topic Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question in Kitchen

Smelly dish sponges - Question

RinaRina — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:02:44 GMT

Do you put your dirty dish sponges in the dishwasher or just throw them away?

I've noticed soaking them in bleach makes them crumble & fall apart.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

luv pzzl — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:07:14 GMT

I don't have a dishwasher, so can't help with that. I do microwave (1min) my damp sponge every other day or so. This keeps it fresh and odor free. I remember that sponge smell and it's nauseating.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

PinkyPetunia — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:08:29 GMT

I use sponges till they fall apart--and not from bleaching. Don't use undiluted bleach. It's way too strong. Just fill the sink with a few inches of hot soapy water and add a few tablespoons (a short splash of bleach). Let the sponges or dish towels soak for 10 minutes or so. That will do the trick. Rinse with clean water, squeeze or wring out the water and let them dry.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

DoneTryin — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:09:20 GMT

Top rack of the dishwasher works for me. I use the ones I got from QVC that are covered in a microfiber & one side is a soft "scrubbie." Can't remember now if those are Joe Campanelli products or not. In any case, all sponges eventually have to be trashed.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

Mary Bailey — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:10:34 GMT

throw away.

I use nylon scrub, not sponge, from Dollar Store or Big Lots. Cheap and pitch

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

Abrowneyegirl — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:11:41 GMT

I use the top rack DW tech for cleaning my sponges.

I have found the Lysol sponges to be the best, (harder to find) but they stay cleaner.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

BichonEmma — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:12:51 GMT

I toss them. If there so dirty that they smell I don't want them washing my dishes that I eat off of! Sponges are not very expensive. There are better places for me to save money. That said I have the set of microfiber washable sponges I got from the Q those do get washed in the washing machine with my towels once a week. The first time one comes out of the washing machine it will go in the trash

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

ennui_too — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:17:23 GMT

Microwave! A wet sponge for one minute. It'll be VERY hot, so be careful when you take it out.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

lizzief — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:20:13 GMT

I encourage you to try the Scrub Daddy if you haven't already! Best product ever! They last forever, you can put them in the top rack of the dishwasher if you want, but no smell! You can get them at Bed Bath & Beyond and of course the Q. You may think $2.50 is a lot to spend on a sponge, but they are worth it! The only thing they don't do is absorb water, but they scrub anything!

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

Sooner — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:20:21 GMT

I don't ever use sponges because I think that there is too much chance that germs and bacteria will lodge in them. I use dishcloths that I use once or twice, usually two a day and/or paper towels.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

Irshgrl31201 — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:27:36 GMT

I get the type of sponges that are a scrubbie on one side and sponge on the other. I do not put them in bleach because they fall apart so fast when they are put in bleach and hot soapy water, which is usually how I clean my cabinets, counters and just general cleaning. For cleaning (not dishes) I use a washcloth anyway, I buy the cheap thin white ones for 12/$1 and use a new one everyday. I never wipe down my kitchen with a sponge, only a washcloth in a sink of hot soapy water with bleach.

Sponges I clean in hot soapy water and then I squeeze them out and put them in the microwave on high for 2 -3 minutes. There was actually a study done at the University of Florida and they found microwaving is the most effective way to kill 99% of pathogens in them. They suggest doing this every other day but I do it every night after I wash them in hot soapy water. Don't take them out right away because they will be steaming hot. I can't say I have ever had a sponge smell bad but this kills any type of germs that would start to stink it up. It also doesn't break it down like bleach would.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

chrystaltree — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:36:55 GMT

......this is why I don't food that people I don't know well, cook. Smell, germ ridden sponges in kitchens. Yuk. I use paper towels. When I or when my housekeeper uses sponges to clean, we throw them away after the job is done. I'm not so poor that I have to reuse a dirty sponge.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

chrystaltree — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:37:55 GMT

On 8/1/2014 Sooner said:
I don't ever use sponges because I think that there is too much chance that germs and bacteria will lodge in them. I use dishcloths that I use once or twice, usually two a day and/or paper towels.

At last! A normal person.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

DiAnne — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:40:21 GMT

I buy sponges at Costco. I put them in the top shelf of dishwasher every time I run it. Throw away and get a new one about every two weeks.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

oceanbreezy — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:44:22 GMT

Sooner, I don't use sponges for the same reason. If they don't smell clean, bacteria could be embedded in there. Sponges can leave your kitchen smelling really bad. I use tattered dish cloths or wash cloths as cleaning rags. They are washable and can be reused again and again.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

Sooner — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:47:33 GMT

On 8/1/2014 Peppery said: Sooner, I don't use sponges for the same reason. If they don't smell clean, bacteria could be embedded in there. Sponges can leave your kitchen smelling really bad. I use tattered dish cloths or wash cloths as cleaning rags. They are washable and can be reused again and again.

I think some people use and love sponges and some like us have a thing about changing dish cloths and bleaching them. I think my husband would get a new dish cloth every Christmas if it were left up to him. He is VERY neat and clean and picky EXCEPT about that! LOL!! I'm there all the time getting new ones and putting them out.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

mustbuyless — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 04:18:22 GMT

I nuke mine regularly- in a bowl of water with some dish soap in it, sometimes vinegar as well. Eventually even that doesn't help so I throw them away. I do have a big obsession about not throwing away things so I try to make them last. I know I take it to a ridiculous extreme once in a while!

I was considering the scrub daddies, but am wondering what process they follow or what chemical they put in to prevent the smell. Between having some chemical de-odorizer and just cleaning & sanitizing it in the microwave, (or boiling it on the stove) I'll choose the latter.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

Tinkrbl44 — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 04:49:30 GMT

Dishwasher top rack.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

jubilant — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 12:29:20 GMT

I rarely use a sponge and I rinse and hang up my dish rag to dry after every use. I change it every other day....never getting smelly that way. I have gone to peoples houses where the dishrag is very smelly and it's a big turn-off to me.

Re: Smelly dish sponges - Question

Winkk — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 13:29:45 GMT

Sponge Daddy's don't have any of the problems regular sponges have. They are great. Love mine.