Studies tell the ugly truth about how often you're supposed to be cleaning and replacing your kitchen sponges.

Sponges bear a lot of responsibility in the kitchen. They scrub dirty dishes ... Just fill a bowl with white vinegar and allow your sponge to soak for five to seven minutes. Then, remove it ...

Distilled white vinegar can kill foodborne germs like E. coli, salmonella, and listeria monocytogenes, all of which might be making their home in that lovely damp sponge on your kitchen counter.

That sounds like a great way to start a fire if the sponge isn’t wet enough. Before you throw out your kitchen sponge, you can extend its usefulness and send it into retirement handling non-food ...