Kitchen sponges are the most usable thing in cleaning and found unsanitary too.
Some studies say that there is a vast amount of scientific literature presents in this useful kitchen cleaning product as compared the bacterial activity in the average pot scrubber found in a toilet seat.
Most experts say that, kitchen sponges do tend to harbor pathogens (they’re moist, porous, and come into contact with the grimiest places in your kitchen), and if you keep them longer than a week or two, it’s a good idea to replace them or clean them to avoid spreading those bacteria around.
But what is the right way to clean a sponge? Is blasting germs with heat more effective than dousing them with chemicals? Manan Sharma, Ph.
D., a research microbiologist with the Environmental Microbial & Food Safety Lab at the USDA, conducted a study comparing several popular methods: microwaving, running it through the dishwasher, and soaking it in bleach or lemon juice.
“Methods that provide heat, microwaving, or placing sponges in a dishwasher cycle that has a heated dry, are probably the best ways to disinfect sponges,” he concluded. “I use the dishwasher method, which proved the most effective in the study for lowering counts of bacteria, yeast, and mold, and is safe for sponges with metal or metal fibers in them, unlike a microwave.
” (Though there have been independent accounts of sponges going rogue and clogging the dishwasher drain.)
Nuking found as a second-best method, though Sharma cautions that make sure the sponge is damp so it generates bacteria-killing steam, and use caution afterward since the sponge will be hot to the touch.
While rubbing your sponge in the dishwasher regularly will extend its life (roughly 1 in 5 people wait three to four weeks before tossing a sponge.
The dishwasher also killed 99.9% of germs. To use, add your sponge to a regular dishwasher load, using the “heated dry” setting. This method eliminated 99.6% of bacteria. All you have to do is soak your sponge in full-strength vinegar for five minutes, then rinse.
Never use the same sponge to clean your kitchen countertops, dining table, cutting boards, and appliances, it can spread germs. Instead, use paper towels or disposable disinfectant wipes for general clean-up and spills (especially eggs and raw meat) or use clean, dry dish towels, making sure to wash them after each use.