If you do ONE thing this week...

Disinfect your kitchen sponge.

Can you remember the last time you cleaned your sponge? While the moist, micro-crevices in a sponge do make it an effective cleaning device, they also make it a cozy home for germs and more difficult to disinfect. Wiping your counters or dishes with a dirty sponge will only transfer the bacteria from one item to another.

How to: According to Carolyn Forte, Director of Home Appliances and Cleaning Products at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, you have three choices -

1) Put the sponge in the dishwasher for a full cycle, set on "heated dry."

2) Microwave it on high for a minute. Make sure the sponge is wet or it can catch on fire.

3) Soak it for five minutes in a mix of 3/4 cup bleach and 1 gallon of water.

You should aim to do this once a week. And toss out that sponge once/month. My sponge cleaning day: After Sunday night dinner. It's nice to start the week fresh!

Wondering what other bacteria is cooking in your kitchen? Check out this previous post. This might just motivate you to clean more than just your sponge this week.