How to Best Clean Your Cleaning Tools

Posted on 05/05/2023

Properly Maintaining Your Cleaning Tools

We rely heavily on the things we use to clean, yet they are perhaps the most unloved things in our house. We either dispose of cloths and sponges as soon as there is any level of grime or dirt, or we leave them dirty and then complain when they don’t clean things as well as we want them to. There are a few simple tips you can follow to make sure your cleaning tools are the clean, these tips can save you money and frustration by ensuring that your cleaners last as long as they can and are always ready to clean anything you need them to.

Maintenance

Make sure you squeeze as much water as you can out of your cleaning tools after every usage and give them space to dry well. This will stop the unpleasant smells that can emanate from cleaning tools and ensure that they are ready for their next use. If you are getting ready to clean all of your cloths and sponges at once, place them in a plastic container with a lid, this will stop your kitchen being overtaken by the odour of damp.

Brushes and Sponges

When it comes to washing up, sponges are not always your best option. Washing up brushes are far easier to keep clean and hygienic, they dry off quickly and are easy to rinse after use. Washing up brushes should still be soaked regularly in a mild bleach solution to clean and sanitise them.

Sponges need a little more tender, loving care as they will not dry as quickly and can swiftly cause bad smells. When possible you should clean your sponges at least three times a week. If you have a dishwasher, a useful tip is to simply place the sponge in it the next time you do a cycle. The hot temperatures will kill any germs that have collected on your sponge. Remember to squeeze the excess water out of the sponge upon removal.  If you have a microwave, this can also be a helpful tool in the cleaning of sponges, simply put your sponge in the microwave on high for two minutes. This is the quickest and perhaps most effective way of cleaning a sponge but you must be careful. Firstly ensure there are no small fragments of metal on the sponge, and secondly ensure that the sponge is suitably dampened or you risk burning it.

The classic way is still probably the most popular, mix a light bleach and water solution, work it into the sponge with your hands and then leave the sponge for an hour. On return, rinse the sponge thoroughly.

Cloths

Simply rinsing your cloths regularly with warm water can make a world of difference, but it is better to do this as part of a cleaning cycle. Start by putting your filthy clothes in a bucket of household bleach, pre-soak the cloths in the bucket for at least twenty minutes. Upon removal, rinse the cloths thoroughly with warm water, scrub any particularly stubborn marks or stains to loosen before washing.

Next, put your cloths in your washing machine on a hot cycle, this will remove all dirt and grime from your cloths and leave them looking good as new. Now all you have to do is hang up your cloths (outside if possible) and they will be ready to clean your house again.

It’s a simple theory, your cleaning tools will be the filthiest things you have as their job is to clean everything else, but it’s easy to forget about them. By following these easy steps you can ensure that you and your cloths and sponges are always ready to tackle any dirt that you may find.