How to clean a dish sponge.. and when should it be disposed of?

We use a dish sponge daily to clean our dishes and kitchen surfaces for weeks or even months without changing it, but this practice, according to experts, is a mistake, as kitchen sponges contain more bacteria than any other surface in the house.

A German study revealed that there were about 54 billion bacteria per cubic centimeter in 14 used sponges tested, according to marthastewart.

Fortunately, many bacteria were harmless to humans but a study published in 2017 found some types of salmonella and E. coli, which can lead to foodborne illnesses.

The best way to kill bacteria in reusable sponges is to clean them in the microwave or dishwasher, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

These devices kill nearly 100 percent of bacteria, and if you're using a microwave, wet the sponge first well and leave it for one minute as it shouldn't be placed dry in the microwave because it may catch fire.

Alternatively, you can clean the sponge in the top rack of the dishwasher with the drying cycle running.

In parallel, the dish sponge can be replaced every two weeks or even sooner if it develops an odor or disintegrates.

Instead of using the same sponge to wash dishes and wipe the sink or eating table, it's better to assign different sponges to different tasks to prevent contamination, according to blueland.

Also, there are several alternatives to traditional sponges, as experts explained that there are some options other than a dish sponge that will keep your kitchen clean, which may last longer and can be disposed of without harming the environment.

1- dish brush

We start with a dish brush, as it contains less bacteria than a sponge because it has fewer areas for bacteria to hide in.

It also dries faster, making it less susceptible to bacteria.

2- a piece of cloth

Or you can use a cloth made from a biodegradable natural fiber such as cotton, which you can make at home using the cloth you have, or buy an eco-friendly and compostable option.

3- silicone sponge

In addition, silicone sponges are a great alternative to traditional sponges because they do not contain bacteria.

Also, they are long lasting and you likely won't have to replace silicone sponges as frequently as traditional sponges.