How often should we replace the dishwashing sponge? & bull; hello healthy

Among the many kitchen utensils that are routinely used, dishwashing sponges are one of the utensils that you use every day. Even within a day you can use this dishwasher several times.

Unfortunately, many housewives rarely replace dishwashing sponges and prefer to wash them clean. In fact, how often should you replace dishwashing sponges in the kitchen?

When to replace dishwashing sponges?

Cleaning dishwashing sponges is often neglected in household chores. You must think that because its function is to wash dirty eating and cooking utensils and is always exposed to soap every day, the sponge is considered safe from germs and bacteria. Believe it or not, sponges are actually one of the dirtiest things in the house besides the water faucet, washcloth and sink.

If you have a bad habit of rarely replacing dishwashing sponges in the kitchen, you should stop this habit right away. According to research in Germany, you shouldn't use a dish-washing sponge after a week of use, which means you have to replace the dishwashing sponge once a week. Why? Because it turns out that this useful item for cleaning cutlery and cooking utensils is a favorite place for germs to breed.

In the study, which has been published in the Journal Scientific Reports, researchers analyzed 14 used kitchen sponges that were collected, the study found that the cleaning tools harbored an unusually high number of bacteria.

Dishwashing sponges are a 'home' to trillions of bacteria

According to professor Markus Egert, a microbiologist at Furtwangen University in Germany, who also led the study, dishwashing sponges are a favorite place for microbial life because they have a very large surface area, are wet, and are kept in a warm kitchen environment. Dirt and food debris left on the sponge also provides food for bacteria.

From the research, it was found that used kitchen sponges, even when in good condition, can "house" nearly five trillion bacteria. The large number of these bacteria makes the dishwashing sponge even dirtier than toilet waste.

Every cubic centimeter of spongy tissue contains seven to eight times more bacteria than the number of humans living on earth. Of the many bacteria, the researchers found several types that can harm children and parents.

So it is important for mothers who have children or parents, especially those who are sick, to replace the dishwashing sponge regularly once a week. If not, the pathogenic bacteria present in the sponge may cause diseases such as e. coli and salmonella.

Is there a way to clean dishwashing sponges in the kitchen?

Rinsing the sponge with clean water after use is not enough to get rid of the germs that stick to the cavities and pores. According to Kathryn Jacobsen, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology from George Mason University, Virginia, United States when you clean a sink or other part of the kitchen with a sponge after washing dishes, you have the potential to transfer germs from one surface to another, because it is highly likely that bacteria will join scattered to the area.

If rinsing a sponge with just not enough water, then what should be done to keep the sponge free of bacteria? There are several ways you can try.

To kill bacteria, heat the sponge in the microwave for a minute or two at high temperature. Then remove the sponge and let it air cool, then use it again to wash the dishes.

The second way is by soaking the sponge in water that has been given bleach. Let stand for a few minutes, then remove and dry. To further ensure cleanliness, you can also wash it in the washing machine using detergent.

If you don't have much time to do the two methods above, you can try the easier steps. After use, rinse the sponge with clean water and then wring it out to remove the water inside the sponge. Then leave the sponge in the sun to dry.

However, the best thing you can do is change your sponge once a week. Besides, the life span of the sponge is not that long. You should replace the sponge every one to three weeks. If the sponge smells or falls out, that is a sign that it needs to be replaced even though it has not been used for a long time because its cleaning ability is no longer optimal.