You know the importance of cleaning your home. But, how often do you stop to think about the cleanliness of your cleaning supplies themselves? Even if you’re cleaning your home every week, you’re not accomplishing anything if you’re using dirty equipment. In fact, this could make matters worse. Follow these tips to make sure you’re adequately washing your supplies before your next cleaning spree.
Brushes
Use disposable gloves to pick out any hair or visible dirt from your scrub brush. You can do this with a pen or chopstick that you throw away afterwards. Fill a bucket with warm water and 1/2 cup of a cleaning powder or bleach. Stir thoroughly. This kills bacteria and deodorizes your brush. Let everything dry on an old towel that you don’t mind bleaching. Clean brushes after each use and replace them every 2–3 months.
For your toilet brush, fill a bucket with a quart of hot water and OxiClean powder. OR, mix with mix in one tablespoon of borax, 2 cups of white vinegar, and one-half teaspoon of dish soap into the water. Let the brush soak for half an hour. Do this after every time you clean your toilet. Replace your toilet brush every four to six months.
Vacuums
You should replace your vacuum filters every three months. Empty the bag whenever it’s full. Scrub the hard attachments with warm, soapy water and then leave them out to dry. You can unbend a hanger and use it to clean out hair or string caught in your vacuum’s hoses or wheels. Make sure to also wipe the outside of your vacuum clean with disinfecting wipes.
Cloths
You can put cloths, rags, towels, and cotton cleaning cloths in the washing machine on the hottest cycle. You can add a half a cup of baking soda to deodorize and brighten them. Don’t use fabric softener or dryer sheets.
Never use microfiber cloths to clean anything oily or greasy. You won’t be able to clean them properly. Clean your dish cloths once a week. I personally change my dish cloth daily. Microfiber cloths need cleaning once a week, as well, but these should be replaced once a year.
Sponges
Clean your sponges daily and replace them twice a month. Many people run their sponges through the sanitizing cycle of their dishwasher or microwave them for two to three minutes after soaking them in a bowl of water—as long as they don’t have metal parts. However, these methods might not be the most sanitary ways to clean your sponges. Soak your sponge in a tablespoon of OxiClean mixed in hot water and letting it sit for 40 minutes.
Dusters
Shake out your feather dusters outside. Use hot water and dish soap to clean your duster the gently wring it out and hang to dry.
Brooms and mops
Once a month, remove the head of your mop and remove any dirt or debris by hand. Wash it in the hottest possible water with plain detergent and a cup of baking soda. Only wash one mop head at a time otherwise they will tangle. Otherwise, use old pantyhose to wrap them in. Flat head mop padding can go directly into the washing machine and dryer. But, don’t use fabric softener or dryer sheets. Clean mop heads after each use and replace them every 2–3 months.
Brush out brooms with stiff bristles, but you shouldn’t get them wet because it will damage the bristles. If your broom head is made with softer bristles, you should pick out any loose debris over a trash can. Mix half a cup of bleach or OxiClean powder into warm water and let the broom head soak for 20 minutes, avoiding any wooden handles.
Head to your hall closet and break out your cleaning supplies to cleanse them all before the next time you deep clean your home.