How To Disinfect Your Kitchen Sponge (Say Goodbye To Germs!)
February 13, 2023— by Natalia Expert in Cleaning
Nobody wants to wash dishes with a dirty sponge, even less when it means spreading bacteria in the kitchen. Luckily, here you’ll find some of the most effective methods to disinfect your kitchen sponge—finally, say bye-bye to the bacteria in it!
Method #1. Microwave the germs away!
If you care about the facts, most viruses and bacteria start to die at 140°F. Therefore, microwaving your kitchen sponge is a great way to reach (and exceed) those temperatures. Here’s how to do it:
- Place the sponge into a deep container filled with water. The water helps the sponge reach the desired temperature quickly while preventing it from drying (microwaving a dry sponge can burn it!).
- Put the dish with the sponge inside your microwave and let it run on high power for one and a half minutes.
- Wait one more minute for the dish and sponge to cool down.
- Once cool, remove the sponge and rinse it with clean water.
Method #2. Boil the sponge in water
If you don’t have access to a microwave, boiling water will do just fine. Like the previous method, boiled water eliminates germs by cooking them at 212° F—more than enough. Follow these four steps:
- Fill a pot with enough water to cover your sponge and place it on your stove until it boils.
- Carefully soak your kitchen sponge in the boiling liquid and leave it there for five minutes before turning off the stove.
- After the pot cools down, use any tool (other than your hand) to get the sponge out of the water.
- Place your sponge under running water to rinse it.
Method #3. Kill germs with bleach
Are you worried about using a potent germ killer such as bleach? Rest assured that this product is safe and effective as long as you dilute in water, wear gloves, and keep the area well-ventilated. To use bleach on your kitchen sponge:
- Pour two cups of warm water and one tablespoon of bleach into a container. Then, soak the sponge in the solution for ten minutes.
- After the time’s up, remove your sponge from the container and rinse it with clean water.
- Rinse your sponge with clean water and squeeze it hard so it can dry faster.
Does vinegar work to disinfect a sponge?
Although vinegar is a very effective cleaner, it isn’t strong enough to eliminate as many bacteria as the previous methods. It’s not even guaranteed it will lower the bacteria numbers to safe levels. Therefore, we recommend you stick to the previous methods.
How many times can you disinfect your sponge?
Disinfecting your sponge should be a one-time solution. As kitchen sponges can harbor a huge number of bacteria, stronger organisms could survive the process only to multiply again later (and they’ll keep surviving your disinfection attempts).
The only way you can be sure your kitchen sponge is germ-free is by changing it weekly (ideally) or when the sponge smells funny.
How about keeping the rest of your house safe and clean?
Maintaining your household safe goes beyond a clean kitchen sponge. Don’t you have time to be on top of your house needs? Don’t worry; you can get the best cleaning services in Naples, FL! Schedule our Ongoing Maintenance Cleaning package, and let our skilled cleaners keep your house grime-free on each visit. Get your free quote now!
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