quote:

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WASHINGTON - Reports about a study that found microwave ovens can be used to sterilize kitchen sponges sent people hurrying to test the idea this week — with sometimes disastrous results.

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quote:

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One reader wrote to tell MSNBC.com, "When I tried it, my sponge caught on fire. It had been in the microwave for less than two minutes on full power. There were flames and when I poured water on the sponge it was totally charred. I just wanted to let you know that the article might need to have a warning about this danger!"

Aaron Hoover, a press officer at the University of Florida, said several other news organizations received similar complaints, although no one had complained directly to the university.

“We figured, 'Wow, we better let people know right away that the sponge should be wet,”’ Hoover said in a telephone interview.

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Perhaps the next time that a University wants to give helpful household tips to the public they should go read Heloise to get an idea of how it's done.

[ January 26, 2007, 06:20 AM: Message edited by: sndrake ]
 

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Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
 
And, you know--it doens't work for-um-personal sponges either.
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
Does it work on kids' hands?
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
Storm,

It only works on kids' hands if you cut them off.

Microwaves won't operate unless the door is fully closed.
 

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Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Storm Saxon:
Does it work on kids' hands?

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But you have to get the microwave door fully shut. Can't see that happening unless you stuff the entire kid into the microwave.

Notice: I do NOT encourage this. So don't jump my back for thinking that I did or ever would do this.
 

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Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
 
Dang it! Beat me to it, you did.
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 

quote:

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Storm,

It only works on kids' hands if you cut them off.

Microwaves won't operate unless the door is fully closed.

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Oh, well. I guess I'll just have to stick with the old standby of steam and boiling water.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
Stan,

The only reason I beat you is that I didn't take time to type a disclaimer, since people here know me.

You can interpret that any way you want.

Storm,

I don't know recommended time for using steam and boiling water, but if you keep it up long enough, you might have a soup stock that Hannibal Lecter would envy.
 

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Posted by MightyCow (Member # 9253) on :
 
I always just put the sponge in the dishwasher. Zero chance of it catching fire.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
The dishwasher gets it clean but does not sterilize it. The microwave does.

Personally, I'm ok with thorough handwashing, wringing, and putting 'em in airy hanging baskets to dry. Oh, and of course replacing them every few weeks.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 

quote:

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Personally, I'm ok with thorough handwashing, wringing, and putting 'em in airy hanging baskets to dry. Oh, and of course replacing them every few weeks.

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Just for the sake of clarity, you are talking about sponges, right?

Not your kids(!?).
 

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Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
 
It's something similar that we do to help clean the microwave. We spray it with water first, give a brief zap, then wipe. It makes things come off a lot easier.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by sndrake:

quote:

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Personally, I'm ok with thorough handwashing, wringing, and putting 'em in airy hanging baskets to dry. Oh, and of course replacing them every few weeks.

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Just for the sake of clarity, you are talking about sponges, right?

Not your kids(!?).

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
You laugh, but I notice you didn't offer any clarification.

Hmmm...

(eyes Rivka suspiciously...)
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
*whistles innocently*
 

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Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
 
Now, see. This is why I don't put anything in the microwave except food--and even that I try to avoid, since very few foods can survive a trip through the microwave with their flavor intact.

So how do I clean my sponges? Well, I use 'em till they get nasty, then I throw 'em away. Sponges are cheap, and I don't use all that many dishes anyway, as compared to someone who, you know, can cook.
 

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Posted by Tstorm (Member # 1871) on :
 
Huh. I'm surprised that people actually replace sponges every few weeks. I've had my current two for about, oh, 4 months. After using them, they dry on the counter by the sink. It's Kansas in January, and inside a heated house, the relative humidity is incredibly low. My sponges dry quickly.

Oh, and about the sponge "system". I dedicate one for the food preparation surfaces, and use one for everywhere else. Except for the bathroom, where old sponges go to die.

In another month or so, that counter sponge is going to get demoted, and then I'll have another raddy sponge for the bathroom. Or maybe window cleaning.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
::listens::

::notes absence of anything resembling "innocence" in Rivka's whistling::

::Currently contemplating Tstorm's grand science experiment in regard to importing kitchen bacterial flora and fauna into the bathroom::
 

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Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
 
Microwaving a child???!!!

Have you gone insane?

GRILLING them is the proper way to prepare...oh.

Oh, crap.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
For Storm, Stan and Scott:
 

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Posted by Hank (Member # 8916) on :
 
Huh. My roommate put a sopping wet one in the microwave, and it burnt. There were no flames,(I think, I wasn't home.) but it melted to the glass tray in the microwave.
 

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Posted by Steev (Member # 6805) on :
 
A nice pot of Baby Stew is rather nice!


I think for the sponge thing to work the technique is intended for natural or cellulose sponges not the synthetic foam ones.
 

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Posted by Lavalamp (Member # 4337) on :
 
It is a common misconception that a microwave will not operate with the door open.

Note:
A microwave will operate if the Door LATCH is closed, regardless of whether or not the door is closed, or whether the window in the door is in place.
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
I can't listen to it, Stephen, but it looks damn amusing.
 

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Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
 
But if the door is open, wont all those nasty waves of micro's escape and start cooking everything from the inside out. I mean, I'd hate be be drying my kids that are hanging up near the microwave, and find out I've cooked them without seasoning by accident.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
Storm,

I can't listen to it, either.

But the lyrics are there. And Silverstein just recites them - Silverstein didn't even attempt to do what passed for "singing" for him.

::misses Silverstein::

Dan,

You could probably avoid that disaster if you switched from dry rubs to marinades.

And Lavalamp...

There are *children* reading this forum and you didn't post an obligatory warning!
 

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Posted by Tarrsk (Member # 332) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Scott R:
Microwaving a child???!!!

Have you gone insane?

GRILLING them is the proper way to prepare...oh.

Oh, crap.

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quote:

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Originally posted by sndrake:

Dan,

You could probably avoid that disaster if you switched from dry rubs to marinades.

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I just use season shot, myself.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Darn! Beaten to posting a snippet of my second-favorite Lehrer song!

The SHAME!
 

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