Did you know that you very likely have something sitting in your kitchen that has more bacteria than your toilet??

Kitchen sponges are a breeding ground for bacteria, and many don’t even know it! They sit there with bits of food and lots of moisture and they are the perfect place for bacteria to grow and abound. While this doesn’t mean you have to get rid of your sponges entirely, you definitely want to be wary!

You should be replacing your sponges regularly. Toss it out as soon as you start smelling anything funky. Ideally, if you’re washing dishes every day you should be replacing the sponge at least once a month, but ideally every 2 weeks or even every week to be extremely safe! If you don’t like the idea of just throwing out sponges that are still in good condition, feel free to use them for other cleaning uses that don’t involve eating. Scrubbing floors, car washes, gardening equipment, toilets, etc.

You will want to wash them regularly in the meantime. Toss them in the washing machine with a little bleach to help kill any bacteria that may be developing. You can also just stick them in a bowl of water with a little bleach. Or if you’re blessed to have a dishwasher, stick the sponge in with the dishes! (Though this isn’t as effective as using bleach).

Some sources say to stick your sponges in the microwave, but you’ll want to be careful with this one- a completely dry sponge is a fire hazard, and a study showed that zapping the sponge in the microwave was actually not the best way to kill the bacteria. The methods listed above are much more effective. (And obviously don’t put a sponge in the microwave if it’s metallic!)

However you clean your sponge, be sure to wring it out completely, and don’t let bits of food and gunk sit on the sponge for long periods of time. Keep it as clean as possible between uses and between cleanings.

You also need to be careful with what you clean with your sponge. Don’t use the same sponge you cleaned up meat juice with to clean up the rest of the counters or the dishes. In fact, it’s probably best to keep your sponge with the dishes and let the dishcloths/paper towels take care of the countertops!

With that said, you’ll want to be careful with dish cloths as well. They pose a similar hazard, though people are more likely to wash these frequently. They can easily be thrown into the washing machine with bleach, which will definitely help kill any lurking bacteria.

If you really want to avoid as much bacteria as possible, brushes are the safest way to go. Their design allows them to dry faster, making it much harder for bacteria to grow, and making it much easier to thoroughly clean them. You also don’t have to replace them as frequently as sponges, so they are a much more budget and environmentally friendly way to go! You can usually use these for 4-6 months, but if you start noticing funky smells or bristles falling off, feel free to replace sooner.

Bottom line- use a silicone or plastic brush if you can, but if you still prefer to use a cloth or sponge just make sure you clean them thoroughly and change them out regularly!

    Camille Hoffmann
    Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
    Email the author! camille@dvo.com