Kitchen sponges are one of the most used cleaning items in any house—if not the most used. Day after day, they serve their cleaning purpose but rarely get cleaned, as they are seldom considered in the house chores.

It can seem odd at first, but kitchen sponges can become one of the items with the most germs and bacteria in the entire house. In time, those harmful germs can pass onto your dishes and your food, thus posing a high health risk.

If you want to get rid of bacteria, keep reading to learn how to disinfect your sponge.

Is your kitchen sponge really a hazard?

You may think, aren’t bacteria everywhere? And you’re right, but the bacteria living in your kitchen sponge are very harmful and have a more significant probability of ending in your food.

Some of the bacteria you can find in it are:

• Bacillus Cereus. It causes diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
• Pseudomonas. It causes pneumonia; and urinary tract, wound, and ear infections.
• E. Colli. It causes severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.

Now that you’ve learned about the potential danger of a dirty sponge, it’s time to disinfect it.

How to clean your kitchen sponge from bacteria

Ideally, you have to disinfect your kitchen sponge once a day. It may sound like a hassle, but once you read the following tips, you’ll realize how easy it can be!

Method #1. Vinegar bath

Vinegar is the best option if you want to use something biodegradable and non-toxic to tackle this chore.

To carry on with this natural method, fill a bowl with vinegar (don’t dilute it with water) and soak your kitchen sponge for 5 minutes. After the time is finished, wring out the sponge, rinse with tap water and let it air-dry.

Method #2. Use the microwave

A more effective method is microwaving your sponge. Make sure it doesn’t have metal fibers, or you could damage your microwave.

Dampen the kitchen sponge (a dry one can cause a fire), put it in a shallow microwave-safe container, and heat it for 5 minutes. Once done, let it cool for 15 minutes before taking it out from the microwave and removing any excess water.

Method #3. Dishwasher time

One of the easiest ways to disinfect your sponge is in the dishwasher. Place the sponge in the top rack and let the machine run the heat-dry cycle. While longer and hotter cycles might sound more effective, any heat-dry configuration will work.

Method #4. Disinfect it with bleach

Though harsh, bleach will kill more bacteria and germs than any other method. However, handle this cleaner with care. So, before you begin, open windows and doors to let the bleach’s fumes dissipate.

You’ll have to mix ¾ cup bleach and one gallon of water. Then, submerge the sponge and let it soak for 5 minutes. Finally, rinse it, and you’ll be good to go.

Are you looking for more cleaning tips?

We are Shine Bright MV House Cleaning, and we’ve been in the cleaning industry for over 20 years. If you want to learn more helpful tips and tricks from the cleaning pros, check our blog!