Almost every business has some type of a break-room for employees. Paper towels are one standard element of most break-rooms. They dry hands, wipe spills, cover food, clean tables and do lots of other things. Every one is used to them and they are practical.
There are some sponge facts to consider, however.
o A sponge can take the place of as many as 17 rolls of paper towels reducing the use of paper and your amount of trash.
o You can get sponges made from natural materials that are biodegradable.
Aha – but what about the germ factor? A sponge does need disinfecting. Some easy ways to do that are:
o Just let it dry.
o Boil it o Soak them in water with a splash of bleach or hydrogen peroxide o Pop them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
A sponge may not replace all uses for your paper towels, but they have a place in a well-organized break-room and can help reduce some of your paper waste.
Note: Don’t be tempted to combine a sponge with antibacterial or antimicrobial cleaners. Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered that these cleaners provide no additional protection beyond plain soap and they often include a pesticide that you don’t want to leave on your counters or dishes. (You can read more about this in my article on green cleaning.)
To learn more about this author, visit Dixie Schmatz's Website.
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