Keeping your cleaning supplies clean
Sorry but there’s actually more to keeping your house clean than just hiring your favourite professional house cleaning service, you know?
Like a race car driver needing a tip-top race car, you’ll want to maintain your cleaning supplies so that your house is cleaned as properly and efficiently as possible.
Taking care of your cleaning supplies will also help to make them last longer, saving you money in the long run.
Take note of our handy tips on how to keep your cleaning supplies clean and enjoy an easier and better (cleaning) life!
Let’s start in the kitchen!
Dishwasher
Why you need to clean your dishwasher
Do you feel that you need to be armed with an air mask and an air freshener spray to open your dishwasher?
Thanks to food particles left behind, your dishwasher can quietly become a collector of all things gross like bacteria and mold, not to mention a strong foul odour that results from not cleaning your dishwasher regularly.
How to clean your dishwasher
Start by picking up any large food particles or debris from the bottom of the drain stopper. You can use a paper towel and disposed it all on your compost bin.
For an all-natural, eco-friendly way to clean the inside of your dishwasher, pour the always versatile white vinegar into a cup and place it on the top rack of your empty dishwasher. Run it on a full cycle. If you have a hot water setting, use it for better results.
You can also find dishwasher cleaner at any grocery store. There are a few different options, but the Affresh dishwasher cleaner seems to be a popular one. Just follow the instructions on the label and use it on an empty dishwasher.
Front Load Washing Machine
Why your washing machine smells
**Note: This is specifically for front load washing machines**
Notice a funky smell every time you open your front load washer’s door? The smell comes from a build-up of laundry detergent, fabric softener, and water that remains in the front seal of the washer. If left unattended, the smell gets harder and harder to remove and can even transfer onto your clothes.
Who wants clean clothes that smell?
Luckily, you can help prevent this by leaving the front load washing machine door open after a load is done. Be mindful of small kids and pets around your home wanting to get inside the washer to play. Airing the washer will help to dry up residues of water, thus helping prevent the foul smell.
Another step you can take is using less soap. As front load washing machines use less water, using less soap helps the detergent dissolve completely.
How to clean your front load washing machine
Mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with a 1/4 cup of water and pour it where you would normally pour your detergent. Add two cups of vinegar inside the drum of your washer and close the door. Run with hot water on an empty cycle. Wipe out the door with a scrub sponge and leave the door open to air dry.
If you want more detailed instructions, follow these steps to clean your smelly front load washing machine.
For a store-bought option, look for Affresh and other well-known brands that make front load washer cleaners.
Vacuum Cleaner
What happens when you don’t maintain your vacuum?
It’s a good thing when vacuums suck – literally, of course. But what happens when your vacuum sucks figuratively and doesn’t do the job anymore? You know, you turn your vacuum cleaner on and instead of cleaning your floors, it becomes a tool to move dirt and dust around spreading it all over your home.
How to clean your vacuum
Thankfully, vacuum maintenance is fairly simple.
For bagless vacuums, empty the canister when you see the dust and dirt reach the “recommended” line. You can even create the habit of emptying the canister after each use.
For vacuums that use bags, replace bags when it’s one-third full. Clean out the filter by shaking out the dust after each use and replace the filter altogether every six months to a year.
The rotating brush also needs attention. Make sure to keep it free of hair and string by using scissors or a knife to cut through the strands.
If all else fails and your vacuum still doesn’t work properly, it’s a good idea to have it serviced or consult your owners manual for more tips. You can find plenty of information available online. Start by visiting some of the major manufacturers:
Feather Dusters and Brooms
It seems most of our clients now prefer to use Swiffer, but we still see feather dusters and brooms from time to time. Not that we’re complaining – they have a special place in our hearts! They’re eco-friendly and are regaining popularity as the perfect tool to reuse over and over again.
How to clean your dusters and brooms
Cleaning dusters is incredibly simple: Shake off the dust, preferably outside so dust particles don’t spread all over your home. If you prefer, you can use a vacuum hose to get every speck of dust.
Brooms, on the other hand, need a little bit more care. Gently wash the bristles with warm water and dish detergent. Rinse them thoroughly with water. Let the broom air dry with bristles up.
TIP: Store your broom on an elevated hook or upright with bristles up to prolong the life of the bristles and keep them straight.
Sponges
As you may already know, a ton of bacteria live in sponges — just see The kitchen sponge is 200,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat via the Daily Mail and hundreds of other online articles just like it.
But what you may not know is that you can very easily disinfect your sponges. It takes a minute and pushing some buttons, and it’s something you can do on a daily basis.
How to clean your sponges
The easiest way to disinfect your sponges is to soak them in water, place them on a microwavable dish, and microwave on high for a minute.
**IMPORTANT: Make sure not to wring out the sponge otherwise it could catch on fire.**
Another option is to soak the sponge in a solution of bleach and water (one cup of bleach to one gallon of water), rinse, and let dry.
For more information, read How to sanitize your kitchen sponges on our blog.
Microfiber Cloths
Microfiber cloths are another alternative to using a Swiffer or a feather duster. Simply wet the cloth with warm soapy water, lightly rinse, and wring dry. We recommend this method of dusting, since it picks up as much dust and debris as a Swiffer, if not more, and is much more economical and eco-friendly.
How to clean your microfiber cloths
When microfiber cloths get too dirty, simply hand wash them in the sink with detergent. Make sure you rinse them well and let them air dry.
You can also toss them in the washer with your regular laundry. Please note that you should DO NOT use fabric softener — the oils will clog up the fibres, making them ineffective.
Avoid the dryer. It’s better to let them air dry.
Mops
As you know, a dirty mop doesn’t just spread the dirt; it leaves streaks on your floor as well. Keep your mop clean, and your floors will look and feel clean too.
How to clean your mop
It’s really simple, if your mop has a removable head, throw it in the washing machine, and run it with bleach and hot water. If that’s not an option for you, wash the head with dish detergent and hot water.
The important part is to make sure you squeeze out all excess water, then let it air dry.
Store your mop the same way as you would a broom: with the head up. The biggest mistake we see is when people leave their damp mop in a pail that’s not completely dry — all that does is create bacteria again.
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2 Comments
What an interesting article and I love the title. Not many people think about keeping their “cleaners” clean. This would be great advice for many office and commercial companies as well, not many people think of the need to keep things like the dishwasher clean.
You’re right! Even though a dishwasher has soap and hot water running inside it, dirt, calcium, and other build up can still occur.
Thanks for reading!
