The post How to Clean a Sponge—Because It’s Really, Really Dirty appeared first on Taste of Home.

But is the sponge itself clean? The answer is probably no. "That thing is very dirty," Philip Tierno, a microbiologist and pathologist at the New York University School of Medicine, told Tech Insider.

Studies tell the ugly truth about how often you're supposed to be cleaning and replacing your kitchen sponges.

Check off every item on your daily cleaning schedule to maintain a sparkling home that's always ready for company.