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For an item that’s supposed to clean your home, sponges are surprisingly dirty. Sponges are a breeding ground for bacteria, including E. Coli and salmonella since they’re typically moist and porous.
While you can throw away a dirty sponge, some try to avoid waste by microwaving it to kill bacteria with heat. But does this purported cleaning hack actually work?
Read on to learn whether you can actually kill bacteria on a sponge by microwaving. We’ll also go over some sponge alternatives that can help you reduce household waste.
Microwaving a sponge can kill bacteria.
A 2007 study from the Agricultural Research Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, found that microwaving a sponge killed 99.9 percent of germs — slightly more effective than throwing a sponge in the dishwasher.
That’s because radio-frequency waves in a microwave cause thermal (heat) and nonthermal (non-heat) effects, causing the water molecules inside a cell to vibrate. The friction associated with this vibration causes increasing levels of heat, which kills the bacteria.
Recent research has also supported this method.
A 2020 study asked 20 participants to use kitchen sponges as normal for 4 weeks. Ten of these participants were instructed to clean their sponges two to three times weekly in a microwave for at least 1 minute at a time at the highest wattage.
The results showed that sponges microwaves for at least 1 minute 2-3 times each week had significantly fewer bacteria than the untreated sponges.
Results can vary depending on the heating setting of your microwave. Certain microwaves may require more time to sufficiently kill bacteria, or may not have wattage high enough to completely eliminate bacteria.
Your sponge can contain several billion bacterial cells in every square cubic centimeter of sponge material — that’s according to a 2017 study in Scientific Reports.
And it’s also likely that a lot of bacteria found on household surfaces and appliances were introduced there by a sponge because many people leave their kitchen sponges wet. Sponges accumulate dirt and bacteria quickly, and leftover food particles are another factor that can also breed colonies of bacteria.
Hundreds of bacteria can live on a sponge, including:
- E. Coli may give you an upset stomach and/or diarrhea.
- Enterobacter cloacae can cause skin and abdominal infections, among other illnesses.
- Klebsiella oxytoca can cause vaginal infections, like a UTI.
- Mycobacterium avium can cause pulmonary-related diseases in people with weakened immune systems
- Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) can cause a staph infection that results in fever, swelling, and irritated skin.
- Salmonella can cause food poisoning.
How long you use a sponge depends on use.
If you’re using it every day, consider replacing your sponge at least once a week. If you use a sponge to clean raw food spills, sterilize or replace it right away.
But if you sterilize your sponge regularly, you can likely replace it every 2 weeks without any significant health risks.
Additionally, tap into sensory cues. Consider replacing your sponge if it:
- looks dirty
- feels slimy
- has a foul or abnormal odor
There are other effective cleaning methods for both your sponge and other household items that don’t require you to use your microwave.
Use a dishwasher
A 2020 study in the International Journal of Food Microbiologyfound that dishwashing is a highly effective method for reducing bacteria, particularly salmonella.
Alex Varela, owner of Texas-based house cleaning service Dallas Maids, suggests that you should clean your sponges by “placing them in the dishwasher and running the heated dry cycle.”
For best results, put the sponge in the top rack of a dishwasher and wash it with the sanitization cycle.
Use bleach
Bleach is a powerful cleaning agent that kills bacteria and viruses.
To clean your sponges:
- Get a small tub and fill it with bleach. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend 1 cup (240 mL) of bleach for every 1 gallon of water.
- Place the sponge into the solution to soak for 5 minutes.
Use baking soda and vinegar
Baking soda gets rid of odors and distilled white vinegar will handle bacteria:
- Wring your sponge well and leave it to dry overnight.
- Sprinkle the softer side of the sponge with a lot of baking soda. If there are two soft sides, you just need to pick one.
- Grab a small container and fill it with vinegar so that the sponge is almost covered but not fully immersed.
- Carefully place the sponge in the container and keep the baking soda part on top of the bath of vinegar.
Use vinegar
Instead of baking soda and vinegar, it’s also possible to just use vinegar:
- Take a dish big enough to hold the sponge and fill it with vinegar.
- Soak the sponge in the dish for 5 minutes.
- Wring out the vinegar.
- Thoroughly rinse the kitchen sponge in warm water.
- Let the sponge dry fully.
Here are some options for a sponge alternative that may be more sanitary or longer-lasting:
- Silicone sponge. These are antibacterial and don’t produce microplastics. Silicone sponges are easier to clean because they have flat, sealed surfaces. They’re also eco-friendly since you don’t have to replace them as often.
- Handheld dish brush. This tool keeps your hands cleaner and it can be stored upright. This can help it dry faster. Look for brushes whose handles are made from natural materials like finished wood or other compostable products.
- Loofah. A natural loofah is made from a gourd in the cucumber family and can be a more sustainable cleaning tool than sponges or other kitchen cleaning tools made with plastic or other manufactured materials.
- Sea sponges. These eco-friendly cleaning sponges are naturally found in the sea and aren’t very abrasive.
Putting a sponge in the microwave is a proven way to kill bacteria and germs, reducing waste by allowing your sponge to last longer.
Just be sure to wet the sponge beforehand to avoid any safety hazards and toss any sponges that develop a bad odor or slimy texture.
Consider other, more sustainable cleaning alternatives like silicone or sea sponges to reduce even more waste.
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