If you are a person who cares about the hygiene at home, you need to understand the importance of cleaning your sponges. In most cases, sponges are placed next to the kitchen sink or in the bathroom which provide the perfect environment for mould and germs to grow and multiply. There is no doubt that sponges are the number one source of bacteria in the house as the soap and water do not kill them at all. To achieve a better family hygiene, cleaning and sanitising the sponges on a regular basis is essential.
How to kill bacteria from sponges?
- The first option is to wash the sponges together with your laundry. The high temperature will disinfect them and the amount of bacteria living in them will certainly decrease. To prevent your sponges and rags get lost in the garments you are planning to wash them with, place them in a suitable zipped bag.
- Washing the sponges in the dishwasher is another possibility to get them cleaned. Wash them together with your dishes on a full cycle by securely placing them in a lidded container with a good water circulation to effectively wash your sponges. Leaving them loose throughout the washing process may make them become dirty if they drop in the bottom of the dishwasher where the dirty water gathers.
- If the previous two methods do not work for you, you may decide to sanitise the sponges in the microwave. You need to wet the sponge first and then put the microwave on at the highest setting for 2 minutes. It will produce a lot of steam and moisture in the microwave which might be the perfect moment to get it cleaned. The steam dissolves any grease and dirt and cleaning could be done with just a quick wipe down. With this method you need to be careful and not to let your sponge dries too much while in the microwave as it can cause fire. Also placing sponges which contain any metal handles should not be place in the microwave as it may cause your microwave to stop working.
- Sanitising your sponges with a bleach solution is the most common method and it is recommended if you used your sponge to clean areas which contain raw meat as this could attract a large amount of bacteria and even cause diseases.
General tips
- Reusing the sponges will save you money and will save the environment, but you need to make sure they are germ free.
- If the sponges are visibly clean, they still contain a huge amount of bacteria in every square inch.
- Although you clean your sponges every week, you will need to replace them at least every month as they become worn out over time.
- Leaving them in a place where they can dry out when not in use will slow down the process of bacteria multiplication as they usually develop faster in a moisture environment.
Cleaning and sanitising your sponges will put the germs out of your way. You will be using a safe tool to wash dishes and clean counter tops which will ensure your family stays healthy.
