Skip Nav  Nuke 'Em: Microwave the Bacteria Away  Nuke 'Em:
Microwave the Bacteria Away  Is that sponge looking (and
smelling) a little suspicious? Nuke it!  New research from the
University of Florida has found that microwave ovens can be used
to quickly kill harmful bacteria and viruses on kitchen sponges
and plastic scrubbers. In fact only two minutes in the microwave
destroyed most of the bacteria and other bugs that can cause
food poisoning and other illnesses.  If you're like me and you
usually pop your sponges in the dishwasher, you may want to
rethink that since it is not as effective as putting them in the
microwave oven.  How'd they find this out? Well the researchers
soaked sponges and scrubbing pads in raw wastewater that
included fecal bacteria, viruses, protozoan parasites and
bacterial spores (so gross). Then they put them in a microwave
-- Two minutes on full power killed (or inactivated) more than
99% of all the germs. Want to be absolutely sure the germs are
gone for good? Go for four minutes