11. Using a dirty sponge to wash your dishes
Depending on how much you use it, you should replace your kitchen sponge anywhere from once a month to once a week. Sure, you can clean your old kitchen sponge—but experts agree that it’s much safer to toss and replace it at little cost.
One study published in Saint Martin’s University Biology Journal notes that the bacteria found on sponges includes E.coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter cloacae. Gross, right?
12. Not washing your pillows
In one study published in the European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers swabbed 10 pillows and found various species of bacteria, the most common being Aspergillus fumigatus, which causes fungal infections; Aureobasidium pullulans, a common allergen; and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, which can infect everything from your skin to your lungs.
Be sure to wash your pillowcase at least once a week!
