Extreme Sponge Makeover

When you dream of remodeling your kitchen, you're probably thinking big—new stainless steel appliances, or a new custom island. But, you may not know that some of the most important alterations you can make are microscopic.

A new study commissioned by the cleaning product company Lysol found that the average household bathroom sink is actually cleaner than the kitchen sink. Researchers observed that 90% of kitchen cloths in a worldwide sample had more than a 100,000 per square centimeter total bacteria count.

"You could eat your dinner in a U.S. toilet but there is a lack of appreciation that kitchen sinks can be contaminated with fecal organisms, either coming in with fruit and vegetables or from pets and children," said John Oxford of The Royal London Hospital who led the study. EWWW.

If you want to avoid spreading harmful bacteria, experts say you ought to remodel the way you're cleaning your kitchen. Either toss your sponge in the microwave to quickly nuke the bacteria, or throw it out all together and switch to paper towels. Yes, we realize paper towels are a less eco-friendly option, but you can buy 100% post consumer recycled ones and use sparingly. It's a small price to pay for a clean kitchen.