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Prevent Bacteria Buildup in Kitchen Sponges and Towels
Posted by Shira Beth
Jan 10, 2010
One way to limit the bacteria in your kitchen - and thus the bacteria that can contaminate the food you eat - is to make sure your towels and sponges are germ-free. When they're moist and warm, they provide a perfect harbor for growing bacteria. When you're through using your sponge, wring it out and leave it somewhere where it can dry completely. Change your kitchen towels at least once a week, and make sure to wash them in hot water when you do the laundry. To keep your sponges germ-free, throw them into the dishwasher when you run a very hot cycle, or boil them in hot water for three minutes. In both cases, the heat will knock out about 99% of the bacteria. Some people also advocate putting a wet sponge in the microwave for a minute or two to knock out most germs. Be careful when removing the microwaved sponge, because it will be extremely hot. One other option is to clean your sponge in a bleach-and-water mixture. No matter how you clean your sponges, you should still replace them every one to three weeks.
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