Disinfecting Your Dish Sponges

I’ve heard that you can disinfect your dish sponge by running it through the dishwasher. I’ve personally never tried it. It’s probably more sanitary than doing nothing, but because the sponge can absorb so much bacteria, I’m still hesitant. It’ll probably remove quite a bit, but what about the scum and buildup from the dishes? I like boiling vinegar in the microwave or on the stove and using that to disinfect sponges. But I don’t microwave the sponge, too. I’ve heard that it can start a fire. I’m not sure if that’s true or not, but I’m not in the mood to find out. I figure by the time the vinegar’s boiling in the microwave, it’s hot enough to do its job. It’s recommended that if you don’t wash your sponge everyday, which, let’s face it, few of us do, it’s best to replace it every month. I’ve also heard the same story with a different timeline, suggesting replacement every three months. I don’t know which one is true, so I prefer to be safer than sorry. Sponges pick up the most amount of dirt when you’re degreasing the lasagna dish, degunking the pasta and tomato sauce, etc. Rather than increase bacteria buildup on your sponge, consider using a dish brush. They’re initially a pricier investment, but it outlasts a dish sponge, making it worth the purchase, and it removes grease and gunk far more effectively than a dish sponge. Just be sure to not use it on stainless steel cookware or other easily aggravated surfaces.