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Update: Scientists employ common sense?

…but members of the public don’t. After yesterday’s reports from various news agencies about the University of Florida study revealing the sterilizing power of microwave ovens, it appears that several health-conscious washer-uppers decided to test it out themselves (how they were planning to count the number of bacteria before and after microwaving is unknown). Unfortunately many home experimenters left out the vital step noted by the researchers of wetting the sponge first, leading to several complaints to agencies such as CNN and Reuters.

“Just wanted you to know that your article on microwaving sponges and scrubbers aroused my interest. However, when I put my sponge/scrubber into the microwave, it caught fire, smoked up the house, ruined my microwave, and p****d me off,” one correspondent wrote in an e-mail to Reuters.

“First, the sponge is worthless afterwards so you have to throw it out instead of using it. And second your entire house stinks like a burning tire for several hours, even with windows/doors open,” complained another.

The bdaily has not yet received any such reports.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .