Re: pouring boiling water in things?

charLie, you are doing the BEST thing by doing that! Not just worm eggs or microscopic larvea from raw meat (yes even meat from the grocers still has the occasional parasite larvea inside) can end up on your cutting board, but also bacteria.

I read an article recently on how our kitchen sponges are the biggest carriers of bacteria-- and for that reason it is better to use a paper towel to wipe the counter.

I think you pouring boiling water on these things is a very good practice. Not to mention boiling water is a very non-toxic way of disinfecting things--besides using toxic over the counter chemical anti-bacterial sprays.