Deep clean sponges and cloths with simple, DIY tips

We use sponges and cloths to wash dishes and all the surfaces in the home on a daily basis. This means that they are constantly in contact with dirt, and even if we take care to wash and rinse them thoroughly after each use, germs and bacteria will continue linger. So, we must take steps to prevent this from happening.

There are various methods for sanitizing sponges or cloths - some of which are very simple to do, given that they use products that we generally have in our homes. Read on to find out more:

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• For a regular wash, you can use Marseille soap. All you need to do is rub the soap stick directly onto a wet sponge, then massage the sponge itself so that it soaks up the soap. Then rinse thoroughly with hot water.
• After this, fill a basin or small bowl with hot water, add some baking soda and leave the freshly washed sponge to soak for an hour. After an hour, rinse the sponge out and leave dry out.
• Another method for thorough cleaning is to use white vinegar: fill a small saucepan with water and vinegar in equal parts, and bring the mix to a boil. Turn off the heat and immediately immerse the sponges or cloths into it (perhaps already washed in a regular manner). Let them soak, and if you want, you can also add a little bicarbonate of soda (but it would be better to sprinkle this directly on the sponge or cloth before soaking it).
• Hydrogen peroxide, or delicate bleach (the one without chlorine): dilute 50ml of this in a liter of hot water and soak the items for at least half an hour. Thereafter, rinse them out thoroughly and they'll be ready to use again.
• Sponges and cloths can also be placed (when wet!) into the microwave, turning it on for a few seconds at medium-high power. Alterntively, these items can also be washed together with the dishes in the dishwasher.

These methods help keep these commonly used accessories in the best condition for as long as possible: but they do need to be replaced when they start to wear out. Do you have a favorite method for washing your sponges and cloths?