Household sponges can hold billions of bacteria if not cleaned properly. It is recommended that you discard them frequently; however, sponges are still more sustainable than paper towels.  To keep germs at bay, use all-natural sea sponges, which have antibacterial properties, and disinfect them every few days.  To disinfect your sponges, soak them for five minutes in a solution of one quart water and three tablespoons chlorine bleach, then rinse and allow to air-dry. You can also disinfect your sponges by running them through your dishwasher.  Place the sponge on the top rack of your dishwasher and run them through with the dry cycle on. 

Pro Tip: 

• If your sponges smell or are starting to crumble, replace them with a new one.  
• Don’t use the same sponge for all of your cleaning tasks.  To avoid cross contamination, use different sponges for dishwashing, counters, kitchen, and bathroom.