Myth: A sparkling kitchen is a clean and healthy kitchen.

Reality: If you're using a sponge or a dish towel to clean, you're probably distributing more germs than you're removing, since "sponges and towels can spread bacteria," says Susan Moores, a registered dietitian in St. Paul and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Paper towels are safest." To wipe up cake batter, meat juices, or other spills that could contain dangerous bacteria, such as salmonella and E. coli., use a disposable towel drenched in hot, soapy water, then dry with a fresh one.

Bottom Line: A sponge can make a kitchen look clean without being clean. Reserve it for dishwashing and use paper towels to clean up spills.