Dishcloths are often left damp and provide a breeding ground for
bacteria. Since the kitchen sink is used to clean food, dishcloths are routinely infected with
E. coli and
salmonella. In 2007, a study from the
Journal of Environmental Health found that putting a damp dishcloth (or sponge) in the
microwave for 2 minutes killed 99% of living pathogens. However, fire departments have subsequently warned people not to do this as it can be a fire hazard, especially if the dishcloth or
sponge is not sufficiently wet. Several small fires have been started as a result of people following the advice from the study. == References ==