Washing your dishes with a dirty sponge is like trying to put off a fire with a dropper: just useless; you’ll only be spreading bacteria around. Fret not! Here are three killer methods to disinfect your kitchen sponge—say goodbye to those pesky bacteria once and for all!
Method #1. Microwave the germs away!
You might not know, but most viruses and bacteria start biting the dust at around 140°F—that’s a lot of heat. As microwaves can reach (and exceed) those temperatures, they become a perfect option to sanitize your sponge. Here’s how you do it:
- Grab a deep container and fill it with water. Doing so helps the sponge heat up quickly without drying out (burning a dry sponge is a big no-no!).
- Pop the dish with the sponge in your microwave and run it on high power for about a minute and a half.
- Give it one minute to cool down.
- Once cool, remove the sponge and rinse it with clean water.
Warning: Avoid using this method if your sponge has metal or plastic fibers. It could cause an accident and render your sponge useless.
Method #2. Boil the sponge
No microwave at hand? No problem! Boiling water is another useful option. It may not be as quick as microwaving the sponge, but it works wonderfully! Just follow these five steps:
- Fill a pot with enough water to cover your sponge.
- Place the pot on the stove and turn up the heat until the water boils.
- Gently dip your kitchen sponge into the boiling water and let it there for five minutes before turning off the stove.
- Once the pot cools down, fish out the sponge with some pliers (keep your hands safe!).
- Rinse the sponge under running water from the sink.
Method #3. The chlorine bleach way
Bleach works as a powerful disinfectant when used properly. With this in mind, reduce its harshness while keeping its effectiveness by diluting it in water. Also, make sure to wear gloves and have good ventilation in the room. Here’s how you go about it:
- Grab a container and mix two cups of warm water with one tablespoon of bleach.
- Let the sponge soak in the bleach solution for ten minutes.
- When time’s up, take out the sponge and give it a thorough rinse with clean water.
- Squeeze out the excess water from the sponge to help it dry faster.
What about vinegar to disinfect your sponge?
While vinegar is a decent cleaner, it doesn’t pack the same punch as the previous methods regarding killing bacteria. To be clear, it’ll surely kill some germs, but it is not guaranteed to reduce them to safe levels. So, stick with the tried-and-true methods mentioned above.
How often do you need to disinfect your sponge?
Kitchen sponges can harbor a crazy amount of bacteria, and some resistant organisms might survive the process only to come back stronger. As the risk exponentially increases as you keep trying to disinfect your sponge over and over, disinfecting it should be a one-time solution.
To be sure your sponge is completely germ-free, swap it out weekly or whenever it starts to smell funky.
Keep the rest of your home germ-free, too!
While functional, you need more than disinfecting your sponge to keep your home safe and clean! If you don’t have the time to fulfill your To-Do list, let Mya Cleaning Services help!
Our recurring cleaning service will ensure your house is as pristine (and bacteria-free) as you’ve ever wanted while you relax. Get your free estimate today!
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