How to Clean the Tools you use for Cleaning

Hey there, folks! Have you ever stopped to consider how dirty some of your home-cleaning tools can become after weeks, months, even years of good use? We’re here with some tips on how to clean FIVE of your everyday cleaning aids.

  •  Your Broom!
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    From allyou.com: Every week, “Take your broom outside and gently bang it against a tree or the side of the house to remove loose particles. Or clean the bristles with your vacuum cleaner.” And every month, “Place the broom (whether synthetic or straw) in a bucket of warm water with a few drops of dish soap added; let soak for an hour. Rinse and let dry for several hours before putting it away. For extra cleanliness credit, give the dustpan a once-over with a bleach wipe.”
  • Your Vacuum!
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    Ok, so! This may seem a bit complicated but it will only take you about 15 minutes and… let’s face it, vacuum cleaners get DIRTY. First, empty that canister! Next, take apart all of the components that were made to be easily taken apart and separated. Now here’s the fun part… Grab some scissors and carefully cut off all that HAIR and STRING and YARN (whatever it may be) that has become so wrapped up around the roller-bristle portion of the cleaner. Now take some rubbing alcohol and apply it to a rag or cotton pad and rub the underside clean. That part of the vacuum is likely the MOST germy. If your vacuum uses a canister, clean/disinfect that as well. Give the whole exterior a quick wipe-down and you are GOOD to GO!
  • Your Sponge!
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    This one is more about *preventive* care than it is maintenance. It includes one simple step: DON’T’ LEAVE YOUR SPONGE SOAPY. Here’s a wild n’ crazy fact for you: Mildew. loves. soap. It gobbles it up! When you leave that soapy residue on your sponge thinking, “Hey, I’ll have some soap for later,” all your doing is giving that mildew something to gobble up and use to replicate and reproduce. There is something particularly dissatisfying about taking a sponge to dishes and getting everything spic and span, only to realize that your hands REEK of mildew. So, in short, WRING OUT THAT SPONGE!
  • Your Dishwasher!
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    Next up is your dishwasher! From today.com: Start by clearing the drain, “Remove the bottom dish rack. Inspect the dishwasher drain, removing any gunk or food caught there. This will improve drainage, increase cleaning efficiency and prevent damage to the dishwasher.” Next, perform a vinegar wash. “Start with an empty dishwasher. Place a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the upper rack of the machine. Run the dishwasher through a hot-water cycle. This will wash away grease and grime and remove musty odors, too.”
    Finish with a baking soda rinse! “Sprinkle one cup of baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher. Run a short hot-water cycle. The dishwasher will be fresh-smelling and have a brightened, stain-free interior.” Easy-peasy!
  • Your Toilet-brush! 
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    We’re gonna finish this latest blog post with something real quick-and-easy: cleaning your toilet bowl brush. The first step is to clean your toilet bowl as your normally do, using your brush. When you’re done with that, pour a bit of bleach in the toilet bowl and let the brush sit in there for an hour. While that’s going on, use some bleach and water to clean the brush holder. After your hour has elapsed, remove the brush and rinse it, place it back in the holder and you’re all done!

There you have it, folks! Five tips on how to clean your cleaners! And hey, while you’re with us, thinking about all the cleaning tasks you have ahead of you… Why don’t you let us share the workload? Give us a call and get your weekends back!