A new study has found that the kitchen sponge is one of the dirtiest places in the home with about 10 million bacteria per square inch- that’s 200,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat.

To make matters worse, experts have linked germs found on sponges, cloths and chopping boards with a type of bacteria that can cause paralysis.

To avoid a serious health issue, you should wash all cloths, sponges and towels in water hotter than 140 degrees to kill germs, or disinfect them regularly.

Another alternative is to use disposable antibacterial wipes to clean kitchen surfaces and cutting boards.