However you wash dishes, you still run the risk of contamination with harmful bacteria. Either by hand or in a dishwasher, dishes may not get completely clean. Verywell Health has helpful tips on how to best clean dishes and keep dish-washing aids like sponges, towels, and sinks healthy. Even dishwashers, despite the high temperature, can harbor a buildup of germs.
If you wash by hand with a sponge, be aware they can harbor germs like E. coli for up to 16 days if not properly cleaned and rinsed. Hygiene experts recommend changing out your sponge once a week. Washing by hand works best if you scrape any food debris off the plates before you begin washing. It’s best to have a two-basin method, with a sink filled with hot, soapy water for washing and another sink or container with cooler, clean water for rinsing.
Because they can reach temperatures of 160 degrees, dishwashers are much better at sanitizing dishes. To keep the appliance in top shape, you should run it once a month with two cups of distilled white vinegar and then sprinkle a cup of baking soda to run it again.
You Should Be Happy and Healthy in Retirement
More retirement income gives seniors greater flexibility. Here at Council of Seniors, we believe it’s critical for Congress to pass The SAVE Benefits Act. You need this legislation because the annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) has short-changed seniors in recent years, withholding the amount of $581 from checks. Once passed, that money can finally be returned.
Please sign our petition now and let friends and neighbors know they can help, too. With your active support, returning this money to seniors can become a reality.
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