You know that you can microwave sponges to kill bacteria, right? (Note: the actual Hints from Heloise does not recommend this, saying a good soak in diluted bleach or running through the dishwasher will suffice. Cooks Illustrated says that boiling them for 3 minutes is the best method, followed by bleach solution.)
We got home from visiting my mom this weekend and our sponges smelled a little funky, so I threw them into the microwave.
Several minutes later, the whole kitchen smelled like hot burnt nastiness. The sponges had caught on fire.
"How long did you put those in for?" Debbie asked as I opened windows, put on fans, and lit a scented candle that did nothing to mask the scent of burning sponge.
"Seven minutes." Because, you know, I wanted to be thorough.
"Seven? You're supposed to nuke them for three." (This article says that you only need one minute to properly kill off the wee beasties.)
So your Ishtip of the day: You can microwave your sponges, but not for too long!
| Home Ec 101 |
We've just switched to washcloths. You can wash them in the washing machine when you're doing clothes, and they should last much longer than sponges. This should make them more environmentally friendly (at least in theory, anyway). Plus, they're totally natural, man.
Comment #1 :: link :: August 20, 2007 11:00 PM
