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"   Your sponge isn&amp;#039;t the only germ magnet at your sink. With repeated use, plastic and metal caddies, rubber mats, and even scrubbers and brushes develop tiny nicks and cracks where bacteria can hide and stains can take hold. Here&amp;#039;s what you can do to keep germs and odors in these kitchen sink helpers to a minimum:  Give sink tools a weekly bath. Partially fill your sink with hot water and add a generous squirt of dishwashing liquid. Soak the tools for a few minutes, using the dish brush to loosen any stuck-on bits. Rinse everything well and air dry. Wash non-wooden drain boards, racks, brushes, and caddies in the dishwasher. Disassemble any items that come apart and place them in the top rack. Larger pieces may have to go in the lower rack. Select the normal wash cycle and heated dry cycle. Every few months, sanitize these items by soaking them for two minutes in the sink three-quarters full of hot water with 1/2 cup chlorine bleach added. Rinse and air dry. Remove sink mats when cleaning or straining fruits and vegetables to keep bits of food from sticking to them. Consider buying caddies that come apart for easier cleaning and scrubbers with replaceable heads to swap out when worn. We like Oxo&amp;#039;s Suction Sink Set, ($12, shown left with tools).  For more quick cleaning tips, check out our online Home Speed Cleaning Guide. To see how we test all the products and tips we recommend, sign up for a tour of our Good Housekeeping Research Institute.  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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