How Do You Get That Nasty Smell Out Of Kitchen Sponges?
Question:Dont say "buy a one". Im that cheap.
Answers:
Microwave it!! 1 minute is all it takes- be careful it's gonna be super hot!
oh and make sure it is damp first
Dishwasher. I run mine through the dishwasher every time I run it. It sanitizes the sponge and removes any rotting food particles caught in it. If you don't have a dishwasher, keep your sponge in a soap dish filled with a little white vinegar. This essentially does the same thing and your sponge won't accumulate odors.
Wash them in your dishwasher or in hot water with your towels.
Soak it in a 50/50 mix of bleach and water. Then use the bleach on a load of clothes.
Or- put it in the dishwasher.
Throw it in with a load of laundry... if you're putting it in with towels, add some bleach.
Works every time
Launder it in the washing machine with hot water, soap, and bleach. If that doesn't work, sorry, but you'll have to go buy some. They aren't expensive.
I slightly remember learning in middle school that if you put it in the microwave it gets rid of bacteria which will probably get rid of the smell... but I'm not positive.
I have heard putting them in the microwave for some time, I do not remember, kills the germs and the odor. I believe my husband does this to prolong their life a bit, maybe a week or so. Be careful when taking them out, they are hot! I think about 30 seconds should be good.
rub them with bicarb of soda - its a good way to get rid of smells, plus is environmentally friendlier than using bleach.
bleach diluted for about 3 minutes... rinse out well or soak ina bowl of laundry detergent and rinse well
It's probably best to use the good cleaning methods suggested by others, but we always put them in the microwave oven with complete success. Try it first with low time at full power, then work up as you need to. Of course don't go too long. Fumes are very bad.
Disgusting!!!
If your kitchen sponges are that bad that they smell then THROW THEM OUT.
I would hate to eat in your kitchen if your using sponges so dirty & germ ridden that they stink!!!!!!!!
I don't care about washing them in the dishwasher or whatever - kitchen sponges are so cheap that it's a joke to do this. I'd rather my health.
It's scary to think about what infections are lurking in your kitchen if you don't want to replace a mere sponge.
BUY NEW ONES.
rinse your sponge with a little soap. Leaving it wet, microwave it for three minutes. Be careful as it will be steamy!
If the sponge stinks, it needs to be disinfected or it will spread germs. You can wash in the dishwasher or microwave (15-20 seconds for most microwaves). I wring out the wet sponge after I finish washing dishes, rinse it out, squeeze til just damp, then microwave. Then I set it up on edge so it gets good airflow - helps it dry between washings. I also microwave the sponge between dirty/germy cleaning jobs (like chicken dishes or pet dishes). Once a week or so, I fill the sink with HOT water, add a cup of bleach, and throw in all the sponges, scrub brushes, etc., and soak for an hour. Drain, wipe the sink clean, and set the scrubbers and sponges out to airdry. Since I use old toothbrushes to scrub nooks and crannies in dishes, it's important to disinfect everything, not just the sponge. BTW, my dishwasher is on the fritz (otherwise, I'd throw everything in the dishwasher, except the sink). If you're really nuts about a clean, sanitary kitchen, you can throw the sink stoppers into the bleach water or dishwasher to disinfect them, too.
I use bleach, that way I know not only am I getting rid of the smell, but I am also killing any bacteria that is in the sponge.
Soak in bleach
Someone already said to microwave it but the time was wrong. You need to microwave for 2 mins, not 1. I saw it on some Oprah show where this expert on bacteria was talking about that sort of thing. You really should replace them. A dollar or two isn't that much compared to how much you will spend on medical costs if someone in your family gets sick from the bacteria. This lady on the show was so cheap that she had the same sponges for over a year. The guy tested them and even though she cleaned them and soaked them in bleach periodically, the sponges had billions of times more bacteria than her toilet. Her toilet was safer to eat out of than the dishes she had been washing with those nasty sponges. That is gross.
Anyway, microwaving will kill bacteria but eventually, they will still break down and bacteria gets trapped and multiplies, so good luck.
Read the link below to see what you're exposing yourself and your family to.
throw it away...and buy a new spronge..Bacteria spreaders.
Don't buy more
If you are not going to change them out very often, try a spray with Odo_Ban every time you use them.
Odo_ban can be found in Wal Mart on the bottom shelf under the fabreeze.
It kills germs, can be used to clean surfaces and as a fabric refresher.It is amazing.
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