" Should I do the pull-down sponge door and/or whole sink cabinet done in wood or is MDF fine here, even if it gets a little wet?? "

No.

No MDF is not fine or No don't do MDF for that cabinet?

unless you are careless and sloppy, it should be fine.

MDF is a very common choice these days.

No need to do wood. MDF is fine.

Thank you!

Are you talking about a tip out sponge door?

I am convinced that the best place for a sponge caddy is a sink. If you are getting a workstation sink, there should be one in there. They make options for other sinks as well. I’ve never loved the tip out sponge drawers because drying completely is one of the little things you can do to limit the bacterial content of the sponge (limit, not eliminate) and containing it makes it less likely to dry.

There should be no moisture in your sink base cabinet ever. MDF is fine.

@bry911 - Yes, i was tslking about the tip-out sponge thing and the whole sonk base cabinet.

Thank you everyone!!

You have to understand that this site spends a lot of time trying to convince people that MDF is a quality product and there is typically no marginal benefit from plywood. That is great, but it can color a lot of interactions.

MDF is not OK for any area that is going to have prolonged exposure to moisture such as a sponge storage area in a tip-out door. It is a fine product, but it absolutely sucks when the moisture penetrates the coating... which will certainly happen with prolonged exposure to moisture. However, most of the sponge trays are plastic so it really doesn't matter what the drawer face is made of, as the sponge tray is basically a bucket. Your only real concern is making sure you are not dripping water on the lip where the plastic container attaches to the door front.

If you feel like you are going to drip a lot in that area and plywood is an option, then yes... it is likely going to be more durable than MDF. It is possible it could delaminate but any moisture that will delaminate plywood is likely going to destroy MDF much faster.

There are probably options you could DIY to help ensure the life of the drawer. Since the trouble is going to be on the inside of the drawer, you can coat it with an epoxy sealer. Just carefully brush it on the door and let it dry. Since you are only doing one drawer you don't need a lot, so I would probably recommend System Three's Rotfix. You can get it in a 3oz size for $13 and it will waterproof a screen door.

Skip the idea of the silly sponge tip out. It typically does not even fit with modern sinks and faucets. Not enough room. And when it does, storing a wet damp sponge in there creates a moldy mildewy sponge that stinks.

To start sponges hold more bacteria than a toilet they are awful so no need to store them . Yes the tip outs are plastic so not a big deal but I find they get gross and really under the sink storage is a much better choice . I have had MDF cabinets for a long time in my last 2 homes and I run a catering biz from home so lots of splashing when busy wiped up not damge in my home here in 17 yrs . I use microfiber cloths in my kitchen and many of them on a regular day so I have a drwer full all the ones used get washed daily not stored anywhere when wet except on the sink

Thank you!!!