standard African net. Firm mesh that softens with use, long enough for your back.
Shop · $10.00
Extra long
African Net Sponge – Extra Long (Sapo)
More length to wrap around your back. Assorted colors. Limited stock.
Shop · $14.99
Pairs with
Liquid Black Soap / Body Wash 8 oz
A liquid black soap body wash that lathers up fast in the net.
Shop · $9.99See every size and color in our African net sponge collection.
Know your net
What Is an African Net Sponge?
An African net sponge is a long strip of stretchy, tightly woven nylon mesh used for bathing across West Africa. It isn't a sponge at all in the soft, squishy sense: it's a net. When you pull it, it stretches long enough to hold one end in each hand behind your back, so you can scrub the spots a loofah or washcloth never reaches. The firm mesh gives a gentle scrub, and the open weave turns a small amount of soap into a lot of foam.
Other Names You'll Hear
Sapo
The name used in Ghana and Togo, so you'll also see "sapo sponge" or "Ghana sponge".
Kànkàn
The Yoruba word for a bath sponge in Nigeria. The plant-fiber kind is kànkàn ìbílẹ̀, the "native sponge" (see below).
African net cloth
Also "African wash cloth", "African exfoliating net" or just "African net". Same thing.
Not the same: native sponge
The African native sponge is a rougher bundle of dried plant fibers, not nylon mesh.
Step by step
How to Use an African Net Sponge
New nets feel stiff. That's normal: they soften after the first few showers. Start with light pressure until you know how your skin likes it.
1. Wet
Soak the net in warm water. A brand-new net: rinse it well first, as some colored nets release a little dye the first time.
2. Soap
Add a small squeeze of body wash or shower gel, or rub the wet net over a bar of soap or African black soap.
3. Lather
Scrunch the net between your hands for 5 to 10 seconds. The mesh whips the soap into thick foam.
4. Back
Stretch it behind you, hold one end in each hand and pull it side to side like drying with a towel. Then go diagonally to cover your shoulders.
5. Body
Fold or bunch it into a pad for arms, legs, knees, elbows and feet. Light, short strokes are enough.
6. Rinse & hang
Rinse off, then rinse the net until no soap is left, wring it out and hang it to dry.
Skip your face and private areas: the net is made for the body. Pat dry and put on a moisturizer like raw shea butter while your skin is still a little damp.
No loofah? No problem
How to Use Body Wash Without a Loofah
Body wash and shower gel are made to be lathered with something. Without a loofah you have three good options. Here's an honest look at each:
Our pick
1. African net sponge
Best for: lots of lather from a little product, a light scrub, and reaching your back.
Downside: firmer than a washcloth at first; too much for some sensitive skin.
2. Washcloth
Best for: sensitive or dry skin; soft, and easy to throw in the laundry.[2]
Downside: less lather, only a very light scrub, and it needs washing after every use or two. Can't reach the middle of your back.
3. Your hands
Best for: the gentlest wash, nothing to clean or replace.
Downside: no scrub, you use more body wash, and your back gets missed.
With your hands
- Wet your skin well.
- Pour a coin-sized amount of body wash into wet palms.
- Rub your hands together until it foams.
- Wash one area at a time, adding a little water to stretch the lather.
- Rinse with lukewarm water.
With an African net
- Wet the net.
- Add a small squeeze of shower gel.
- Scrunch until it foams.
- Back first (both hands, side to side), then the rest of your body.
- Rinse the net clean and hang it up.
The same steps work for shower gel without a loofah: gels are just thinner body washes, so use a little less and add water to build the foam.
Care
How to Clean and Dry Your Net Sponge
Any bath tool that stays wet with dead skin in it can grow bacteria.[1] The net's advantage is its open weave: rinse it properly and it drains and dries much faster than a thick sponge. Make these a habit:
Rinse it clean
Run it under the shower and squeeze until the water runs clear with no foam.
Wring and stretch
Squeeze out the water, then stretch it out so it isn't bunched in a wet ball.
Hang it to dry
On a hook or rail with air around it. Outside the shower is best; it dries faster.[2]
Wash it weekly
Hand wash with soap and hot water, or put it in a mesh laundry bag on a gentle cycle. Air-dry it; skip the dryer.
Don't share it
Everyone in the house gets their own net.
Replace it when…
It smells musty, stays slimy, frays, or has lost its stretch.
Good to know
How Long Does an African Net Sponge Last?
With daily use and the care steps above, a good nylon net lasts for many months, much longer than a plastic shower puff. Cleveland Clinic suggests replacing a natural loofah every 3 to 4 weeks and a plastic one after about 2 months.[2] There's no set date for a net. Replace it when it smells, frays or stops feeling scrubby, and sooner if you've been sick or it ever stays damp for days.
Compare
African Net Sponge vs Loofah: Which Is More Hygienic?
Loofahs (the dried-gourd kind and the plastic shower puff) have a bad reputation for a reason. A 1994 study in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology found loofah sponges trapped skin cells and grew many kinds of bacteria, and could carry them back to the skin. The authors recommended cleaning them regularly with diluted bleach.[1] Cleveland Clinic's dermatologist says loofahs never fully dry out in the shower, which is why they breed bacteria.[2]
African net sponge
Flat, open nylon mesh. Rinses through and dries fast when hung up. Long enough for your back. Lasts for months.
Loofah / shower puff
Dense, bunched layers that hold water and skin cells. Short reach. Replace every few weeks.[2]
Washcloth
Soft and easy to launder. Less lather and no scrub. Use a fresh one often.
The honest part: no study has tested African nets specifically. The net is more hygienic only if you rinse it and let it dry fully between showers. A net left wet in a bunch in the tub is no better than a loofah.
Be gentle
Who Should Go Easy With a Net Sponge?
The net is a scrubbing tool, so "harder" isn't "better". Dermatologists say over-exfoliating can cause redness and irritation, and that people with darker skin tones should avoid strong scrubbing, because irritation can leave dark marks.[3]
Sensitive or dry skin
Bunch the net loosely, use light strokes, and try every other day. A washcloth may suit you better.[3]
Right after shaving
Skip scrubbing shaved areas for a day or two.[2]
Cuts or sunburn
Don't scrub broken or sunburned skin. Wash those spots with your hands.[3]
Kids
Use it bunched up softly, or stick with a washcloth for little ones.
Always moisturize after your shower. Exfoliating can leave skin drier.[3]
Near me in Chicago
Pick Up an African Net Sponge Today
Looking for an African net sponge near you? Come to Yado African & Caribbean Market at 1651 E 87th St, Chicago, and feel the mesh before you buy. Order online for store pickup, local delivery, or shipping anywhere in the U.S.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you use an African net sponge?
Wet it, add soap or body wash, scrunch it to make lather, then hold one end in each hand and pull it across your back. Bunch it up for the rest of your body. Rinse it well and hang it to dry.
Does the African net sponge really work?
Yes, for what it's made for: it makes lots of lather from a little soap, gives a light scrub, and reaches your whole back without help. It won't change your skin on its own. Use it with a gentle soap and moisturize after.
Is it okay to use an African net sponge every day?
Many people do. Use light pressure. If your skin feels tight, red or sore, cut back to every other day or a few times a week.
Is it okay to use body wash without a loofah?
Yes. You can lather body wash in your hands, on a washcloth or on an African net sponge. Hands are the gentlest; a net gives more lather and reaches your back.
Is an African net sponge better than a loofah?
For most people, yes: it reaches your back, makes more lather, rinses out and dries faster, and lasts longer. It's only more hygienic if you rinse it and let it dry fully between uses.
How do I tell if an African net sponge is real?
A real African net is a firm, tightly woven nylon mesh that feels a bit stiff when new, stretches a lot when you pull it, and softens with use. Thin, soft, puffy mesh is closer to a shower puff.
Can I put my net sponge in the washing machine?
Most nylon nets can go in a mesh laundry bag on a gentle cycle. Let it air-dry rather than putting it in the dryer.
How often should you replace an African net sponge?
There's no set date. A nylon net that's rinsed and hung to dry after every shower lasts many months. Replace it when it gets soft or frayed, stays smelly after washing, or has dark spots that won't wash out, and sooner if you've been sick.
Where can I buy an African net sponge near me?
At Yado African & Caribbean Market, 1651 E 87th St, Chicago. Pick it up in store or order online for U.S. shipping.
Sources
- Bottone EJ, Perez AA, Oeser JL. "Loofah sponges as reservoirs and vehicles in the transmission of potentially pathogenic bacterial species to human skin." Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 1994;32(2):469–472. doi.org/10.1128/jcm.32.2.469-472.1994
- Cleveland Clinic. "Is Your Loofah Full of Bacteria?" (with dermatologist Melissa Piliang, MD), 2024. health.clevelandclinic.org
- American Academy of Dermatology. "How to safely exfoliate at home." aad.org
Ready to Ditch the Loofah?
One long net, a little soap and your whole back is covered. Grab the real African net sponge, in store in Chicago or shipped to your door.