How to Clean Sponges With Salt

If you're a big sponge-user in the kitchen, you know how easy it is for them to get dirty and need replacing. However, there's a trick to cleaning your sponges and getting the most out of them. Clean your sponges with salt and lengthen their useful life.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Find a container that is big enough to hold the sponge and about 1 quart of water.

2. Fill the container with cold water.

3. Pour 1/4 cup of salt into the water and use a spoon to stir until the salt completely dissolves.

4. Wash your sponge with soap and water. Take off as many foreign particles like food and grime as you can. Squeeze the sponge to encourage particles on the inside of the sponge to dislodge.

5. Place the sponge into the salt water.

6. Leave the sponge to soak in the salt water overnight.

7. Remove the sponge from the salt water the next day.

8. Rinse and wash the sponge a final time. Make sure that all the salt filtered grime has been cleaned from the sponge.

9. Allow it to air dry before using.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow this procedure regularly to lengthen the sponge's usefulness. Try not to wait until the sponge appears dirty, grungy or is close to replacement.
• Place man-made sponges into the dishwasher and cycle it with your dishes to kill the germs in it.
• Make sure to use cold water while soaking the sponge. Cold salt water best mimics a sponge's natural habitat and encourages its rejuvenation.

[becky06]

on 5/28/2008 I do not think that this method really does kill bacteria in your household sponge a microwave serves a better purpose as it kills almost 97% of the germs