Tezzy

I just wanted your opinions on wether im a bit obsessive compulsive about my dishclothes and sponges!

I buy really good dishclothes that i can put in the washing machine instead of throwing them away. I change my dishcloth and my teatowel every single day, sometimes twice a day depending on what i use them for and i always put them in the washing machine.

Now my sponges and scourers im just as fussy about. If one gets left in the washing up bowl which has water in it and i discover it a few hours later it HAS to go in the bin. I always put washing up liquid on my sponges and leave them on the side to dry out. I change my sponges every other day and my scourers at least once a week!

Am i a bit weird?

Vickie

I'd say you're a lot cleaner than most people (including me and Stan ) but I actually think it's a good thing!

Tilly

I wouldn't say you're weird at all. I am easily disgusted by things like that too.. since this isn't my house though, I don't have much of a say. If I had my own place, I think my dishcloth would get changed every few weeks and it would be bleached a few times! Sometimes I pick up the cloth here to wipe the sides and I feel sick because someone has wiped something up and not rinsed it out, eww.. so I have to start faffing around and washing it lol.

Nothing wrong with being hygienic.

VanWest

Someone once told me you can microwave your sponages about 15 seconds to kill the germs, help you save some money.

Mamafy

I'm abit like you too, only I bin them some people wash their cloths in the dishwasher; it gets to a higher temperature than a washing machine

polo_princess

I cant staaaaaaaaaand dirty dishcloths or sponges.

They make me feel sick. Youve got to eat off of the stuff you wash up, why would you want to wash it with dirt and germs?

I buy cheap ones and change them once every week or two

Tezzy

oh i wish i had a dishwasher now!!!!

Tezzy

i heard that too somewhere.. must read up! i go through about 3-4 sponges a week and although theyre only about a pound for a pack of 6 im sure the cost adds up!

Tezzy

Microwave Sterilizes Sponges

In the study, published in the Journal of Environmental Health, researchers evaluated the effects of zapping sponges and plastic scrubbing pads in the microwave on bacteria and viruses.
The sponges and scrubbing pads were soaked in wastewater containing a dangerous mix of fecal bacteria, E. coli, and bacterial spores. Bacterial spores are more difficult to kill.
The results showed that two minutes in the microwave at full power killed or inactivated more than 99% of all the living germs and the bacterial spores in the sponges and pads, including E. coli.
After an additional two minutes -- a total of four -- none of the bacterial spores survived.
Before you zap your sponges in the microwave, researchers offer the following advice:

• Microwave only sponges or plastic scrubbers that do not contain steel or other metals.
• Make sure the sponge or scrubber is wet, not dry.
• Two minutes should be enough to kill most disease-causing germs.
• Be careful in removing the sponge from the microwave because it will be hot and should not be handled immediately after zapping.

Bitton recommends that people microwave their sponges according to how often they cook, with every other day being a good rule of thumb.
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Tezzy

ok... im obsessive....