Wet the sponge completely with clean water ... try using washcloths to wipe down counters and surfaces and use a dish brush to clean your dishes. Studies have found that dish brushes dry faster ...

Wet a sponge and nuke it in the microwave for one minute. Or drop it in the dishwasher with the drying cycle. Either method kills about 60% of the bacteria on it. Keep sponges dry, too.

That wet, food-filled sponge becomes the perfect place for bacteria to grow ... sponges and may be less of a friendly ...