Sorry, microwaving your sponge doesn't kill bacteria
Research proves that microwaving sponges doesn't kill bacteria
Research proves that microwaving sponges doesn't kill bacteria
Research proves that microwaving sponges doesn't kill bacteria
For years it's been a pretty common thought that microwaving kitchen sponges or throwing them in the dishwasher were effective ways to kill bacteria, make them smell better and help them last just a bit longer. But it turns out, not so much.
Sponges that were "sanitized" in the microwave or dishwasher were just as bacteria-loaded as sponges that were never cleaned at all, according to a from the . And if that doesn't make you cringe, this will: The sponges they examined were dirtier than a toilet.
"Despite common misconception, it was demonstrated that kitchen environments host more microbes than toilets. This was mainly due to the contribution of kitchen sponges, which were proven to represent the biggest reservoirs of active bacteria in the whole house," the researchers wrote in the report.
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, according to their research. The experts found that several germs survived microwaving and even boiling, then grew and spread quickly on the sponge.
Sponges are a hot spot for bacteria like salmonella, E. coli, staphylococcus and much more. There's been evidence that is the , but truly, the only way to ensure you're working with a clean sponge is to replace it once a week. "From a long term perspective, (these) sponge sanitation methods appear not sufficient to effectively reduce the bacterial load in kitchen sponges and might even increase the shares of (disease)-related bacteria," the scientists wrote in their report. "We therefore rather suggest a regular (and easily affordable) replacement of kitchen sponges, for example, on a weekly basis."
So, if you want to avoid spreading disease-causing bacteria, it's best to throw your sponges out after a week of use (two, if you're pushing it).
(h/t )