A dish sponge is a common part of most households, i.e. their kitchens. Even though the dishwasher is already a common household appliance, from time to time something needs to be washed by hand. Using warm water, detergent and a homemade sponge. We think of this as something clean and health friendly. But the reality can be quite different. We can even say that a sponge can accumulate more bacteria and foreign substances than a toilet. And this hatchery of microorganisms is what we use to clean our dishes.
Household essentials
Everyone has one on their kitchen counter at home. Always ready to quickly wash the dishes or wipe the kitchen counter clean of dirt. It’s really versatile in that way, but it also makes it the dirtiest item in the house. Because once the sponge soaks up the dirt, it doesn’t release it easily. As a result, the used sponge simply doesn’t clean effectively and has to be thrown away and a new one bought, which is not very eco-friendly or economical. So you want to know how to reuse a sponge?
Reuse
Because the sponge often sits in the kitchen for days and is used constantly when needed, it gets dirty really quickly and no longer cleans properly. Unfortunately, rinsing and wringing thoroughly doesn’t help get rid of the dirt. Bacteria start to breed in it and if you don’t remove it, it will spread everywhere. So after two to three weeks, it’s a write-off. Fortunately, we know how to clean it after each use and reuse it. It’s not difficult!
Cleaning with bleach
Bleach is a good way to remove stubborn bacteria from a wash sponge. Find a bucket and fill it one-quarter full of water and add 3 tablespoons of bleach. Then soak the sponge in this mixture for at least 5 minutes. Afterwards, wash it well, wring it out and let it dry well. Also note these 3 recommendations:
- Be careful of your clothes
- Wear gloves
- Wash your hands well
Cleaning in the dishwasher
Another way to clean a sponge is with a dishwasher. While this method is less effective than cleaning with bleach, it avoids the odors that bleach contains. Again, the procedure is very simple. Put the sponge in the dishwasher with the dishes to save water and energy. And then you run the programme on high heat. You leave the sponge in the dishwasher to dry and you can use it again.
Source: https://time.com/5254808/how-to-wash-dishes-sponge/