Your Kitchen Sponge Could Be As Dirty As A Toilet

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Kitchen Sponge Health Dirty

I’m sure we all knew that kitchen sponges aren’t the cleanest thing but did you know they can be as dirty as a toilet?

I came across a magazine article that talked about replacing your kitchen sponge every week.  What????  Does anyone do that?

So, I started researching it more and I found a report that your kitchen sponge could be as dirty as a toilet.  Yuck!

Kitchen Sponge Dirty Toilet

 

Studies are showing that just after a couple of uses your sponge can be full of bacteria.

I usually use brushes more than sponges but I have used sponges and I definitely didn’t throw them out that often.

 

So what are some ways to prevent at least some bacteria?

One simple way to try to prevent bacteria from forming is to wring out the sponge after use and keep it in a place where it can dry out.  Also, make sure you don’t touch the sponge to anywhere that meat or poultry juices have been.

Dirty Kitchen Sponge

 

So ok, i’ll replace the sponge every week, make sure I wring it out, and I won’t wipe up any meat or poultry juices.  That’s good enough, right?

Nope, still not enough.  You still need to clean it each day to keep it bacteria free until it is changed to a new one.  They also say if the sponge has a bad smell that it should be changed immediately even if it has only been a couple of days.

 

How do you clean a kitchen sponge?

I like throwing my kitchen sponges or brushes in the dishwasher.  I definitely haven’t been doing this every day though.

You can also microwave a damp sponge for 1 minute to clean it.

There’s also the option of soaking the sponge for 1-2 minutes in 1/2 tsp. of bleach and quart of warm water mixture.

 

I found the one thing i’m doing right is not using my sponge for cleaning my counter tops.  They say that the bacteria will just spread everywhere you wipe.  I like to use paper towels or disinfecting wipes for this.  You can also make your own disinfectant wipes by soaking paper towels in cleaning solution.

I also keep separate brushes/sponges for cleaning different things.  I have one to clean the sink out, one for dishes, and one that’s a spare.

I’ve talked about brushes a lot, because that’s what I have, and they say they are the best option out of sponges, brushes, and cloths.  Of course, any of these that you keep clean are going to be a good option.  You still have to clean the brushes every day, too.  As long as they don’t have a wood handle, you can run them through the dishwasher.

 

So, I threw out one of my kitchen brushes and started using a new since reading this article.  It was old and needed to be done.  I think replacing them every week is kind of a lot, especially since brushes are more expensive.  I think if I stick with using just brushes, switching out once or twice a month should be good with using the dishwasher to wash them in between.

Let me know your thoughts about this.  Do you think once a week is excessive?

 

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