How Can the Amount of Bacteria Found on Kitchen Sponges & Dishcloths Be Reduced?
Bacteria breeds on wet surfaces. According to MSNBC, more than 500,000 bacteria per square inch can be found in just the kitchen sink drain, not to mention the bacteria found on tap handles, the sink, counter tops, sponges and dishcloths. Salmonella, E. coli and other disease-causing bacteria can be found around the kitchen. Bacteria can be reduced, and in some cases temporarily eliminated, with proper sanitation of kitchen sponges and dishcloths. Does this Spark an idea?
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Anti-Bacterial Detergents
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Using anti-bacterial dish-washing detergent is a good place to start when fighting bacteria on sponges and dishcloths. Anti-bacterial dish-washing detergents contain bacteria-killing chemicals that kill bacteria but not viruses. Wash dishes with anti-bacterial detergents to cut down on the amount of bacteria to which your sponge or dishcloth is exposed. After washing dishes with a dishcloth, don't leave it in a wad at the bottom of the sink. Hang the dishcloth or prop the sponge on a dry surface and allow the cloth or sponge to air-dry between uses.
Bleach
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Bleach is an effective sanitizer and kills bacteria found in sponges and dishcloths. After using a sponge or dishcloth, wash it in the sink with an anti-bacterial detergent and then soak it in bleach. Add 3/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon of the hottest tap water available. For soaking a small sponge, add 3 tbsp. bleach to 1 quart hot tap water in a bowl, recommends the Oregon State University Extension Service. Allow the sponge or cloth to remain immersed for 10 minutes. Colored dishcloths may become discolored, and sponges may disintegrate when exposed to bleach. Don't mix bleach with any product containing ammonia. A chemical reaction that creates toxic gases will result from a bleach-ammonia mixture.
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Sanitizing
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Dishcloths and sponges can be sanitized in your dishwasher or in the washing machine. According to MSNBC, washing a sponge on the top rack of the dishwasher will eliminate 99.9 percent of bacteria harbored by the sponge. Sponges can also be microwaved on high for one minute or until steaming. Dishcloths last longer than sponges and have more sanitizing options than sponges because they don't fall apart. Wash dishcloths in hot water that is 150 degrees F. MSNBC suggests testing the washing machine water with a thermometer used for candy. When possible, add bleach to the load of dishcloths. Dry dishcloths in the clothes dryer for a minimum of 45 minutes to further sterilize the cloth.
Separation and Replacement
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Every year, according to the County of Los Angeles Public Health Department, 76 million people are sickened by food-borne illnesses. Reduce the chances of kitchen bacteria by designating dishcloths and sponges for certain jobs, such as a red sponge for counter cleaning and a blue sponge for dish washing. This reduces the cross-contamination risk of spreading bacteria from sponge to other objects. You don't want to wash clean dishes with a sponge soaked with poultry blood and juices. The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries reports that bacteria multiplies on dishcloths left at room temperature even after disinfecting the cloth. It recommends using a cleaning cloth that has been disinfected for no longer than three hours before sanitizing in a washing machine or bleach. Replace sponges if they show any sign of deterioration or non-bleach-related discoloration.
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References
- MSNBC; Soap Up! The 12 Germiest Places in your Life; November 2008
- Oregon State University Extension Service; Kitchen Clean-Up; Carolyn Raab; June 2006
- "Journal of Infection in Developing Countries"; Evaluation of Bacterial Multiplication in Cleaning Cloths Containing Different Quantities of Organic Matter; Sabrina Bartz, et al.; 2010
- University of Wisconsin - Madison: Cleaning Your Kitchen on a Budget
Resources
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