BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Cleaning Cleaning your sponges

Is boiling your dishwashing sponge a good way to kill some bacteria? Do you just use water and boil it? Seems simple.

i actually read somewhere to microwave your sponges for thirty seconds to kill some bacteria, but i must say i tried this and my sponges just werent the same.. it works though for a quick fix!

Meg

I remember hearing something about putting them in your dishwasher but I prefer to throw them in with my whites, hot water and bleach. Then I put them in the dryer so no bacteria can live in the dampness. Actually, I prefer to use sponges for the bathtub and paper towels in the kitchen area. That show on Oprah that showed how many millions of germs live in sponges, sinks etc. made me not ever want to use them in the kitchen again! <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Trish

either the microwave or dishwasher. Both will sanitize your sponges well.

dishwasher works well...dishwashing liquid has bleach (they all do), and most dishwashers have a sanitize button...works well for me...been doing it for 4 years, but I only use the sponge on dishes (with an antibacterial soap)...and I use anitibacterial spray and paper towels on the stove, counters, etc. Sponges get thrown away about once a month, but running them through the dishwasher keeps them from getting really smelly in between dishloads!

I must say i'm a fan of the microwave technique. I haven't noticed too much of a difference in the texture or anything in my sponges, however. I run it in there for 30 seconds on one side, flip it, and microwave for 30 seconds on that side. If germs live after that, I think they deserve to lol.

I use the microwave but I also spray down the sponge with lemon first. I had read the mixture of lemon and heat kills all the bacterias.

I never liked using sponges. They just never feel clean to me, except right out of the package. I use washclothes for cleaning the house and dishes and throw into the wash after one use. The microfiber cloths are awesome. <img src="/images/graemlins/fish.gif" alt="" />

I have microwaved mine, but now I just toss them. I cant use a full sized sponge for some reason so I cut them in half or quarter. I use it and pitch it at the end of the day if I use it at all.

meg

3 quick notes about micro-waving your sponges

1) make sure they are wet before you microwave them, dry sponges can catch on fire

2) watch your microwave during this process, don't walk away.

3) Be extra careful removing your sponge as it will be extra hot and can burn you