If you have a pool and also have children (or husbands) who apply sunscreen like they’re marinating a steak, you need these oil-absorbing pool sponges in your life. Trust me, I was skeptical too. But now? I drop one of these in the water anytime the surface starts looking like a greasy crime scene, and within hours, the shine is gone.

These sponges are shaped like little flowers, but don’t let the cuteness fool you. They’re workhorses. You just toss one in and let it float around like a low-effort pool boy. It silently soaks up all the gunk — sunscreen oils, body lotion, mystery party residue. And when I say it works fast, I mean fast. I usually come back a few hours later and it’s turned an alarming shade of orange… which is gross but also extremely satisfying.

Now, yes, some people out there are the rinse-and-reuse type. That’s not me. These oil soaking up sponges come in a pack of 24, and I treat them like I treat paper plates: single-use and guilt-free. At roughly one a week, the pack lasts a good chunk of the summer, even with regular pool parties and back-to-back splash days.

What do these look like after a few hours? Check out this grossness:

The reviews on Amazon for these sponges don’t disappoint. The satisfying “after” photos are pretty good.

They don’t replace your pool filter or vacuum, but they seriously help cut down on that oily film that shows up after a few sunscreen-slathered kids (and dads) cannonball in. They’re also way easier than trying to shock your pool every time someone over-applies SPF 100.

It’s the kind of product you didn’t know you needed until you use it once and suddenly feel morally obligated to tell every pool-owning friend you know.

Want to keep your pool looking fresh and not like a vinaigrette dressing? Get a pack right here on Amazon and thank me later when you realize you haven’t had to skim sunscreen scum manually in weeks.

One sponge. One week. No oily regrets.