Whether you need to quickly wash dishes, wipe down countertops or clean heavily soiled surfaces, the dish sponge is unmatched. The real heroine is comfortable, useful and multifunctional. But do we treat it correctly and replace it with a fresh one if necessary?
We usually have a small warehouse of cleaning supplies and supplies under the sink in the kitchen cabinet. Among the different types of colorful bottles and boxes, there is a package of dishwashing sponges. Clean, fresh, no deformation. But, unfortunately, despite the presence of several sponges, we usually do not change the used washcloths until they begin to smell bad and lose their original shape. Why do we admit this? Sometimes because of economy, and sometimes elementary – because of forgetfulness. But changing a sponge when the old one is just developing is dangerous.
A billion bacteria live here
Everyone knows that bacteria exist in our homes. That is why we thoroughly clean the bathroom, kitchen, toilet…. However, studies have shown that the largest habitat for microorganisms is not a toilet seat, but … a dishwashing sponge. The moist, warm and fleshy material with a porous structure is an ideal place for their development. They come mainly from food, furniture surfaces, our leather and clothing.
How many germs are on one sponge? In 2018, German scientists from the University of Furtwangen conducted microscopic tests on 14 dishwashing sponges collected from residents of the resort town of Villingen-Schwenningen. Analysis of the material showed that 54 billion bacteria of 362 species lived on 1 cubic centimeter of a dish sponge!
There are microorganisms that live in the human intestines and do not pose a threat to human health, but there are also dangerous ones, such as E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus. Also observed were the bacteria Moraxella osloensis, which occurs in nature and is the cause of an unpleasant musty smell from the washing machine, as well as the smell of kitchen rags that have not been changed for a long time.
Replace, not disinfect!
Awareness of the accumulation of bacteria in cleaning supplies leads some housewives to disinfect them from time to time by boiling, washing, or heating them in the microwave. Unfortunately, no method is effective, because, as scientists emphasize, disinfection reduces the number of bacteria to a maximum of 60%, while increasing the resistance of some strains, which, in turn, leads to the rapid reproduction of the latter.
So what to do? It is best to replace the sponge with a clean one every week. Realizing the need for frequent replacement of dish sponges, it is worth considering choosing environmentally friendly products such as cellulose.
A dish sponge is a ticking bacteria bomb. Do not wait until its surface deteriorates and a musty smell appears. Change your kitchen sponge every week – it is good for our well-being and, above all, for health.
Source: kulinarnapolska.org
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Recall that earlier we told you which 6 kitchen utensils need to be changed regularly, and also, together with astrologers, we tried to guess what the ideal kitchen of each zodiac sign looks like.