11 Mistakes You’re Making With Your Kitchen Sponge

Is your trusty kitchen sponge doing more harm than good? Find out if it’s time to toss it.

The Sponge 411

1/13
Sponge cleaning mistakes

Synthetic kitchen sponges have been around since the 1940s. They’re durable and soak up water like nobody’s business, which makes them great for cleaning all types of surfaces. Chances are, though, that you’re using yours all wrong. Here are all the mistakes you're making with your kitchen sponge.

istockphoto.com

You keep it around way too long.

2/13
How long to keep a sponge

Is the sponge by your kitchen sink more than a week old? Yikes. It’s best to toss sponges after about a week of use. Keep one around longer and it’s bound to be teeming with bacteria—and smelling up your kitchen.

Related: 12 Ways You're Accidentally Spreading Germs Around Your House

istockphoto.com

You leave it in the sink.

3/13
Where to store sponge

After scrubbing a batch of grimy dishes, it’s tempting to toss your sponge in the sink and forget about it until your next dishwashing session. However, no matter how carefully you wash your dinnerware, your sink is a haven for bacteria—and leaving your sponge in a germ-filled environment is a bad idea. Sponges are less likely to dry properly if left in a damp, moist sink environment—making it a perfect breeding ground for even more germs.

istockphoto.com

You use it for everything.

4/13
Don't use sponge for everything

Avoid using your kitchen sponge to sop up every little spill. The more surfaces you touch with your sponge, the more likely it is to become contaminated. Keep your sponge away from meat juices, and use paper towels for those types of messes.

istockphoto.com

You store it improperly.

5/13
Proper sponge storage

If you’re not supposed to leave your sponge in the sink, where does it go? Put your sponge in a basket or drying rack to promote air circulation. The quicker it dries out, the cleaner it will remain.

istockphoto.com

You stick it in the microwave.

6/13
Microwave sponge

Many online outlets have touted this trick for banishing germs (guilty!), and while it does work on some pathogens, the ones that survive being nuked are bigger, badder, and more likely to make you sick. Skip this tip and replace your filthy sponge instead.

Related: The Dirty Dozen: 12 Places You Probably Never Clean But Definitely Should

istockphoto.com

You run it through the dishwasher.

7/13
Sponge dishwasher

Like the microwave, the high heat of the dishwasher only serves to leave behind superbugs that multiply to recolonize your trusty sponge. When you start to feel like it’s time for a run through a cycle, resist the urge and toss the nasty sponge instead.

istockphoto.com

You don’t clean it between uses.

8/13
Clean sponge after use

If you sop up messes and wipe down counters with your sponge, then leave it by the sink without so much as a rinse, you’re encouraging bacterial growth. Give it a quick cleanup now and again; experts suggest cleaning sponges between uses with diluted bleach.

istockphoto.com

You use whole sponges to clean.

9/13
Cut sponge in half

If throwing away a sponge every week sounds wasteful, but you’re not ready to part ways with your favorite cleaning tool, try slicing your sponge in half as soon as you pull it out of the package and before you put it to work. Half of a sponge handles most cleaning tasks as effectively as a whole one, and helps you stretch your dollar further.

istockphoto.com

You don’t squeeze it out.

10/13
Squeeze out sponge

When you’re done washing dishes or wiping down surfaces with your kitchen sponge, be sure to wring it out completely. A wrung-out sponge will dry quicker than a sopping wet one, and a drier sponge equals a cleaner sponge.

Related: 7 Signs Your Home Needs a Water Softener

istockphoto.com

You use a sponge when you should be using paper towels.

11/13
Sponge vs paper towels

Some tasks are better suited for paper towels. Cleaning up meat juices, for instance, is best left to absorbent paper towels. Instead of potentially contaminating other surfaces—like your sink—with a sponge coated in raw chicken juices, you can simply toss the soiled paper towels when you finish tidying the meal prep area.

istockphoto.com

You wash with a regular sponge.

12/13
Silicone scrubbers vs sponge

Maybe it’s time to reconsider kitchen sponges altogether. Use a dishcloth in place of a sponge and toss it in the hamper after each cleaning session. If that sounds impractical, opt for silicone scrubbers (like this one available on Amazon), which can be washed and reused to banish bacteria.

istockphoto.com

Keep It Clean

13/13
Keep It Clean

A clean sponge makes everything in the kitchen better.

bobvila.com

Don't Miss!

1pixel

Want a cleaner, tidier, more organized home? Sign up for the Clean Sweep newsletter to receive weekly tips, tools, and bright ideas that will help you maximize your next cleaning session.