When you take the time to clean your house, you want to be sure that your efforts are worth it. Many people have that mindset that as cleaning supplies, they’re just always clean – wrong. Cleaning supplies can be havens for dirt and bacteria if you don’t take care of them properly.
So to ensure that all your vacuuming and dish-washing are 100% effective, it’s important to know how to properly clean your cleaning tools. Here is a cleaning guide for four of the most used supplies.
Sponges
Your common household dish sponge which can gather all sorts of bacteria with use. There are three cleaning methods for sanitizing those sponges.
- Dishwasher: Run your dishwasher on sanitization mode with your sponge in the silverware rack.
- Cleaning solution: Soaking your sponges in a mixture of water and cleaning solution or bleach gives them the sanitization love they need.
- Microwave: Rinse your sponge with water first to remove as much food as possible. Then with your sponge in a bowl of water, run the microwave for three minutes.
Even with using these cleaning methods, it’s smart to replace your sponges when the scrubby side is worn down or the whole thing is starting to fall apart.
Vacuums
Vacuums trap hair and debris and should be cleaned regularly. After every use, it’s important to dispose of the bag or empty the reusable cup.
At least monthly, it’s good to wash the reusable cup with hot water and dish-washing liquid to further get rid of dust and grime. Remove tangled hairs or threads in the beater bar with scissors or a seam ripper.
Finally, inspect all hoses for any blockages and change or wash filters at least on a quarterly basis.
Brushes & Brooms
Brushes and brooms are commonly used from scrubbing toilets to cleaning floors and even in dish-washing too so they tend to get the most use.
When cleaning a brush, first use a pen to pull out any hair and debris caught in the bristles. Rinse the bristles out with hot water. Then, let them soak in a bucket of hot water and either bleach or your favorite cleaning solution for 30-60 minutes. Leave them out upright to air dry.
Mops
Mop heads gather dust and dirt leaving you simply pushing around grime on your floors if they get too dirty.
If the head is non-removable, soak it for at least 15 minutes in a mixture of hot water and two tablespoons of a heavy-duty detergent or pine oil cleaner. Rinse thoroughly afterward and allow to drip dry.
If a mop head is removable, the easiest way is to just toss it in the washing machine with a load of towels. Be sure to use a heavy-duty detergent and a hot water cycle to remove any heavy build-up.
It isn’t effective cleaning if you’re simply pushing more dirt and grime around the floors. Taking care of your cleaning supplies not only will give them a longer life but will also keep your home 100% sparkling clean.