How to Disinfect Kitchen Sponge Bacteria

A pile of pink and blue sponges. Photo Credit: Horla Varlan on Flickr.
Kitchen sponges are one of the most commonly and frequently used cleaning items in households. From dishes to countertops to tables, sponges are used to clean a variety of things. But were you aware that you can be spreading a significant amount of bacteria by using a sponge? As previously mentioned, sponges are used to clean a variety of things and the consistent moisture of a sponge causes bacteria to multiply. How do you disinfect your kitchen sponge you ask? Molly Maid will show you how!

Microwave

This is probably the most common (and simple) of the sanitation methods. Simply rinse all off the sponge and place it in the microwave for two minutes. Be sure that the sponge is wet as a dry sponge can catch on fire in the microwave!

Dishwasher

This, too, is a simple method of cleaning a sponge. Place sponge in the dishwasher when washing dishes and use the “heated dry” feature. This kills 99.99% of bacteria!

Bleach Soak

First, mix 3/4 cup of bleach and one gallon of water together. Secondly, place sponge in the solution for five minutes. (Use hot water to maximize effectiveness.) A cool tip: Mix the solution in your kitchen sink to clean both the sink and the sponge at once!