How do we do dishes?

Sponge & Soap

Easy for Germs and Bacteria to grow
Not ideal for greasy and dirty areas in the kitchen

Dishwasher, Soap & Heat

Need alternative washing method

Disposable scrub & Soap

Pricy
Polyethylene / plastic-based material create environmental wastes

Kitchen sponges hold more bacteria than any other surface in your home. We use sponges every day to clean our dishes and surfaces, but in reality, they spread bacteria. To make matters worse, most conventional sponges are made from plastic and can’t be recycled or composted. So those bacteria-ridden blocks of plastic end up in landfills and oceans. We’ll give you the details on kitchen sponges and point you to some alternatives.

Are There Germs In Your Kitchen Sponge?

German scientists studied kitchen sponges found in homes across Germany. Though the sample size was small, the number of bacteria they found in these sponges was not. Researchers found 362 different species of bacteria in sponges, and 45 billion bacteria per square centimeter. That means, part of your kitchen sponge could have as much bacteria as the inside of a toilet. Gross. The USDA recommends that you try to clean your sponges daily, but even that is not a perfect solution.

Can You Clean A Sponge?

The best way to clean your sponges is in the dishwasher or in the microwave. Before you do so make sure you read the label and don’t put any metallic sponges or certain synthetic sponges in the microwave because they will catch on fire. If you do choose to microwave your sponge, make sure it is damp because a dry sponge is also highly flammable. If you choose to throw your sponge in the dishwasher, make sure it is on a high-heat setting to ensure the bacteria in your sponge are killed. Unfortunately, even with daily cleaning, sponges still harbor significant amounts of bacteria. The best solution? Ditch the conventional kitchen sponge altogether.

When Should You Throw Away A Sponge?

Knowing how much bacteria is growing inside of your sponge is going to make you want to throw it out, and you should. It is recommended that you dispose of your sponge at least every two weeks, if not weekly. Most conventional sponges are made of plastic or from oils that cannot be recycled or composted. Every week you are dumping another piece of plastic into oceans and landfills.