Don’t have the habit of cleaning your supplies and tools as often as you should? Well, it’s never too late to start! Read on to find out how often you should clean and replace your tools (with useful cleaning tips along the way).
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1. Cleaning Gloves
Ft. Protective Dishwashing & Bathroom Gloves
Whether you’re wearing gloves to wash dishes or scrub the bathroom floor, rinsing them with just water is not enough. Be sure not to use the same set of gloves to clean different areas of the house!
When To Clean And Replace
Clean them every use, and replace them once they show signs of degradation.
How To Clean
- Rinse gloves with water to remove traces of cleaning agents.
- Wash gloves with dish soap
- Rinse off dish soap suds
- After air-drying, turn the gloves inside out and repeat steps 1 to 3.
2. Cleaning Solutions
Even your cleaning products need regular cleaning and discarding.
When To Clean And Replace
Before storing them away, wipe down your cleaning products with disinfectant to keep them clean.
While they are a great way to save money and cut down on plastic waste, homemade cleaning products shouldn’t be kept for long. Natural ingredients, like lemon and water, are prone to mold and bacteria and become rancid over time. This makes them less effective after a while. As a rule of thumb, only keep homemade solutions with water for 2 to 4 weeks, and those without for 3 to 6 months.
Store-bought cleaning agents, to degrade and become less effective over time, which explains their expiration dates. They last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, so check their labels and replace them when they expire.
Also check out on StyleMag: These 6 DIY Natural Sprays Are A Must-Have For Your Cleaning Arsenal
3. Brooms
Ft. Magic Self-Cleaning Broom & Dustpan Set
After every use, you should lightly clean your broom by shaking off excess dirt in the dustbin. To make this easier, get a dustpan with combs to detangle and remove dirt mess-free.
When To Clean And Replace
Deep clean your broom every one or two months and replace it when the bristles start to wear out.
How To Clean
For a deeper clean, you can do this every one or two months.
- Remove excess dirt by shaking it and combing out loose hairs.
- In a bucket, mix one cup vinegar and a pump of dish soap with enough warm water to cover the broom head.
- While soaking for 30 minutes, wipe the handle with disinfectant.
- Rinse mop head to remove excess soap and let it hang dry before storing away.
Replace your broom when the bristles start to wear out.
4. Duster
Ft. Pristine Extendable & Bendable Duster
Shake the dust off from your duster onto the floor as you clean and vacuum it all up afterward. This removes excess dust, making cleaning it later on easier!
When To Clean And Replace
Wash it monthly and replace it when it shows signs of degradation.
How To Clean
- In a sink or bucket, mix water and two tablespoons of liquid detergent to create a sudsy solution.
- Dip duster head into solution and swish around for a few minutes.
- Rinse the duster to remove excess detergent.
- Let it hang dry.
5. Mops
Ft. Spin & Clean Magic Mop With Bucket
Our floors are the dirtiest part of the house, so cleaning your mops after every use is definitely a must.
When To Clean And Replace
Wash them after every use and replace them every 2 months.
How To Clean
Use the washing machine to wash your mop head if it is machine washable, following its care instructions. If not, you can do this too.
- Thoroughly rinse off cleaning solution and dirt on the mop head in the sink.
- In a bucket, pour in equal parts of water and bleach, enough to cover the mop head.
- Let mop head soak for 15 to 30 minutes and wipe handle with disinfectant.
- Rinse mop head to remove excess bleach and let it hang dry before storing away.
6. Cloths
Ft. Absorbent Dinnerware Drying & Cleaning Cloth (3pc Set)
To prevent cross-contamination, be sure to delegate cloths for different purposes like:
- Drying dishes
- Wiping kitchen countertop spills
- Wiping mirrors or glass clean
- Dusting furniture
- Drying hands
When To Clean And Replace
Wash cloths weekly and replace them when they show signs of degradation. Microfibre cloths need to be replaced when their fibres start to look thinner and feel scratchy.
How To Clean
For cotton cloths, boil them in water for 10 to 15 minutes to remove bacteria and mildew. Afterward, toss them into the washing machine and you’re good to go!
Microfiber towels are recommended to be hand washed with mild detergent and water.
If you need to use the washing machine for microfiber cloths,
- Wash them with non-linting synthetic materials such as dri-fit
- Avoid softener for microfibre towels as they clog open spaces in the material, making it less effective
7. Dish Sponges & Brushes
Ft. Multi Kitchen Sink Caddy Holder
After dinner, the task of washing dishes shouldn’t end on your last plate to wash, but rather the cleaning of your sponges and brushes. Adopt the habit of cleaning them every night before you leave the kitchen.
When To Clean And Replace
It’s best to clean them every night and replace them every 3 to 4 weeks, or when they start to fall apart.
How To Clean
Dish sponges and brushes can be cleaned in the dishwasher, and placed on the top rack with the hottest cycle setting. But if you don’t have one, vinegar will do the trick!
- In a bowl or container, soak your dish sponge and brush in white vinegar overnight.
- Wring them in the morning and rinse a few times before using them.
8. Toilet brushes
Ft. Dual Toilet Bowl Brush Scrub (With Wall Holder)
It’s important to clean your brush holder too, so clean them both together!
When To Clean And Replace
Clean them after every use and replace when their bristles have worn out.
How To Clean
Ft. Dual Toilet Bowl Brush Scrub (With Wall Holder)
- Position the toilet brush under the toilet seat.
- Spray the brush head and its holder thoroughly with disinfectant spray and let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Pour warm water over the brush and holder to remove excess disinfectant.
- Let it dry completely before putting away.
Which cleaning tool are you guilty of not washing regularly? Let us know in the comments, we promise we won’t judge.
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