Germ-conscious consumers are snapping up a new generation of products designed to reduce the risk of catching a bug.

We're not talking about antibacterial soaps, chlorine bleaches and ammonia-based cleansers.
 One household product that spreads infection hasn't changed much over the years: your kitchen sponge. But scientists say they've found a near-foolproof method for sanitizing even that old germ trap - make sure the sponge is wet, then nuke it in your microwave oven.

Why be so obsessive? Hygiene experts warn that any time you use a sponge to clean up the mess from a party or family meal, it teams with germs that sit there, waiting for you to use the sponge again and spread germs to sinks, utensils and countertops - until they make someone sick.

In fact, sponges are one of the key pathways for bacteria, viruses, parasites and other germs to spread in the home, causing many of the estimated 76 million cases of food-borne illnesses a year, experts say.

Some microbiologists recommend throwing sponges away after a week to keep the germs at bay. But almost nobody does.

 Researchers say their recipe for making sponges less infectious is simple: microwave them on high for about two minutes.


Don't try this with metallic scrubbers unless you enjoy microwave fireworks, experts say.