FOOD NEWS
8 Best Ways To Clean And Sanitize Your Kitchen Sponge
BY DANIELLE TURNER
Lemon Juice Soak
Kitchen sponges may just be the dirtiest object in your house, but you can quickly clean them with a simple soak in lemon juice.
Soaking a sponge in pure lemon juice for about a minute not only impedes the growth of harmful bacteria such as E. coli but also leaves it smelling fresh and citrusy.
Disinfect with Bleach
To keep your sponge from spreading harmful pathogens around your kitchen, reach for the bleach you likely already have in your cleaning arsenal.
Soak your sponge in a solution of 1 part bleach and 9 parts water for three to five minutes every week to kill microbes like bacteria and viruses.
Submerge in Boiling Water
You can also use boiling water to clean sponges, so long as the water comes to a complete boil or 212 degrees Fahrenheit to properly kill the germs.
Put your sponge in a pot of boiling water, ensuring that it is completely submerged. Boil it for five to seven minutes before removing it with a pair of tongs.
Microwave It
According to the USDA, microwaving sponges can kill up to 99.99999% of bacteria, and the Environmental Protection Agency even recommends microwaving sponges daily.
Ensure your sponge is microwave-safe, and avoid this method for abrasive sponges that may have bits of metal. Then, wet it and microwave it at 100% power for at least one minute.
Use the Dishwasher
The dishwasher makes cleaning up easy and convenient, and aside from washing dishes, it can kill up to 99.9998% of bacteria on sponges.
Any sponge can go into the dishwasher. Simply rinse off any debris before adding it to the dishwasher along with your dirty dishes and wash on the hottest, longest setting.