You may have your soaps, detergents and antibacterial wipes ready for spring cleaning, but have you ever thought about how to keep your cleaning tools clean? To help you avoid cleaning with dirty tools, Dennis Kaufmann, store manager at The Home Depot, gave us the low down on ways to, well, clean our cleaning tools.
1. Sponges
Sponges deal with a lot of dirt, so how long should you keep one around? “I use a sponge for a month, and then it’s time to get a new one,” says Dennis. “But after every single good cleaning, I put it in the microwave to kill the bacteria.”
After cleaning, the moisture left on a sponge breeds mildew which produces bacteria. Pretty soon your sponge is going to smell bad, and every time you use it, it’ll transfer that bacteria back onto the surfaces you’re trying to keep clean.
Or, consider a sponge that can stand up to the mess. Scrub Daddy rinses clean so it won’t hold debris like your traditional kitchen sponge – that means it will also be odor free longer.
2. Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
Microfiber cleaning cloths are great for picking up dust and dirt without soaps and detergents. But, the more you use it, the dirtier it gets and the faster it loses the static charge it needs to attract dirt. “There’s a simple way to clean and ‘re-charge’ your cloths—throw it in the washing machine and dryer,” explains Dennis. “Don’t include a dryer sheet of any sort of fabric softener, though. You want static to build up a charge.” Using your dryer to maintain the cloth’s effectiveness means they can be used hundreds of times.
3. Trash Cans
We rely on trash cans to contain anything we throw their way, but how often to you make sure the cans themselves are clean? “Don’t use a product to just mask the scent,” cautions Dennis. “You need a deeper clean to get rid of any spills.”
4. Vacuums
The canister that sucks up all the dirt in your vacuum, big or small, is just as dirty as the filth it picks up from your carpet – even after you dump it out.
It’s not often that we take a second look at our cleaning tools, but these easy tips will go a long way to ensuring you’re getting the most out of your sanitizing efforts—even if it’s only for a quick clean.
