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There’s nothing grosser than a grotty sponge, and we can’t argue with microbiologists who recommend that we replace our sponges every week.
But if you think you can get around it by boiling them instead of replacing them, think again. According to a recent study published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports, microwaving and boiling sponges can initially reduce about 60 per cent of bacteria on them, but it won’t sterilize sponges completely, and the bacteria soon returns.
So what are you to do? Disposing of a sponge on a weekly basis can add up dollars-wise, not to mention the impact it has on environmental landfill.
Try this easy hack instead.
According to Apartment Therapy, instead of tossing dirty sponges, you recycle them for ‘dirtier’ cleaning.
So when they get too dirty for sanitary jobs like wiping down the benchtop, simply cut off one corner.
A snipped corner identifies your ‘dirty sponge’ for your dirtiest cleaning chores, like scrubbing the rubbish bin, toilets and even tires.
Keep your dirty sponge separate from your ‘clean’ sponges, and only replace it when it’s well and truly worn out.
You’ll soon find that you’re cutting down on replacement sponges.
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