The kitchen scourer: the thing with the most bacteria in a house (solutions)

We want the kitchen to be very clean, but in reality it is the place in the house where most bacteria accumulate, even more than in the bathroom. And in the kitchen, where bacteria multiply better than anywhere else is in the scourers.

The scourers have the conditions for them to become harborages of bacteria: they are always moist, have a porous structure and are in contact with food remains. As a consequence, in each cubic centimeter of scouring pad (a piece the size of a small cube), billions of bacteria can accumulate.

Scouring pads harbor billions of bacteria

A study published in BMC Public Health measured the presence of bacteria in sponges used by students in university residences and revealed the data of a complex ecosystem:

79 billion mesophilic aerobic bacteria per cubic centimeter. 72 billion coliform bacteria (including Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella oxytoca, pathogenic to humans). 73 billion enterobacteria.

These ecosystems with which we intend to clean the utensils that we put in our mouths or that we use for cooking, usually contain pathogens such as Salmonella spp., Acinetobacter spp., Moraxella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella oxytoca either Cronobacter sakazakii.

Scourers are also an environmental problem

Scouring pads are not only reservoirs for potentially harmful bacteria, they are also a problem for the environment because They are made of two plastics that cannot be recycled: polyurethane for the sponge part and polyester for the rough part. Polyurethane and polyester are derivatives of the polluting oil industry.

3 alternatives to the scourer (ecological scourers)

There are scourers made of natural materials that are as effective or more than those made of plastic.

Cellulose. You can find kitchen sponges made of cellulose from vegetable waste. After their useful life they can be thrown into the garbage of organic remains (when purchasing them make sure that the label ensures that it is a one hundred percent biodegradable or compostable material. luffa. The luffa (in the photo that illustrates this article) is a plant that produces thick and elongated fruits that, when dried, acquire a fibrous texture similar to a sponge. They are, therefore, one hundred percent biodegradable and compostable. A luffa scourer can be used to clean all the crockery, ceramic hobs, or countertops. It can also be used as a bath sponge. They are found in organic stores and herbalists. Esparto. With this material, ecological natural scourers are made that offer great performance. They are effective and long lasting.

How to disinfect scourers

In addition to choosing a natural sponge, you must take care of it so that it lasts and does not become a nest of bacteria. It is best to clean it (no organic remains should remain in it) and dry it after each use.

To do this, you can place the sponge for 10-20 seconds in the microwave. It can also be washed in the dishwasher when set to a high temperature program (the scourer is placed on the top rack, or washed in water and dried in the sun (in summer).

In a pot you can mix 250 milliliters of water, half a glass of cleaning vinegar and three tablespoons of salt. Put the sponge in this water and bring it to a boil. When it starts to boil, turn off the heat. Three minutes later, remove the sponge, wring it out and let it dry, in the sun if possible.

The use made of the scourer is very important: it should be used only with pans, pots and cutlery. Countertops, cutting boards, refrigerator shelves, should be cleaned with cloths.

The final advice is renew the sponge often: every week or two at most.