Forget soaking your kitchen sponge in bleach or zapping it in the microwave – I’m a professional cleaner and this is the easiest way to thoroughly banish bacteria

Peach kitchen with checkered floor and pot hanging rail. Green cabinets and butler sink on left, with wooden counters on the rights and mounted shelving.

Here’s the thing about sponges: They’re great at cleaning, but can be terrible at staying clean.

There are plenty of ways people try to keep their sponges fresh: Bleach soaks, a quick steam in the microwave, or even swapping them out for new ones frequently. Those can be effective, if wasteful, but the simplest and most effective option might be sitting right in front of you. An appliance that is literally built to clean.