(HealthDay News) -- Even microwaving a kitchen sponge won't sterilize it of all harmful bacteria, a study from the University of Furtwangen in Germany found, countering some earlier research.
"Because sponges are primarily moist and designed for absorption, they have the potential to pick up bacteria like salmonella, E. coli and staphylococcus," the AARP says.
The association suggests how to keep a kitchen sponge cleaner and safer: