Sponges used for kitchen dishwashing can harbor bacteria over time and are prone to breakage and odor, but if they're replaced often, it can add to the cost of your home and plastic waste.white eraser sponge Is there anything you can do to restore these old sponges to their former glory and keep people using them?

A study found that kitchen sponges harbor up to 362 types of bacteria, making them the most active place for bacteria in the whole family, more so than the toilet.

In addition to harboring bacteria, sponges are prone to breakage over time and can also smell. The good thing is that there is a magic weapon in the kitchen that can revitalize the old sponge, and that is salt.

The salt aspect is hygroscopic and can be used to reduce the moisture that bacteria rely on by absorbing and utilizing the moisture from the sponge, it also prevents and controls the growth of mold while eliminating the stink. In addition, it also allows the sponge to be cleaned in a way that enables it to work better and wash out stains more easily.

There are two simple ways to revitalize an old sponge.

1. Soak in salt water

Rinse the sponge with warm water first, then wring out the sponge to remove any remaining debris or small pieces on the surface. Then pour warm water into a container, add a quarter cup of salt and stir until the salt is completely dissolved.

Soak the sponges in the salt water and let them sit overnight or at least for a few hours. Remove the sponges, wring them out, and then rinse them thoroughly with water.

2. Add some white vinegar

The procedure for this method is the same as before, but the mixture is one cup of hot water, half a cup of white vinegar and three tablespoons of salt.

The main purpose of these research methods analyzed above is to be able to remove the odor from the sponge and make its product look new. To be able to remove the bacteria from the sponges, you can strictly sterilize them in a microwave or dishwasher. Using as well as microwave or dishwasher are able to kill 99.9% of the bacteria in the sponge by.

If you're going to use the microwave, first make sure there are no metal pads on the sponge. Then wet the sponge as a dry sponge could catch fire in the microwave. Once you put the sponge in the microwave, turn the power to maximum and keep it on for one minute. Then leave the sponge in the microwave for 5 to 10 minutes until it cools down.

In addition to regular cleaning, sponges should also be used with care tips include, don't use them to clean raw gravy, use paper towels instead.