A soldering sponge is a standard-size, Spongy pad that is used to clean the tip of a soldering iron. It is typically made of a porous, absorbent material that is able to soak up excess solder and other contaminants from the tip of the iron. Soldering sponges are used to keep the soldering iron tip clean and free from excess solder, which can interfere with the soldering process and result in poor-quality soldering joints.

The soldering iron tip is wiped across the surface of the sponge to remove excess solder and other contaminants. It can be wetted with water to help clean the tip more effectively. Some soldering sponges are impregnated with a cleaning agent to help remove tougher contaminants from the iron tip. It is important to keep the soldering sponge moist, as a dry one can damage the soldering iron tip. Soldering sponges are a common tool in electronics repair and soldering projects and are used by professionals and hobbyists alike.