Although they are essential utensils to keep the kitchen clean, cloths and scouring pads can also accumulate all types of pathogenic microorganisms and put our health at risk. Hence experts insist on using them only when they are clean, but is there a reliable method to wash them?
On the Internet, and especially on networks, it is common to find tricks that promise to de-sterilize these kitchen essentials. One of the most common is to immerse them in soapy water in a container and heat them for a while in the microwave. It is also usually recommended to wash them directly in the washing machine.
However, a food technologist has questioned whether these treatments will eliminate all bacteria. "Many people believe that these home remedies are enough to ensure hygiene, but that is not the case," Mario Sánchez, food safety expert, explained in an Instagram post.
The reason is that several scientific studies have analyzed them, and concluded that they do not reach sufficient temperatures to destroy the bacteria that form there. Sánchez recalls that when these microorganisms create a biofilm, colonies of bacteria organized by hierarchies that can put our health at risk, they become practically indestructible.
Biofilm has a gelatinous, shiny, sticky texture, and is more common than we think. So when we observe any of these characteristics, both on cloths and scouring pads, we should throw them in the trash, concludes the technologist.
These colonies of microorganisms can also form on wooden utensils, a very porous material and, therefore, prone to accumulating dirt. Some experts advise opting for other materials, such as silicone (watching that it is thermostable) or metal.
