Rafiq Islam, (Kansas City): How often do you change sponges for washing dishes? It’s probably not often enough. I have visited many homes of South Asian families around the world and noticed the dish washing sponges are really worn, dirty and smelly. Many held the belief that soap/detergent kills germ and bacteria, so how is it possible that microbs grow in the sponges filled with soap/detergent- water. A study recently published in Scientific Reports concluded that dish sponges are much more bacteria-laden than previously thought, since the sponges tend to be warm, wet, and covered in food particles. This research concluded that dish sponges should ideally be replaced at least once a week. That will definitely generate more waste if every household starts to replace every week, and secondly, it will chip in your pocketbook, even a three-pack set costs you about $3-5. Here are some tips to prevent it becoming smelly:

• Never use sponge to wash cutting board and knife used for preparing meat and fish, rather use paper towel with soap
• Wipe oily, greasy, leftover foods on the plates, spoons, knives and others with paper towel before cleaning with soap and sponge
• Squeeze hard to drain soap-water from the sponge after every use, or at least after the last use in the night, and let it dry on a bowl or holder. Also drain soapy water collected on the bowl/holder and wash it often, better every day. Devoid of water bacteria will not be able to multiply
• When it turns smelly, clean them in dishwasher with hot cycle, or microwave for a minute, or submerged in boiling water for a couple of minutes
Your best bet is to step-up your dish sponge game by being more thoughtful.