Recently we recommended these old school soap holders as sponge storage. In the comments one wise reader shared another tip for sponge storage. This tip has changed my daily sink routine!
Reader STEVEAA shared his tip: Keep sponges in the dishwasher.
It is a simple tip but it keeps the counters clear of clutter, so why not? I've been giving it a go this week and have been excited at the small bit of extra space that it brings me.
My sponges stay clean, my sink stays clear and it has even helped me not procrastinate doing my dishes. It's been a great tip and has kept things fresh and sparkling in my household.
Where do you keep your sponges? Let us know in the comments below!
Related: My Essential Cleaning Tool: Non-Abrasive Scrubbing Pads
(Image: Emma Christensen)
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Is the point that you wash them in the dishwasher?
I'd be worried that they would get that stinky sponge smell?
We have an interior sink suction sponge holder that hides the sponge and holds our dishsoap.
I keep one on the windowsill for the sun to bleach it and a second in the dishwasher, swap them out each morning when I empty the dishwasher.
Mine sits on the sink divider, and almost invariably someone has left it soaking wet. This is a great idea, and one I will try to implement at home. Do you keep 2 sponges and swap them out if the dish washer is running?
No sponges in our house, we consider them nasty. Handled scrub brushes are great and we mostly use them for our few non-dishwashing items (reuseable mugs etc) and we do have a few reuseable bar towels (that we saw right here on AT) and mesh dish cloths that go in the laundry with the tablecloths, aprons and reuseable cotton tote bags.
I'd do this, but I have this ridiculously awesome angry fish sponge holder I bought at an art festival. He's staying put, so might as well stick a sponge in there.
That's a great idea! I'll start doing that tomor... oh wait, I don't have a dishwasher. *sigh*
@Keltrue aw! That sucks but handled scrub brushes are easy to clean and I used to sing while doing the dishes, but no longer with the dishwasher. At least you have that - an excuse to sing while washing. ;)
I don't really have a need to *store* my sponge in the dishwasher, but I do clean my sponge in the dishwasher each time I run it (which is every day). And I generally replace my sponges each month. They don't get smelly, dirty, or nasty this way.
I actually did a high school microbiology experiment on how to sanitize sponges. (was in the top 4 of my state that year! all for sponges, woo!)
Number one way to sanitize: microwave with a bit of water - heat kills bacteria
2. bleach - denatures proteins in bacteria
3. dishwasher - only somewhat reduced bacteria
4. washing machine
conclusion: microwave (if you have one) with water and a bit of bleach :)
"The filthiest culprit in our homes is the kitchen sponge or cloth
According to Gerba, there are about 10 million bacteria per square inch on a sponge, and a million on a dishcloth.
In other words, a kitchen sponge is 200,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat, and a dishcloth is 20,000 times dirtier.
This is the same the world over.
"Always the dirtiest thing by far is the kitchen sponge," says John Oxford, professor of virology at the University of London and chair of the Hygiene Council - an international body that compares hygiene standards across the world."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20324304