Scientists who examined dish sponges found 82 trillion bacteria on them. It sounds scary, but we know how to get rid of germs. They will come in handy when cleaning your dish sponge, making it last longer and saving some money in your wallet.
Kitchen appliances will successfully help you clean dish sponges. The microwave generates high temperatures and extracts water vapor from the objects contained in it. So, soak the sponge thoroughly, put it in the microwave and set the highest power setting for one minute. After the device has finished operating, wait a few minutes. Hot steam will kill bacteria nesting in the dish sponge. Remember that a dry sponge may catch fire in a microwave.
Using a dishwasher will give a similar effect. Place a dishwashing sponge on the highest shelf and set the highest possible temperature and drying level. When the washing cycle is finished, remove the sponge and dry it thoroughly. Try not to leave a damp sponge on the sink, as it is a perfect environment for bacteria.
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You can simply soak a dirty dish sponge in boiling water for five minutes. The liquid does not have to boil, which may deform the sponge; 65 degrees Celsius is enough to kill bacteria. Then squeeze the sponge and dry it.
You can also use the properties of vinegar to clean it. Thanks to the acid content, it kills bacteria and also fights molds and fungi. Soak the entire dish sponge in vinegar for five minutes. Then rinse it and dry it. The smell of vinegar may not be the most pleasant, but it disappears quickly.
Bleach will most effectively remove bacteria from a dish sponge. However, you have to dilute it a lot so that it doesn’t burn the material. Mix one tablespoon of bleach (15 ml) with a liter of water and soak the sponge in the solution for five minutes. Then rinse the sponge thoroughly under running water, squeeze and dry.
Bleach is a very aggressive agent, so use it occasionally. Under no circumstances should you combine it with other products, such as vinegar or ammonia. This may produce toxic gases. Replace the dishwashing sponge every week, maximum every two weeks.
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