A common household item, that is used to clean most items in the kitchen, could be riddled with more germs than it's worth.
Terry Fisher, an expert at WeBuyAnyHome, has warned that bacteria can appear in the most surprising places - including kitchen sponges. The Daily Record reports that sponges and other household items could be homing some bad bacteria strains.
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These strains can include mould, E.coli, salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus, according to new research. Mr Fisher said: “Most of us like to think our houses are nice and clean and we do a good job of banishing germs.
"But the truth is it’s impossible to keep our homes totally free from bacteria and even the most unlikely of everyday items are breeding grounds."
A 2016 study found that more than 340 different bacteria were found on around 30 household items, with sponges the most contaminated item. A toothbrush holder came in a close second place to being the home of bad bacteria.
Most people may think they are doing enough to keep their homes germ free, but things we touch regularly can slip through the cracks. Terry added: “While the usual cleaning tasks such as mopping floors, cleaning showers and wiping surfaces regularly are fairly obvious, items that are used everyday and perhaps haven’t been disinfected for months or even years can be forgotten.
"Household staples such as remote controls, salt and pepper shakers and door handles are used many times per day and we don’t usually think to disinfect them regularly.
“While it can be a difficult task to keep our homes spick and span and keep germs at bay, knowing some of the worst offenders can be half the battle.”
The other bacteria-infested items in the top five included coffee holders, kitchen sinks and pet bowls. Not all bacteria is harmful to the body, but several of them can contribute to colds, fevers and throat infections.
Researchers found that sponges were the number one offender of bad bacteria carriers, with strains like Stenotrophomonas, Brevundimonas, Rhizobium and Klebsiella were all spotted in the household items.
Experts advise heating them in the microwave for one minute then soaking them in a little water with half a teaspoon of concentrated bleach in order to get rid of the bugs.
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