My husband is a huge fan of using sponges for cleaning up the kitchen. I'm not. I think the reason I'm so adamant against using sponges is because of all the horror stories I've read over the years that have given me massive cases of the heebie-jeebies.

If like Jay, you're a fan of cleaning with sponges, this might have you thinking twice before you reach for one to wipe down your counters. Your kitchen sponge is dirtier and more dangerous than you could ever imagine.

Philip Tierno is a microbiology professor Philip Tierno and author of The Secret Life of Germs and he says that the reason sponges are so disgusting is that they never get cleaned properly. Tierno says even your toilet seats and garbage cans get cleaned once in a while, but think about it- when was the last time you washed your sponge?

Sponges get filthy and stay that way with bacteria surviving in the nooks and crannies for a long time. And, germs grow super fast because the sponge stays damp. How fast do germs grow? New bacteria is born every 20 minutes.

If you're bent on using a sponge or have someone in your house who is, what should you do to protect yourself? Tierno recommends making a solution containing one part bleach and nine parts water and letting the sponge sit in it for at least 30 seconds. That way you’ll zap every possible organism and keep your family safe.

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