My mother claims that using a sponge for a long period of time will result in a staph infection, because of bacteria.
I use a loofah sponge in order to exfoliate and get rid of dead skin cells. How often should I replace the sponge? My mom claims once a week!
I’ve always been leery of any sponge like devices in the shower.
Think about it, something that rarely gets completely dry and is a gathering place for dead skin cells (and the bacteria that hangs out there).
Blech!
Your friendly neighborhood Bathroom Specialist, M.D. advises that the kind of Staph that usually hangs out on your skin is Staphylococcus epidermidis, and is harmless to healthy folk.
Dr. Bathroom Specialist suggests that all grungy, rank loofah sponges be discarded in an appropriate hazardous waste receptacle. Until then, a periodic soaking in a soap or Lysol solution followed by rinsing (the sponge, not you) should be enough to ensure that you are not ravaged by SuperBug.
Note: Dr. Bathroom Specialist is a trademark of Loo Hygiene Inc., and all opinions should be confirmed by a University Department of Hygiene Specialist. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
If you have a microwave oven, periodic zapping of a sponge should go a long way towards reducing bacteria count. Squeeze as much water as possible from Mr. Sponge, zap until steam pours out, and carefully (it’s very very hot) remove from oven and let dry thoroughly. Just be careful you don’t melt the sponge if it’s made of a synthetic. Or, in the case of an organic sponge like loofa, don’t set it on fire.
Found this.
http://www.id.regence.com/NewsAndAdvertising/gv_feb99.shtml
This would be 1/4 cup bleach to 10/4 cups of water, which is actually 2 2/4 cups water which is actually 2 1/2 cups, right?
Math. :rolleyes: