Five Ways to Disinfect, Sanitize or Clean a Sponge

Bacteria, yeasts, and mold love a damp environment, and when you use a kitchen sponge several times a day, it typically doesn't have a chance to dry. Microbial organisms find it the perfect place to live and play, and a single bacteria cell can reproduce and grow to more than 8 million in less than 24 hours. Wiping down the counters, table, and possibly the baby's face with that same sponge simply spreads the germs around.

Listed below are five ways to sanitize and disinfect the kitchen sponge to help reduce germs, and to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Before doing any of them, remove all food particles from the kitchen sponge by placing it under running water and scraping off the "crusties."

1. Dry It Out: The easiest way to disinfect a sponge is to let it dry. Bacteria can only live a few hours on a dry surface. Wring the sponge after each use, and set it in a place where it can air dry. Keep a clean dry sponge on hand, and rotate sponges at least every 2 days-or as often as you prefer-to insure that germs don't have an opportunity to grow. While using one sponge, sanitize the other sponge by one of the methods listed below.

2. Wash in the Washer: Throw the kitchen sponge in the washing machine with your towels or sheets, then allow to air dry completely.

If you don't have a spare, dry sponge on hand and worry that your current sponge needs sanitizing, try one of the following options.

3. Heat in the Microwave: Do not use this method if your sponge contains metal! Wet the sponge well and do not wring it out. A dry sponge will catch fire in a microwave, so don't skip this step! Microwave on high power for two to four minutes, watching to be sure the kitchen sponge doesn't dry out and catch fire. When finished, the sanitized sponge will be very hot and give off steam, so allow it to cool before handling. After wringing out the excess remaining water, the sponge is ready for use, with 99.99999% of the bacteria killed.

However, if your sponge is mildewed, microwaving it may cause your microwave to pick up that mildewed smell. To sanitize a mildewed sponge, use one of the other methods.

4. Bleach It: Make a solution of 10% bleach and soak the sponge in it for 4 minutes. Rinse well, then wring dry. This method is not quite as effective as others are, but if you let the sponge dry before using, it increases its effectiveness.

5. Boil It: Drop the sponge into a pan of boiling water. Cover the pan with a lid and boil for 5 minutes. Let cool, then wring out excess water. Some experts believe this method kills even more bacteria than microwaving.

The kitchen is the most bacteria-laden room in the house. With all the worry about E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter, disinfecting and sanitizing the kitchen sponge is a big step in maintaining your health and the health of those you love.

Sources:
HowToGetRidOffStuff.com: http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/household/how-to-get-rid-of-sour-sponge-smell
USDA: http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?SEQ_NO_115=207115
USDA: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/070423.htm
WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/germs-in-kitchen