Time to check on your sponge

OK. Put down the newspaper and head to the kitchen sink. Now, check your sponge. Is it falling apart? How does it smell?

Keeping your family (and yourself) safe from kitchen germs and bacteria can be as easy as tossing it in the washing machine or dishwasher (or the trash depending on how long it’s been hanging around).

According to a recent survey by the American Dietetic Association and ConAgra Foods, more and more Americans are too busy to sit down during meals (a whopping 62 percent), let alone pay attention to the little details that can spread foodborne illnesses. And nine out of 10 of us are multitasking while we’re in the kitchen (watching TV, washing dishes, talking on the phone).

Here’s one detail you won’t want to overlook: Take care with those dishcloths and sponges. If you use it to wipe up a drip from raw meat, it’s important to wash it before you use it again. And don’t just rise it with water. Sponges should be washed frequently in the hot cycle of your washing machine or dishwasher. Or sponges can be sanitized in a simple bleach solution, using one teaspoon of bleach to one quart of water.

Here are a few more tips from the study:

• Don’t keep your sponge forever. Chuck it before it starts to look dirty, smell bad or fall apart.

• Be sure to use the hot cycle when washing dishtowels and cloths in the washing machine.

• Use separate dish towels for different jobs. They can be color coded to keep them straight. For example: use a blue towel for drying clean hands, green for washing the counter, red for cleaning up drips from meat and so on.

To market…

As many local farmers’ markets begin packing up for the season, so too will our Market Report that appeared each week during the growing season. However, there are still plenty of fresh fruits and veggies to be had. Tomatoes, squash, onions, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, apples, pears and plums are just some of the goodies you’ll find. You can also grab a pumpkin and other gourds for your holiday decorating. If you’re looking for markets that are still open you’ll find a listing inside today’s section. That list will run each week through Oct. 30 when most of the markets will be closing.

Vine deals

There’s another chance to stock up on some killer wine deals or try some new wines.

Vino, 222 S. Washington St., will be celebrating 9 years of business through this Saturday with its annual sale. Pick up an Arbor Crest Sauvignon Blanc for $6.95, Maryhill Gewurztraminer for $10.95 and Santa Ema Reserve Merlot for $7.50. Members of the store’s wine club save even more.

If you still have questions about aging wines, Vino is also hosting a class next Wednesday on how to do vertical tastings and explore what happens to wines after five years, 10 years or more. It is $45 and begins at 6:30 p.m. They have room for 15 people.

To reserve a space in the class or find out more, call 838-1229.