It bothers me when people use the word “bacteria” as a negative. Bacteria are essential to life. Sure, there are ‘bad’ bacteria; but also there are a lot of good bacteria that are very beneficial. It’s one reason one should always avoid any products labeled “anti-bacterial” at the store; for those products destroy the good bacteria we need.
I’d never use the kitchen sponge to do the dishes. Dishes should be washed with a separate dishwashing sponge that’s only used for that purpose ( manual dishwasher in our house ). I prefer doing clean-up around the kitchen with durable reusable paper towels rather than a sponge.
Yes, kitchen sponges are disgusting. This is why commercial kitchens generally ban them unless they are single-use. You’re not likely to end up with gnarled hands, but you can get some wicked cross-contamination of fun foodborne illnesses.
If you must use a sponge, sterilize it regularly. Better solution is to switch to a scrubbing brush, which you can run through the dishwasher safely each time you do the dishes.
One of the reasons for the bacteria growth is that sponges stay damp. I switched to nylon mesh washing cloths; they dry out very quickly. Plus, they’re flexible, so it’s easier to get the tight spots. I still replace it frequently, though!
Years ago husband told me that I could not use a dish sponge any longer for this reason & he had me switch to using paper towels instead.
March 2020 when pandemic started he told me that could no longer use paper towels to wash the dishes as did not know when we could go out & buy more so we had to be very conservative in our use of them. (a TP panicker also – & we are about the finish the huge package he bought in early March 2020 now – in February 2022.)
Could not go back to using sponges – that was no good. No sponges, no paper towels & had to be reusable, washable & already in house (as were not going out shopping or other). I went looking through my kitchen – I found some old ripped up kitchen towels put aside for cleaning use (and not used for same). I cut each towel into 6 pieces and used a piece per day to wash dishes and then threw into the laundry bag. After about a year of use they were no longer usable. By then we we had started making some trips for shopping for necessary items, one of which included a trip to a dollar store. I bought 2 packages of wash clothes and ran tight zig zag machine stitching to divide the wash clothes into quarters – there were 2 close parallel lines of stitching in each direction and I cut the wash clothes apart between the parallel rows of stitching. (Stitching to keep the pieces from unraveling.) They work great and I don’t plan to go back to using anything else to wash dishes. I take out a piece when I wash dishes for the first time that day and use for the rest of the day. Next day, after the used piece has dried, I throw it in the laundry bag and take out the next day’s piece when I cook the first meal of the day.
I_am_the_jam – She would have trouble using gloves to wash the dishes as they do not come in children’s sizes. I have rather small hands and feet and wear children’s sized gloves for cold and boy’s shoes so they fit my feet. Never able to find same for housework.
Templo S.U.D. almost 3 years ago
everybody — and I do mean everybody — in the household should pitch in with the household chores no matter how grotesque and meaningless the chore is
i_am_the_jam almost 3 years ago
Just use gloves, “genius”. :P :P :P
i_am_the_jam almost 3 years ago
(By the way, the kitchen sponge having the most bacteria was proved by Mythbusters: :D :D :D )
blackman2732 almost 3 years ago
Yes. Yes she is.
John Wiley Premium Member almost 3 years ago
So heat it in the microwave for about 20 seconds at a time until it gets to 165° F (74° C). If it bursts into flame, you heated it too much.
Piper_13 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
It bothers me when people use the word “bacteria” as a negative. Bacteria are essential to life. Sure, there are ‘bad’ bacteria; but also there are a lot of good bacteria that are very beneficial. It’s one reason one should always avoid any products labeled “anti-bacterial” at the store; for those products destroy the good bacteria we need.
purepaul Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Actually, her mouth is worse and the the germs are too.
Linguist almost 3 years ago
Time to change the sponge!
I’d never use the kitchen sponge to do the dishes. Dishes should be washed with a separate dishwashing sponge that’s only used for that purpose ( manual dishwasher in our house ). I prefer doing clean-up around the kitchen with durable reusable paper towels rather than a sponge.
calliarcale almost 3 years ago
Yes, kitchen sponges are disgusting. This is why commercial kitchens generally ban them unless they are single-use. You’re not likely to end up with gnarled hands, but you can get some wicked cross-contamination of fun foodborne illnesses.
If you must use a sponge, sterilize it regularly. Better solution is to switch to a scrubbing brush, which you can run through the dishwasher safely each time you do the dishes.
MuddyUSA Premium Member almost 3 years ago
@I_am_the_jam – Well said!
garysmigs almost 3 years ago
the problem with anti-bacterial stuff is it kills the beneficial bacteria too!
and there are zillions of beneficial bacteria with us on our journey through life!
kaycstamper almost 3 years ago
She’s right, sponges are gross bacteria havens.
Lightpainter almost 3 years ago
Microwave the sponge; problem solved. Get back to work!
rpmurray almost 3 years ago
Must be flesh eating bacteria. Ate off one of her fingers in panel three.
MissyTiger almost 3 years ago
One of the reasons for the bacteria growth is that sponges stay damp. I switched to nylon mesh washing cloths; they dry out very quickly. Plus, they’re flexible, so it’s easier to get the tight spots. I still replace it frequently, though!
The Orange Mailman almost 3 years ago
Boy, Sergio hit her where it hurt.
Taracinablue almost 3 years ago
A senior lady at work used to tell us to zap the sponge in the microwave. I’m dubious.
At home, we use the other kind and it goes in the laundry at the end of the day—the bleach load, to be precise. The dishtowel, too.
bryan42 almost 3 years ago
I agree with her, in part. A sponge is the absolute worst tool for dish cleaning unless it is either brand new or freshly cleaned and sterilized.
mafastore almost 3 years ago
Years ago husband told me that I could not use a dish sponge any longer for this reason & he had me switch to using paper towels instead.
March 2020 when pandemic started he told me that could no longer use paper towels to wash the dishes as did not know when we could go out & buy more so we had to be very conservative in our use of them. (a TP panicker also – & we are about the finish the huge package he bought in early March 2020 now – in February 2022.)
Could not go back to using sponges – that was no good. No sponges, no paper towels & had to be reusable, washable & already in house (as were not going out shopping or other). I went looking through my kitchen – I found some old ripped up kitchen towels put aside for cleaning use (and not used for same). I cut each towel into 6 pieces and used a piece per day to wash dishes and then threw into the laundry bag. After about a year of use they were no longer usable. By then we we had started making some trips for shopping for necessary items, one of which included a trip to a dollar store. I bought 2 packages of wash clothes and ran tight zig zag machine stitching to divide the wash clothes into quarters – there were 2 close parallel lines of stitching in each direction and I cut the wash clothes apart between the parallel rows of stitching. (Stitching to keep the pieces from unraveling.) They work great and I don’t plan to go back to using anything else to wash dishes. I take out a piece when I wash dishes for the first time that day and use for the rest of the day. Next day, after the used piece has dried, I throw it in the laundry bag and take out the next day’s piece when I cook the first meal of the day.
I_am_the_jam – She would have trouble using gloves to wash the dishes as they do not come in children’s sizes. I have rather small hands and feet and wear children’s sized gloves for cold and boy’s shoes so they fit my feet. Never able to find same for housework.