Do you know what is the dirtiest place in the kitchen? No, not a trash can or even a refrigerator. And a kitchen sponge. The same sponge with which the housewives diligently clean the dishes every day. It's a paradox, but sponges also need to be washed. Even more: disinfect. And how to do it most effectively, we will tell in this review.

There is no need to prove that the dishes need to be washed more often. But the main tool in the fight for the cleanliness of the plates also needs to be washed regularly. Even disinfection, like medical instruments. Need arguments? Think about it: according to laboratory research, one square centimeter of a kitchen sponge can comfortably accommodate about 30 billion (!) diverse bacteria. Not to mention, a porous surface is an ideal home for mold. Doesn't sound very appetizing, does it?

To reduce the level of "consumption" of potentially dangerous bacteria, sponges should be washed regularly (ideally every day). How to do it right, all the same researchers also established during field trials. Comparing the effectiveness of life hacks popular on the network, they came to the conclusion: the largest number of bacteria kills bleach.

So give your kitchen sponges a daily "bath" in a bowl or bowl of clean water and 3/4 cup of bleach. Let soak for 5 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.

Better yet, change your sponge often. At least every week or two. And here are these.

Sponges are supposed to keep the kitchen and bathroom clean, but unfortunately they are quite capable of spreading harmful germs. Sponges pick up bacteria from food, hands, or surfaces they clean. And since they often don't dry out between uses, this moist, warm environment is the perfect place for bacteria to thrive. Today we will tell you how to clean a dishwashing sponge.

Of course, dishwashing sponges don't have to last forever, they should be replaced every couple of weeks. But we can very well extend their life in a couple of ways.

Soak in bleach.

Bleach is a powerful disinfectant that is great for killing bacteria on sponges. Just remember to dilute it with water before use. To prepare a disinfectant solution, mix 1 to 3 tablespoons of bleach with 1 liter of water. You can store this solution in a bottle and use it to clean sponges periodically.

Soak the sponge in the solution for five minutes, then rinse under running water and dry.

Soaking in vinegar.

If you don't want to soak your sponges in bleach, try using vinegar essence. It is equally effective at killing bacteria. You can leave the sponge to soak in the vinegar essence overnight, then rinse and dry it in the morning.

If you are using a dishwasher, throw your sponges into the wash cycle. Dishwasher detergent kills up to 99.9% of all germs.

Microwave.

Dampen the sponge with water and put it in the microwave for 1 minute. But this method is not suitable for the most tenacious bacteria. And don't microwave sponges with metal or wood parts.

Washing machine.

You can clean your sponge while washing in the washing machine. Washing at high temperatures or with the addition of bleach is perfect.

If you clean dishwashing sponges in one of these ways, you can use them for a longer time.

The microwave oven (aka microwave oven) is used, as a rule, for heating food and semi-finished products, less often for preparing simple dishes. But not everyone knows that with the help of a microwave, you can disinfect kitchen utensils, as well as sterilize dishes (jars, baby bottles).

Operating principle. If disinfection only neutralizes harmful microorganisms or slightly reduces their number, then sterilization destroys bacteria completely. In both cases, the microwave operates in the same way: electromagnetic waves heat any substance that contains water. And for many types of microbes, high temperatures are detrimental.

Advantages and disadvantages

Housewives who are not the first time using a microwave for sterilization have already appreciated the advantages of this method:

• unlike sterilization "the old fashioned way", the method takes a minimum of time;
• disinfecting sponges or kitchen rags with high temperatures is more effective than hand washing or washing;
• dishes made of glass and hardened ceramics withstand the process without any problems.

At the same time, there are also disadvantages:

• oven capacity is limited. For example, only one three-liter jar is placed in an "average" microwave;
• do not put dishes with metal elements in the microwave!

Microwave Disinfection Rules

Regular disinfection is needed for personal hygiene items: toothbrushes, combs. For disinfection, one minute of warming up at maximum power is enough.

Soak a sponge for washing dishes in warm water (you can add a little lemon juice - 1 teaspoon per glass). Warm up at maximum power (enough for 1-1.5 minutes), then let cool and rinse with clean water.

Cutting boards, especially those used for cutting raw meat or fish, also need to be disinfected. Before the procedure, thoroughly wash the boards, rub on both sides with half a fresh lemon. Run the microwave for one, maximum, one and a half minutes.

Step-by-step instructions for sterilizing jars in the microwave

1. Pour a little hot filtered water (2-3 centimeters) into each jar.

The same method is suitable for empty dry jars. To prevent the glass from cracking during the procedure, put any container filled with water in the microwave.

To prevent the jar from bursting, you need to pour a little water inside

2. Place the jars in the microwave, turn on the unit at full power. After the water boils, let the cookware warm up for another 2-3 minutes.

3. If the container is needed hot (for example, for fresh jam), use it immediately. Let the pickle jars cool by placing them upside down on a clean towel.

Sterilization time in the microwave depends on the volume of dishes. To warm up a liter jar, it will take about 2 minutes (at a power of 800 W), for a three-liter jar, the time increases to 6 minutes. Tip: focus on the moment of boiling water.

Microwave sterilization of baby bottles

Before sterilizing the dishes, check for cracks or chips on them - otherwise the container will easily burst. Jars and bottles should be thoroughly washed.

Instruction:

1. Place clean bottles (without nipples and caps) in a glass saucepan.
2. Pour some water into the container (about 3-4 cm).
3. Close the pot with a lid.
4. Turn on the microwave at maximum power.
5. Sterilization time - 8-10 minutes.
6. Let the bottles cool down.

sponge cleaning and its disinfection is a procedure that is worth carrying out. Using a kitchen sponge to wipe a table, a floor stain or a shelf, you bring a huge amount of bacteria to it. Even if it seems to you that the sponge is clean at first glance, it is not. A sponge can contain thousands of bacteria per square centimeter. In order to avoid the accumulation of bacteria, germs and fungal spores in the sponge, it is necessary to clean the sponge at least every 3-4 days using one of the following methods. Last time we looked at how to clean a hair straightener, and this time I will tell you several ways to clean a sponge and disinfect it.

Daily sponge cleaning

Microwave method (for sponges containing no metallic inclusions)

soaking method

• Check out our cleaning company services that we provide.
• After you take the sponge out of the microwave, there will be a lot of steam and moisture left in it, which can loosen stains and dried-on food. So. That after this procedure, be sure to wipe the inside of the microwave with a paper towel or a simple rag.
• After using the sponge, rinse it under water and wrap it in a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture. A more environmentally friendly and generally less wasteful way is to use a kitchen towel instead of a paper one.
• Use cloth kitchen towels to clean floors, tables, spill stains, etc. thus you will save on paper towels and increase the life of your sponge.
• If you want to kill not only all spores but also bacteria with a microwave, then try to be sure. That during all 5 minutes the sponge will be wet, otherwise it may melt or even catch fire.
• Replace sponge regularly. Shop for sponges labeled "germ-resistant" to increase protection against germs.
• Try not to use your sponge everywhere. For example, to wipe the cutting board from meat juice, get a separate towel. Paper ones are great, but you can also get rag ones to save money.
• Use a little lemon or lemon cleanser when disinfecting a sponge with bleach to get rid of the bleach smell. You can also immediately use flavored bleach. After this procedure, be sure to rinse the sponge under running water.
• Next time we will look at how to clean a suitcase with you.

PRECAUTIONS FOR CLEANING THE KITCHEN SPONGE

• When using the microwave method, be careful when removing the sponge from the oven. The moisture can be very hot and you will get burned.
• Do not put the sponge in the microwave for more than 5 minutes, otherwise it may cause a fire.
• Before cleaning in the dishwasher, check the manufacturer's instructions or look at the website. Some dishwasher manufacturers and repairers do not recommend using this method, as pieces of the sponge can break off and get stuck in the mechanism.
• Your microwave oven can smell bad if it starts to burn a moldy sponge.
• Our body needs bacteria, as there are not only bad ones, but also beneficial ones. Also, to improve our immune system, we need the body to fight harmful bacteria. So, do not bring everything to sterile purity, this can be bad for your immune system.
• Never put a dry or slightly damp sponge into the microwave oven, as this may cause a fire.

The dirtiest place in your house or apartment is the dishwashing sponge. Surprised? A dishwashing sponge can be even dirtier than a toilet seat. The moist and warm environment in the sponge is a breeding ground for bacteria and microbes. Your kitchen sponge may, and likely does, contain dangerous bacteria such as salmonella, staphylococcus, E. coli, and others.

All these unpleasant things spread easily in wet holes and crevices, which constantly contain the smallest particles of food and moisture necessary for reproduction. Sponge for washing dishes, even clean in appearance, contains thousands of bacteria. Washing sponges with water and soap will not bring the desired result. Therefore, you need to know some rules for cleaning and caring for kitchen sponges.

The sponge for washing dishes must be regularly rinsed and cleaned of food debris and dirt. This must be done after each use of the sponge. Rinse the sponge well in running warm water, wring it out and leave it in a dry place. Keep in mind that this dry place should ensure good drying of the sponge. Remember, bacteria love moisture.

Do not sponge down a cutting board that has been cut with raw meat!

Dishwashing sponges should be changed every two weeks. In our online store you can buy wholesale sponges for washing dishes, various configurations, shapes, sizes and types.

Wipes or sponges: which is safer?

Each person has their own views on the choice of materials for cleaning. Some prefer sponges for washing dishes, while others always wipe kitchen surfaces with textile napkins.

In terms of cleanliness, there isn't much difference between a sponge and a rag - both can become breeding grounds for germs if not cleaned regularly. According to a 2012 study by the National Science Foundation of America, 86% of cleaning cloths and sponges tested had mold and 77% contained bacteria.

Every 3-4 days, the dishwashing sponge must be disinfected. There are three ways to clean a sponge:

• Sponge disinfection in bleach.
• Washing the sponge in the dishwasher.
• Sponge disinfection in the microwave.

Each of the methods has its own level of efficiency, as well as its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's talk about each of them.

Method one. Sponge disinfection in bleach.

This method is considered less effective than washing the sponge in the dishwasher and disinfecting in the microwave, but nevertheless it also works well.

Disinfection should be carried out with rubber gloves to protect the skin of your hands.

Prepare a 10% solution of regular bleach in a regular or plastic bowl. For the solution, use warm water, then the solution will be more effective. You can also use scented bleach for the solution to eliminate the unpleasant smell of bleach from the sponge after the soaking procedure.

Before soaking the sponge, it must be washed well with detergent under running water. After that, put the sponge into the bowl with the solution. Soaking time - 5-10 minutes, no more. During soaking, you can squeeze the sponge several times so that the solution soaks the sponge well.

After that, remove the sponge for washing dishes and rinse thoroughly in running water. Another way to get rid of the unpleasant smell of bleach on a sponge is a few drops of vinegar.

Method two. Washing the sponge in the dishwasher.

Note. Before using this method, read the instructions for your dishwasher. It is possible that washing a kitchen sponge in it will be undesirable. As a rule, dishwashing sponges contain a layer of abrasive fibers on one of the faces. When washing the sponge in the dishwasher, the abrasive fibers can flake off as tiny fibers and clog the strainer in the waste collection machine.

Place the sponge in the dish drawer for the wash and dry cycle. Leave it in the machine for a complete wash and dry cycle.

Remove the sponge when the machine is finished. Now there will be 99.9998% less bacteria on the sponge.

Method three. Sponge disinfection in the microwave.

This method is considered the most effective, but also the most dangerous.

According to USDA research, one minute in the microwave reduces bacteria and mold and yeast colonies more significantly than other methods. Studies have also shown that after two minutes of heating in the microwave, 99% of all live bacteria die.

Attention! Leaving the sponge in the microwave for more than two minutes may ignite, resulting in a fire. During this procedure, do not move away from the microwave oven.

Do not place a sponge containing metal parts in the microwave. Check if there are wire particles left in the foam rubber from a metal sponge or a dish scraper.

Moisten the sponge with plenty of water and do not let it dry. It will not be superfluous to put half a cup of water in the microwave with a sponge so that the emitter does not deteriorate, and so that the sponge itself does not dry out.

Attention! Some sponges are made from a synthetic material that can melt in the microwave even if the sponge is very wet. Place a paper towel under the sponge - if it starts to melt, it will make cleaning much easier. Place a sponge with a napkin on a saucer that does not heat up in the microwave. After the disinfection procedure, it will be more convenient to remove the sponge. Do not take the sponge with your bare hand, as you can accidentally squeeze it and get burned.

• So, put a sponge on a napkin, a sponge and a napkin on a saucer, and all this - in the microwave.
• Turn on the oven for 1-2 minutes.
• Carefully remove the sponge from the microwave.

Everything. The sponge is disinfected, 99% of harmful bacteria are destroyed and the sponge is ready for use again.

General position. It is believed that the absolute cleanliness of your house or apartment is as harmful as if your home were dirty. Too good, too bad. Do not strive for absolute purity, do not be too zealous to clean everything around, every minute. A small amount of microbes on surfaces and dust in the air help maintain your immunity, reduce allergic reactions, keep your body in good shape, in a combat state of protection.

• After heating the sponge in the microwave, the steam and moisture generated in it will soften food particles and stains. After you take out the sponge, you can easily remove stains from the microwave with a paper towel, kitchen towel, or terry cloth.
• Use kitchen towels to clean daily dirt on tables, floors, bar counters. You will save money on paper towels and extend the hygienic life of your kitchen sponges.
• Change your sponge regularly. By purchasing a bacteria-resistant sponge, you reduce the amount of bacteria in your kitchen by 99.9%.
  Add lemon juice or an ammonia-free, lemon-scented kitchen cleaner to the bleach solution to neutralize the bleach smell. Alternatively, you can use aromatic bleach. When finished soaking, rinse with cold water.
• Raw meat juice can be removed with other materials than a sponge. Paper towels are great, but it's much more economical and environmentally friendly to have a separate towel or washcloth for this purpose.
• After using the sponge, wring it out thoroughly so that it can dry well before the next use. Bacteria die in a dry sponge. You can also alternate two sponges to allow them to dry better, and lean a wet sponge against the panel behind the sink or dishwasher bottle to ventilate and dry.
• If you don't use napkins and cleaning cloths all the time, store them in a plastic container with a lid to avoid unpleasant odors in the kitchen.
• Dish brushes are generally considered the most hygienic option, as they are easier to clean and dry faster. But they should also be disinfected by soaking in a mild bleach solution. When using bleach, be sure to read label directions carefully and wear rubber gloves.
• If you use microfiber cloths, rinse well after each use.
• The main thing to remember is that all sponges and cleaning cloths should be thoroughly squeezed and dried, completely straightened. Do not give germs a single opportunity to hide in wet folds!