We have spent some time working with Dr. David Webber, a well-practiced microbiologist in the UK, and he can certainly tell you a lot of scary stories about germs. Some things may be better left to the imagination, but other things are important to know in preventing the spread of germs.

Dr. Webber has visited many classrooms over the years on a quest to introduce children to microorganisms, or ‘bugs’. One of his favorite activities is sending the kids home with dipslides to test their mother’s kitchen sponge or dish rag, and the results are almost always the same. The kitchen sponge is a bug zoo!

Most of the mothers are blissfully unaware of the breeding grounds they’re using to clean their dishes and kitchen countertops, so we thought we’d take this fun activity to the public for an up-close and personal look at the kitchen sponge.

Germapalooza

kitchen sponge germs, e. coli

Photo Credit: Janice Haney Carr (CDC)

Germs are like micro-guests at a house party, and like most party guests, more germs are found in the kitchen than in any other room.

Surprising, right? We thought bathrooms for sure, but when you start to think about all the nutrients and food sources in a kitchen, it makes perfect sense.

Here’s a little something else you probably didn’t know: The kitchen sponge is the number one source for germs in the entire house. (Man, the bathroom has really been getting an undeserving bad rap all these years!)

So, why the sponge? What is it about that colorful, spongy, and oh-so-handy tool that makes it the germapalooza we didn’t even know we had?

Moist, Dark Environments

kitchen sponge germs

For starters, a sponge is often moist, and it takes time to dry. Pair that with all the little nooks and crannies that are difficult to disinfect, and a sponge provides a perfect home for bacteria.

In just a couple of days, a sponge can become the home of millions of bacteria. I’m sure you’ve had a sponge or two that developed a bad smell after a while. Little tip – at that point, it needs to be thrown away.

Those of you that use dish rags are probably thinking, “Ha! That’s why I use a dish rag!” Sorry to be the bearers of bad news, but dish rags aren’t really any better. Like a sponge, they need to completely dry out between uses because most bacteria thrive in moist environments.

Sponges and dish cloths can harbor E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas spp. and plenty of other party guests.

Don’t believe us? Try using the Tryptic Soy-Rose Bengal Dipslide and test your sponge at home.

Clean and Replace

 

kitchen sponge germs

Photo Credit: Amanda Mills

At some point, you’re just spreading these organisms from one surface to another. Don’t worry, you’re not alone.  Just about everyone is guilty of re-using a sponge or a dish rag for too long before cleaning it because the truth is, you should be cleaning your sponge or dish rag daily.

We don’t want to discourage you from using a sponge as a cleaning tool in your kitchen. You can easily clean a sponge by wetting it and microwaving it for about two minutes, or putting it through the dishwasher. This will kill off any bacteria left lurking in the nooks and crannies. You can also microwave your dish rag, or you can put the dish rag in the washing machine and dry it on high heat.

Cleaning your sponge or dish cloth daily will help slow bacteria growth, but you should still replace them regularly. We suggest replacing them once a week.

Other helpful tips include wringing out your sponge or dish cloth after use, and storing it somewhere to dry. Laying it out on a counter actually takes longer to dry, so you might consider investing a few bucks in a sponge holder. You might also consider having a couple different sponges or dish rags for different purposes, like one for washing dishes, and one for wiping down countertops.

While we can’t prevent all bacteria from growing in our kitchens, we can take steps to keep it a little cleaner. Everyone enjoys a fun house party, but germs are unwanted guests in our book, so kick them to the curb and keep those sponges clean! We’re predicting a sudden spike in sponge sales to come.