You're Washing Dishes Wrong

Your dishwashing sponge can harbor germs and bad bacteria and it can spread those pathogens to dishes when you wash them. Make sure you kill germs after each use by microwaving it for a few seconds to dry it out.

(Credit: Flickr/Horia Varlan)

Similarly, unless you're sanitizing your sink on a regular basis you're washing your dishes in germy water. Use hot water with a small amount of bleach to sanitize your sink out routinely.

(Credit: Flickr/peapod labs)

You're not fully disassembling items when you wash them. Rubber spatulas and blenders are some of the germiest items in the typical kitchen, even after they've been washed. Make sure you fully disassemble them (remove the rubber spatula from its handle if possible), wash them thoroughly in hot, soapy water, and let them dry fully before re-assembling.

(Credit: Flickr/sunshinelibrarian)

If you're using a dishwasher, make sure you don't place all the bulky items on the bottom or you'll block the sprayer. 

(Credit: Flickr/Jason Tone)

You should also make sure you don't place all the tall items at the back of the dishwasher on the bottom rack; that can prevent detergent from reaching all of the dishes in the dishwasher.

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Kristie Collado is The Daily Meal' s Cook Editor. Follow her on Twitter @KColladoCook.