Throw Out Your Kitchen Sponge ASAP—Yes, Really
If you’ve been mulling over whether or not it’s time to buy or replace a dishwasher, here’s the information that could put you over the edge: There are 54 billion bacterial cells on a single cubic centimeter of the average kitchen sponge. They are breeding grounds for all types of germs and bacteria. Dishwashers are naturally a much more sanitary way to wash and disinfect dishes, utensils, glasses, and some cookware (but don’t you dare put your cast iron in there).
You might already know that it’s your kitchen, not your bathroom, that has the most microbial activity, and that’s indeed because of your sponge—"the biggest reservoirs of active bacteria in the whole house.” But did you know that cleaning your sponge only makes things worse? Sticking your sponge in the dishwasher or boiling water to disinfect is a no-go, and leaving it to sit in soapy water at the bottom of your sink is also a bad idea. Yes, really.