When you find yourself in a cleaning frenzy you likely disinfect those hands-on items like the television remotes, sink handles and door knobs, but how often do you think about disinfecting your kitchen sponge? Truth be told, the kitchen sponge is the dirtiest object in your home – filthier than the carpet, garbage can, and toilet seat…combined!
Sponges are hotspots for harmful bacteria
Sponges are perfect for harboring organisms such as salmonella and E.coli because they’re full of tiny nooks and crannies for hiding. Remember: where there is odor, there are germs. So that notorious kitchen smell most likely comes from the very sponge that cleans your dishes.
However, there are many ways to combat the contaminated kitchen culture:
- Chlorine Bleach Solution: Make a solution by mixing 1 part bleach and 9 parts water. Drop the sponge in the mixture for 10-30 seconds, eliminating growing germs.
- Microwave Method: Submerge the sponge in water, then microwave for 2 minutes. This will allow the water to boil and disinfect completely.
- Replacing Rule: As a rule of thumb, sponges should be replaced 2-4 times per month to ensure safe scrubbing.
By simply disinfecting your sponges or replacing them regularly, you will turn the nastiest object in your home into one of the cleanest.
