New study suggest replacing kitchen sponges every week due to bacterias - Sensationalist Headlines

[QUOTE]The researchers examined 14 sponges collected from private households in Germany in 2012 and seven new sponges purchased in local German stores in 2017. The used sponges had been cleaned by methods including heating in a microwave and rinsing with hot, soapy water. Researchers found that kitchen sponges “harbor a higher bacterial diversity” than was previously known. Researchers concluded that cleaning sponges could actually make them dirtier, adding that it was "not advisable" to clean them for a prolonged period of time. “From a long-term perspective, sponge sanitation methods appear not sufficient to effectively reduce the bacterial load in kitchen sponges and might even increase the shares of RG2-related bacteria,” the study said, referring to Risk Group 2, the type of microorganisms that may be associated with human disease. The researchers recommended changing sponges weekly, however, they did not directly study what effects the frequency of changing out sponges would have.[/QUOTE] [URL="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/study-finds-cleaning-kitchen-sponge-clean/story?id=49007120"]http://abcnews.go.com/Health/study-finds-cleaning-kitchen-sponge-clean/story?id=49007120[/URL]

If you're going to provide them for free then sure

Or just soak em a little in bleach and water and replace em when they're absolutely soiled?

[QUOTE=djjkxbox;52542849]If you're going to provide them for free then sure[/QUOTE] you can get like a 10-pack for a quid don't be a cheapskate keep your kitchen c l e a n .

[QUOTE=Zeemlapje;52542856]you can get like a 10-pack for a quid don't be a cheapskate keep your kitchen c l e a n .[/QUOTE] "Clean" has a different meaning to different people. Too little bacteria means your immune system will be shot, you need to be exposed to a certain level of bacteria, it's natural. Clean for me is what it generally is for most people, but I'm not a germaphobe, so I won't be replacing my sponges every week

Well shit... We replace ours once or twice a month :v:

I replace mine as and when they need it.

[QUOTE=djjkxbox;52542863]"Clean" has a different meaning to different people. Too little bacteria means your immune system will be shot, you need to be exposed to a certain level of bacteria, it's natural. Clean for me is what it generally is for most people, but I'm not a germaphobe, so I won't be replacing my sponges every week[/QUOTE] [quote=scientists] “Presumably, [B]resistant bacteria[/B] survive the sanitation process and rapidly re–colonize the released niches until reaching a similar abundance as before the treatment,” the study concluded. ... sponge sanitation methods appear not sufficient to effectively reduce the bacterial load in kitchen sponges and might even increase the shares of RG2-related bacteria,” the study said, [B]referring to Risk Group 2, the type of microorganisms that may be associated with human disease.[/B] [/quote] These are particularly resistant variants of bacteria that gets you sick. Seems like a particularly bad thing to be exposed to every single day, especially if you don't replace your sponges for months since you're "cleaning them".

[QUOTE=phygon;52542902]These are particularly resistant variants of bacteria that gets you sick. Seems like a particularly bad thing to be exposed to every single day, especially if you don't replace your sponges for months since you're "cleaning them".[/QUOTE] If that sponge has touched anything, your resistant bacteria is on that too. Resistant bacteria is everywhere, thinking that replacing your sponges every week is going to make a considerable difference is laughable. Also, if everyone started buying sponges every week the price of them would soon go up

What are the actual Health implications of the kind of exposure to bacteria you get from using a sponge that's too old? Aren't you pretty much going to be fine as long as you immune system can handle it? Of course its a problem if there happen to be specific pathogens growing that cause specific diseases but just general, random kitchen bacteria? I guess it would weaken your immune system and for example make you more susceptible to viruses that are going around in other places. Or it could be a problem for guests who's immune system might not be adjusted to that kind of exposure Personally, I replace my sponges when they get that 'yep, there has been an explosive bacterial growth' smell. But that can be easily avoided by not leaving them lying around when they're wet

I thought this was a common practice? Sponges are disgusting. I rarely use them. If I gotta hand wash something I use a long handle brush.

[QUOTE=OvB;52542927]I thought this was a common practice? Sponges are disgusting. I rarely use them. If I gotta hand wash something I use a long handle brush.[/QUOTE] Common practice in the UK is that sponges are thrown away when they're basically falling apart. People washing with hot water, which again is common practice, know that the majority of bacteria is killed, and that's more than sufficient by general hygiene standards

I've seen family wipe the bin with a sponge and throw it back in the sink.

When we used to use sponges we'd boil them every few days with some antibacterial dish liquid . Mind you this was well before it found that antibacterial dish liquid was basically useless against bacteria.

[QUOTE=H4ngman;52542924]What are the actual Health implications of the kind of exposure to bacteria you get from using a sponge that's too old? Aren't you pretty much going to be fine as long as you immune system can handle it? Of course its a problem if there happen to be specific pathogens growing that cause specific diseases but just general, random kitchen bacteria? I guess it would weaken your immune system and for example make you more susceptible to viruses that are going around in other places. Or it could be a problem for guests who's immune system might not be adjusted to that kind of exposure Personally, I replace my sponges when they get that 'yep, there has been an explosive bacterial growth' smell. But that can be easily avoided by not leaving them lying around when they're wet[/QUOTE] if it really were dangerous we would have been seeing it have an effect on household health long before it was discovered by research. [editline]5th August 2017[/editline] destroying all the bacteria you can is more likely to weaken your immune system than it is help you

People weren't already doing this? Sponges are cheep as shit and they come in 10 packs for a buck for a reason, guys.

Back in my day, we'd wash ourselves off with e. coli turds in salmonella water after a hard day working in the botulism fields, and let me tell you, we didn't have the pussy homosexual immune systems the kids these days have!

[QUOTE=djjkxbox;52542941]Common practice in the UK is that sponges are thrown away when they're basically falling apart. People washing with hot water, which again is common practice, know that the majority of bacteria is killed, and that's more than sufficient by general hygiene standards[/QUOTE] Unless you are giving yourself first degree burns in the process, you are not killing anything with "hot" water.

When I boil water for tea or something I pour leftover boiling water on the sponges and dish rags.

[QUOTE=djjkxbox;52542913]If that sponge has touched anything, your resistant bacteria is on that too. Resistant bacteria is everywhere, thinking that replacing your sponges every week is going to make a considerable difference is laughable. Also, if everyone started buying sponges every week the price of them would soon go up[/QUOTE] BTW, the bad part is when your sponge basically becomes one gigantic bacterial culture, and basically seeps loads of the little buggers with every squeeze. Not when it gets lightly peppered in resistant bacteria.

What is 'Sterilization'? What is 'Cooking your food'? What is 'Immune System'?

Big sponge trying to make us buy more sponges wake up sheeple

[QUOTE=Ninja Gnome;52543026] destroying all the bacteria you can is more likely to weaken your immune system than it is help you[/QUOTE] Where the hell did this notion come from? The immune system isn't a muscle, you can't improve it by constantly exposing yourself to threats. It's stronger against pathogens it's encountered before, yes, but lack of prolonged exposure doesn't make you LOSE the markers. [editline]5th August 2017[/editline] I, too, like to take quick dips in my septic tank from time to time to keep myself healthy.

I replace mine like twice a week because I wear them down. Probably because I buy the cheapo shit ones, but I mean, that works out well, in this case!

[QUOTE=Gray Altoid;52543138]Where the hell did this notion come from? The immune system isn't a muscle, you can't improve it by constantly exposing yourself to threats. It's stronger against pathogens it's encountered before, yes, but lack of prolonged exposure doesn't make you LOSE the markers. [editline]5th August 2017[/editline] I, too, like to take quick dips in my septic tank from time to time to keep myself healthy.[/QUOTE] It helps the immune system of kids and young people whose immune systems are still developing. What point are you trying to prove? As Ninja Gnome said (the part of the quote you omitted): [QUOTE=Ninja Gnome;52543026]if it really were dangerous we would have been seeing it have an effect on household health long before it was discovered by research.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=djjkxbox;52543172]It helps the immune system of kids and young people whose immune systems are still developing. [/QUOTE] I'm not a doctor or anything but is this true?

Unless you actually have a weak immune system, [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMgBgU8IwfM&t=66"]I wouldn't worry too much about sponges[/URL].

We replace them because they become useless after a number of scrubs.

[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;52543176]I'm not a doctor or anything but is this true?[/QUOTE] Absolutely. A little bacteria every day keeps the tubes clear and the vital humors in balance.

When I replace my old sponges they're essentially more fungus than sponge, so I just roast them on butter.