Sponges can get pretty yucky fairly quickly. Some studies have shown that a sponge can harbor more bacteria than a toilet bowl! Most of us swap out our kitchen sponges fairly quickly as modern synthetic sponges are fairly cheap -but at what environmental cost? Sure, we only throw out a dozen or two sponges a year, but times that by millions of households? That is a lot of waste!
Another problem with synthetic sponges is that they are often impregnated with chemicals such as Triclosan, an antibacterial and antifungal agent, which as also registered as a pesticide. Besides being linked to health problems, Triclosan is also believed to destroy fragile aquatic ecosystems by killing algae. Furthermore, sewage and waste-water treatment plants cannot remove Triclosan, so the compound remains stable for relatively long periods of time -it is actually one of the most common man-made chemicals in American streams!
Recent generations of Western cultures have being increasing concerned about hygiene, a rightfully so in our modern age of science and technology. However, we may be jumping the gun as was are often killing-off "good bacteria" in the process. This good bacteria helps boost our immune system - a study I read in National Geographic stated that children who grew up in the city were more likely to develop allergies than children who grew up in the country/on farms. The articled stated that this is due to country-kids being exposed to more bacteria while growing up, thus strengthening their bodies natural protection.
Well, back to today's topic. What are some things we can do about our sponge problem?
First of all, we can maintain our current sponges:
a) keep it as dry as possible between uses
b)sterilize occasionally by dropping it in boiling water for a few minutes
c) clean it with some lemon juice!
d)According to the US Department of Agriculture, you can microwave a damp sponge to kill bacteria, or plunk it in your dishwasher's drying cycle
Once your existing sponge is toast, there are a couple of eco-friendly sponge alternatives:
a) cellulose sponges are sourced from plant or recycled materials - as always, read labels carefully to find out more about what the product is made from and what chemicals it may contain
b) Try to grow your own loofah sponges! For those of you who don't know, loofah is a plant and it's fruit is a spongy material (it is vegan and environmentally friendly!)
c) Use an old-school natural-fiber dishcloth (make sure to dry it between uses and wash regularly).
Do you have any other suggestions?
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