How Gross Is Your Kitchen Sponge?
Sponges are a porous landline of microbes, yeasts, and molds. When was the last time you changed yours?
Is your sponge a petri dish for bacteria? Read on for ways to kill those germs.
“Kitchen sponges are the No. 1 source of germs in the whole house. Why? The moist, micro-crevices that make a sponge such an effective cleaning device also make it a cozy home for germs and more difficult to disinfect. Wiping your counters or dishes with a dirty sponge will only transfer the bacteria from one item to another. “Wet your sponge and then pop it in the microwave for two minutes to eliminate the germs that lurk inside the crevices,” says Neil Schachter, MD, medical director of respiratory care at Mount Sinai in New York City, and the author of The Good Doctor’s Guide to Colds and Flu.”
I had a feeling germs multiplied at an exponential rate, especially during the hot summer months, but I had no idea that “one single bacteria cell can become more than 8 million cells in less than 24 hours!” Those are paralyzing words for any germ-phobic freak. Deep breath. Read on, but if you don’t plan to read any further, simply toss out your sponge and start afresh.
So, what is the best way to handle this porous landmine of microbes, yeasts, and molds?
The USDA offers some research-based tips in the article “Best Ways to Clean Kitchen Sponges” by Sharon Durham (April 23, 2007). After conducting studies at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Food Technology and Safety Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, microbiologists uncovered these results:
“Microwaving sponges killed 99.99999 percent of bacteria present on them, while dishwashing killed 99.9998 percent of bacteria.
“As for the yeasts and molds, the sponges treated in the microwave oven or dishwasher were found to harbor less than 1 percent (0.00001). Between 6.7 and 63 percent of yeasts and molds survived on sponges soaked in bleach, lemon juice, deionized water or left untreated.”
Bleaching, lemon juice, and deionized water killed only 37 and 87 percent of bacteria, ruling them basically ineffective methods.
Bottom line: Wet and microwave your sponges for 2 minutes or run them through the dishwasher with a drying cycle. Also, to avoid food-borne pathogens, wipe up spills from meats, poultry, or seafood with a paper towel and use a disinfectant spray. Do the same for all of your countertops, faucets, handles, doorknobs, phones, and any other high traffic areas where hands can quickly spread germs.
Allow your sponge to dry out completely overnight. The Container Store and many grocery stores sell suction-cupped sponge holders that work well. FYI: While we’re on the topic of bacteria, dish towels should also be washed frequently and placed in the dryer to kill germs. Happy cleaning! And, yes, I’m a clean freak! New Year, New Sponge!
CATHERINE JONES is the award-winning author or coauthor of numerous cookbooks including , Eating for Pregnancy, and Eating for Lower Cholesterol. She is the co-founder/CEO of Werbie, LLC, a startup connecting women and technology, and a co-founder of the nonprofit Share Your Calories. She is a blogger and freelance journalist.
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