Kitchen Sink Sponge

Don't use one! They harbor lots of bacteria, even after just one day. The only way I'd continue to use one if I were you, is if you ran it through the dishwasher every day.

I run mine in the dishwasher when I run a load. If it starts to smell funky, I toss it in the trash. If it starts to look haggard, I toss it in the trash. My sponge is a uni-tasker. It ONLY is used to wash dishes that can't go in the dishwasher. It does not touch counters, floors, appliances. I have other things I use for that. What touches the counter, does not touch the floor. What touches the floor certainly does not touch the counter.

Which sponge are you using? I use the Scoth Brite Dobie and I never have this problem. It is a little airier than the others so it dries out completely. That is the main thing I've noticed, it has to dry out after each use or the water becomes stagnant and breeds germs. Another tip is to throw it into the washer with a load of cleaning towels. That said, I replace mine every week anyways because I am wary of bacteria growing.

It's a bacteria farm. You can't wring it out enough to get rid of the moisture, so bacteria grows. That's what you're smelling. Every time you use it, you are spreading those bacteria all over your kitchen counter.

They did some reports on this on TV - it's awful how much garbage grows in them! I saw one on the news and one on a regular show - I think it was "The Doctors" but I'm not positive.

Some people "toast" them in the toaster oven on low for about 10 minutes - be sure it doesn't smoke. But still, there's a limit to how much you can do!

Switch to an absorbent and washable cloth available at supermarkets, whole foods markets, etc. It's kind of like a "sham-wow". We bought 2, and one is always in the wash. We use them instead of paper towels, which saves a whole bunch of trees and also money. They dry faster than terry cloth dish cloths, but you could use those too.

I throw mine in the dishwasher a couple times per week.

Sponges are the worst thing you could use. They just spread bacteria. That smell is the bacteria and fungus on the sponge. I use a dishcloth. I use one and entire day then let it dry and throw it in an empty bucket. At the end of the week I do one load of wash with all the wash cloths and dish towels and add some bleach.
If you must use a sponge, I saw studies that said the microwave for 2-3 minutes as others have suggested or throwing it in the dishwasher help.

You can put them in the dishwasher too. I the micro trick and the dishwasher but they still seem to smell after a while so I just toss them.

S.

Sponges are disgusting. They harbor tons of bacteria. That stuff you're smelling is mold. I can't imagine using that on my dishes. Blechy! Just buy some cheap dish cloths. You can get them at WalMart for a few bucks. Wash them after each use. They are SO much more sanitary than sponges.
I saw the program that a previous poster mentioned, after seeing that, I'll NEVER use a sponge again for ANYTHING.

I saw this clip on 20/20 a few years ago...wet your sponge pretty well and put it in the microwave for 2 mintues. I am a "germaphobe" and I do this every morning to sterilize my kitchen sponge. You just have to be sure the sponge is pretty wet or it will burn.

I've never been a "sponge" user, I think they hold and smear bacteria and are not worth the risk. Dish clothes are so much better, you have better control with them and a dozen will last you forever since you throw them in the laundry with your towels. Skip the sponges. I use them for the bathtub and thats it.
Paper towels are your best bet for cleaning up kitchen counters and such as far as always having a clean cloth and not spreading bacteria.
I use white dish clothes and bleach them every now and then.

Wet it and put it in the microwave for 2 minutes. A few seconds isn't long enough. Be sure it's wet, or it will catch on fire.

Yes get all the soap out wet it really good put in microwave for 2 min. not a few seconds it kills inbedded germs and dries up the sponge it is also a good idea to replace it every 2-3 weeks,ou don't have to put in the mocrowave after every use but a few times a week and let it sit on its side not flat

Updated

Yes get all the soap out wet it really good put in microwave for 2 min. not a few seconds it kills inbedded germs and dries up the sponge it is also a good idea to replace it every 2-3 weeks,ou don't have to put in the mocrowave after every use but a few times a week and let it sit on its side not flat

I put my sponges in the dishwasher every time I do a load. I still replace them every 2-3 weeks because I know there is a danger of damaging the machine if the sponge falls apart during a cycle, but I think it helps to extend the life a bit. They also never smell bad. Hope this helps!

I've heard of methods to keep sponges from going sour. But I never saw them work well. I remember my mom using sponges and, while they did a good job, their fragrance quickly became unappealing and they had to be thrown out. I'm a dishcloth user because I can use them, throw them in the laundry, re-use them, and have no odor problem. You might give it a try - dishcloths or bar towels or even cloth diapers (after you've washed them once or twice first!) can do very good work in a kitchen.

Boiling it in a pot of water for 10 min works for me. The moist heat kills the bacteria that grows on the sponge.

I heard that you should periodically put it in the microwave for 30 secs to 1 minute (not just a couple seconds).

Throw it in the dishwasher.

I agree with the other moms, I put my sponge in the dishwasher every other wash. It keeps it from smelling.

I have smelled people's dish sponges that smell bad, but mine never do. Maybe its the type of sponge or soap you are using. Another thing you may want to try is what I do, and that is have two different types or sponges. One that has two different sides for cleaning the dishes and another one that is soft on both side for cleaning stuff like the counters. Another thing, don't leave the sponges in the sink or a place that they may not be able to dry well. Good luck to you.

Hi,

I am one of those that heard the criticisms of using a sponge and tried kitchen rags. But it was a very hard sell for me. I just like using a sponge MUCH better but I do hate that soured smell. So now I keep 2 sponges in rotation. Every time I run the dishwasher, I throw one in and I use the other sponge until the next dishwasher run. They swap places back and forth. Every since I have started doing this, no more soured smell. Then when they get ratty they move to the tub cleaning duty then eventually in the trash. It works for me. I hope you find something that works for you!

the easiest thing to do is to get a little wire basket that sticks to the side of the sink with suction cups. You not only need to wring it out, but you also need to let it dry out thoroughly. Bacteria/mildew grow when there is moisture. This time of year is particularly difficult. But, the wire basket helps get the air circulating to the entire surface area and allows it to dry between uses.

I grew-up with sponges. I'm not as much of a fan as my mom. I prefer just to spend the money at Costco/Sam's Club to get Lysol/Clorox wipes or to use a few wet paper towels with cleaner if needed.

don't use a sponge. We also have a kitchen rags and since most of our dishes get put in the dish washer I usually use one rag for the day and then toss it in the laundry. Think of all the germs and mold and mildew that are making it stink! EWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

Put it in your dishwasher when you run it next. A friend of mine gave me that idea and it works. Or you could soak in it water with some bleach.

After scrubbing the sink with Comet or a cleaner that has Bleach I always spray the sponge after it's rinsed out and squish it several times then rinse it clean. The cleaner kills some of the bacteria and helps with the smell but I change them out about once a month. They are not very sanitary because you can never get them clean and the bacteria just spreads around on everything you put the sponge on after a while.

I throw my sponge in the washer with my kitchen towels every time I wash a load. That seems to do the trick. I also use "rags" like many posters suggest, but those start to stink quickly too in my experience.

Don't use a sponge :)

I have a set of rags that are my "kitchen rags" for washing dishes. I'll use one for maybe a couple days, and then grab a clean one. So if it starts to get smelly, you just grab a clean one :) Then I wash the rags with bleach.

I know how you feel, had those same issues & would feel disgusted by smells, tried different things, but not much worked. So, now I have a little plastic bowl that I keep next to the sink that I fill w/ a little bleach & water that I use to hold the sponge. So for instance, I take it out of bowl & proceed to wash dishes w/ soap, then when finished rinse & wring out w/ water and put back in bleach/water bowl & leave there til next use. It works for me, I never get the smells ever, and I know that my sponge is getting sanitized after every use. Hope this helps, good luck!

I put our sponge in the refrigerator. Keeps it cool, & it doesn't smell funky.

Good Luck.

Put in the top rack of the dishwasher. Easy, and smells fresh every time!