Housekeeping · 주방 위생

Dish sponge staying wet by the sink? Rinse, squeeze and store where it can dry

Rinse food residue from a dish sponge, squeeze out excess water and place it in a ventilated holder. Drain and clean the tray; use dishwasher sanitizing only if that sponge's label allows it.

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Wikimedia Commons · Jiří Sedláček / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Small_yellow_green_sponge.jpg ; original unmodified · Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International ↗

OXO's stainless-steel holder includes ventilation and a removable draining tray. 3M instructs users of its Scotch-Brite Flex Scrub to rinse, squeeze and allow drying between uses. Not every sponge is dishwasher-safe, and odor-resistance claims do not guarantee protection from foodborne illness.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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After washing dishes, rinse food particles thoroughly from the sponge under running water.
Gently squeeze out excess water. Do not use an abrasive sponge on surfaces for which it is unsuitable.
Stand or lay the sponge in a ventilated holder that drains. Do not leave it submerged in standing water.
If the holder has a removable tray like the OXO example, empty the collected water and wash and dry the tray and holder regularly.
Before sanitizing a sponge, read its own package. A dishwasher allowance for a specific Scotch-Brite model is not a blanket rule for all sponges.
Replace a sponge that is torn, very discolored or persistently smelly. Clean kitchen tools and food-preparation surfaces appropriately, especially after contact with raw foods.

OXOOXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Sponge Holder ↗Official product specifications state ventilation holes, removable drip tray and drainage spout; holder marked dishwasher-safe.3MScotch-Brite Flex Scrub Non-Scratch Dish Sponge ↗Official brand instructs rinsing before/after use, squeezing dry, upright drying; dishwasher sanitizing only for this specific product and limited number of cycles.FoodSafety.gov4 Steps to Food Safety ↗Official food-safety guidance emphasizes cleaning utensils and surfaces after use, especially after handling raw meat, poultry or eggs.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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