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For years we’ve heard you can sanitize your sponge by putting it in the microwave or boiling it in water. But according to the results of a study published in Scientific Reports, neither method makes your sponge completely germ-free.

Can a Microwave Really Sanitize Your Dirty Sponges? We've heard rumors that you don't have to toss them at the first sign of stink, but are they true? Let's investigate. By Sarah Showfety Photo: eanstudio (Shutterstock) Let’s just start here: Kitchen sponges are disgusting. A 2017 study published in Nature.com’s Scientific Reports found that used kitchen sponges harbored a whopping 362 different types of bacteria, in a staggering density of 45 billion microbes per square centimeter. According to the report, kitchen environments host more microbes than toilets, “mainly due to the contribution of kitchen sponges, which were proven to represent the biggest reservoirs of active bacteria in the whole house.” More than toilets? Yikes. So what can you do to limit spreading these nasty bacteria all over our dishes and kitchen counters—besides throwing out your sponge every week? Some say: microwave them. The idea isn’t new, and it has faced skepticism. The New York Times reported that while microwaving may kill the weak bacteria, “the strongest, smelliest, and potentially pathogenic bacteria will survive.” But Michaeleen Doucleff—whose research while earning a doctoral degree in chemistry included growing, studying, and killing bacteria—wasn’t convinced. Doucleff wrote for NPR that the sponge bacteria to be most concerned about—the food-borne pathogens—are “weaklings” that once heated even just a little bit, “literally pop.” Even the authors of the sponge study themselves said, “Sanitation by boiling or microwave treatment has been shown to significantly reduce the bacterial load of kitchen sponges and can therefore be regarded as a reasonable hygiene measure.” But they then said, in the next sentence: “However, our data showed that regularly sanitized sponges (as indicated by their users) did not contain less bacteria than uncleaned ones.” Huh? Upon taking a deep dive into the original sponge study, food microbiologist Jennifer Quinlan told NPR “there was no clear explanation of what ‘regular cleaning’ meant” and that “the study stated that the sponges were either microwaved or put in hot, soapy water.” The latter method, Quinlan said, “could actually encourage the bacteria.” (Did we mention the study looked at only five sponges that people reported “cleaning regularly” in Germany?)   Enter the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to the USDA, both microwaving and dishwashing sponges kills 99.9% of bacteria. (The sponges tested had been soaked in none other than ground beef juice. Yuck.) So, who’s right? While microwaving your sponges is not a failsafe, longterm solution, it can definitely zap a good number of harmful bacteria and increase the lifespan of your sponge. So, basically? Don’t do it forever. Recognize that the sponge will still harbor some bacteria after nuking, and it will need to be tossed eventually. When, exactly, is up to your own tolerance for invisible microbes. How to microwave your sponge: 1) Make sure it doesn’t have a metallic scrub pad. Those should be cleaned in your dishwasher on high heat, including a heated dry cycle. 2) Get it completely wet. Dry sponges can catch fire in the microwave. 3) Zap it on full power for one minute. 4) Let it sit in microwave for five to ten minutes to cool down before removing. A few more sponge health tips: Don’t use them to clean up raw meat juices; use paper towel instead. Clean them regularly (every few days or once a week). And don’t wait too long before you toss them. A good rule of thumb is about once a month. SpongeBath Solves The Germy Sponge Problem: https://www.spongebath.com/pages/sponge-bath-landing   Read More: https://lifehacker.com/can-a-microwave-really-sanitize-your-dirty-sponges-1847806658

It’s time for spring cleaning. You’re probably tackling the obvious spots, like scrubbing the toilet and dusting off the doormat. But there are spots in your house you probably haven’t thought about, that are crawling with germs. Watch Video: https://www.4029tv.com/article/rossen-reports-see-where-dangerous-germs-are-hiding-in-your-home/36492336 Kitchen sponge The thing you’re using to clean your dishes can be riddled with bacteria. In a recent study, researchers looked at germs on several kitchen sponges and found 362 different kinds of bacteria in the crevices. On one sponge alone, it could have 5.5 trillion microscopic bugs crawling around it. What to do with the sponge? You might be tempted to toss that sponge in the microwave. Check out this study that found the microwave trick, doesn’t really sanitize your sponge. The researchers found that microwaving the cleaning tool only killed around 60% of bacteria. In fact, sponges that were cleaned in the microwave or dishwasher actually contained higher amounts of bacteria. The experts found that several germs survived microwaving, then grew and spread quickly on the sponge. It’s best to throw away your sponge and get a new one every week. Or you can use a bristled brush to clean your dishes; they dry easier and normally house less bacteria. Towels in the bathroom Bathroom towels can harbor lots of germs because they’re the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. After you use a towel, it’s damp and warm and hanging in a dark bathroom. One microbiologist’s study found 90% of towels tested contained coliform and 14% had E. coli. How often should they be washed? Use a towel a maximum of two times, then throw it in the wash. Experts say it’s also a good idea to wash towels separately from your clothes. Shower curtains Scrubbing the shower? Take a look at the plastic shower curtain liner too. Sometimes you can visibly see the mold that could be growing at the bottom but it can also have hidden bacteria on it too. Researchers found shower curtains can harbor 60 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. How to wash it? Remove the rings and toss it in the washer on a cool setting. Or you can wash the liner in the tub with your preferred cleaner. Hang the liner to let it air dry. Shower and tub surfaces Experts say these services should really be wiped dry after every use to prevent bacteria from growing. How often should they be cleaned? Showers and tubs should be disinfected up to three times a week. That’s a lot. But there’s an easy way to do it. Use a product that contains at least 3% hydrogen peroxide. Lightly spray the surface and walk away. Hydrogen peroxide evaporates quickly, so it doesn’t need to be wiped down. Toothbrush holder The National Sanitation Foundation tested surfaces in more than 20 homes. It found 27% of toothbrush holders had coliform bacteria, 14% had staph and 64% had mold growing on them. How to clean it? Some dish soap and hot water will do the trick. Pet beds and toys Your pet brings in all sorts of dirt and bugs. They can also bring in bacteria and germs like MRSA and fecal matter. Pet toys can become home to things like yeast, mold and staph. How to clean a pet bed? When you take the sheets off your bed to wash them, grab the cover off your pet’s bed and throw that in the washer too. How to clean pet toys? If the toy is made of fabric, throw it in the washing machine every could weeks. If your pet toys are made of rubber or plastic, toss them in the sink and wash with hot water and dish soap every couple of weeks. Kitchen sponge The thing you’re using to clean your dishes can be riddled with bacteria. In a recent study, researchers looked at germs on several kitchen sponges and found 362 different kinds of bacteria in the crevices. On one sponge alone, it could have 5.5 trillion microscopic bugs crawling around it. What to do with the sponge? You might be tempted to toss that sponge in the microwave. Check out this study that found the microwave trick, doesn’t really sanitize your sponge. The researchers found that microwaving the cleaning tool only killed around 60% of bacteria. In fact, sponges that were cleaned in the microwave or dishwasher actually contained higher amounts of bacteria. The experts found that several germs survived microwaving, then grew and spread quickly on the sponge. It’s best to throw away your sponge and get a new one every week. Or you can use a bristled brush to clean your dishes; they dry easier and normally house less bacteria. Cleaning utensils The tools you use every day could also have unsafe levels of bacteria. In the National Sanitation Foundation’s study, it found 36% of those tools contained E. coli. Rubber spatulas, blender gaskets and can openers were at the top of the list. Can openers and blender gaskets were also high on the list when it found 36% of items tested were positive for salmonella. And 43% of items tested were positive for yeast and mold. Rubber spatulas and blender gaskets were on that list as well. How to clean those tools? If your item needs to be assembled, make sure you’re disassembling it when you’re cleaning it with hot water and dish soap. Coffee maker Experts say dangerous bacteria festers inside the water reservoir and could make you sick. In fact, in a study, 50% of coffee water reservoirs swabbed -had mold and yeast, and 9% had coliform bacteria. How to properly clean it? You should clean the coffee maker by washing the inside of the machine about once a month. It’s easy, just add equal parts vinegar and hot water and let it sit for a half-hour. Run the mixture through the coffee maker cycle. Then run a few more cycles of just water until the vinegar smell is gone. Here’s more on how to clean your Keurig coffee machine. SpongeBath Solves The Germy Sponge Problem: https://www.spongebath.com/pages/sponge-bath-landing

You're actually not cleaning your sponges enough!  Joey Hadden: Business Insider April 20th, 2021 Sponges are disgusting. We fill them up with water and soap and rub them across all of our dishes to pick up germs and food remnants. We wipe them across our crumb-infested countertops and dining room tables. It's no wonder they're the grossest thing in our kitchens.  "Ironically, the dirtiest thing in the kitchen is something we use to clean with," Bailey Carson, professional cleaner and home expert at Angi, a household services app, told Insider.  In a 2017 study published in Scientific Reports, researchers analyzed 14 used kitchen sponges and found "massive colonization" of certain species of bacteria. Carson said kitchen sponges are a breeding ground for almost 400 species of bacteria that linger in its crevices. "People often try to get the most use out of their sponges, and will only then throw them out once there is visible grime," Carson said.  Others try cleaning their sponges, but Carson says this will only fester the growth of more bacteria.  Carson recommends swapping out your sponge for a new one every two weeks. The Scientific Reports study found that while cleaned sponges have fewer bacteria than uncleaned ones, the best way to combat sponge bacteria is to replace them once a week. But if the idea of using a sponge now makes you want to gag, try Carson's DIY hack for cleaning your countertops with baking soda and half a lemon.  Lemon is a great natural cleaning agent, according to Carson, who previously told Insider all of her favorite cleaning hacks are creative, all-natural solutions.  "Many cleaning products smell like lemon, but the fruit itself is one of the most useful natural cleaning products you can use," she said. SpongeBath Solves The Germy Sponge Problem: https://www.spongebath.com/pages/sponge-bath-landing Read More: https://www.insider.com/kitchen-sponge-how-often-to-replace-2021-4

Your kitchen sponge might be dirtier than the surfaces you're trying to clean. In one study, researchers found 309 different species of bacteria, from salmonella to listeria, on

Fact: Kitchen sponges are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria. And studies have shown that microwaving them doesn’t effectively disinfect them. 

Yes, you read it right! Most of us believe that our toilet seat is perhaps the only thing that's filled with millions of bacteria and we don't doubt that even one bit.  

But according to a 2017 study, bacteria that survives in the sponge might become resistant to microwaving, so to be safe, it’s better to replace your sponges weekly.

Your office coffee cup is likely covered in poop