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Worried about bacteria in the kitchen? Here are a few tips for cleaning it up:

Microwave: Dean Cliver, a professor of food safety at the University of California, Davis has carried out numerous studies on the cleaning properties of microwaving. A one-minute high-powered blast can keep your sponges and dishcloths sterile. However, he warns that it doesn't work for natural sea sponges.

Wash your hands: Cliver says he has never seen convincing evidence that hot water works better than cold water for washing your hands."It feels better but washing your hands in cold water should work just as well," he said.

Don't rinse chicken: Chicken is so notorious for spreading salmonella and other harmful bacteria that the USDA is no longer recommending that you rinse it in the kitchen sink. "The water splashes and its spreads problems to other parts of the kitchen that won't be as easy to get to," says Professor Cliver.

Toss it: Scott recommends that food spills and juice should be wiped up with a paper towel and dumped. That avoids contact with a bacteria-infected sponge or dishcloth where the bacteria will feed on the food and drink supplied.