Homeowners often focus on tidying up floors, countertops, and furniture but forget to maintain cleaning supplies and tools. The mops, vacuums, cloths, and dusters get dirty and worn out from frequent use. Therefore, regularly maintaining your cleaning tools extends the supplies' lifespan and improves your home's overall hygiene.

In this article, we’ll discover how to keep your cleaning tools in top shape and enhance your overall cleaning routine, keeping your home spotless. 

Why do Your Cleaning Tools Need Cleaning?

Cleaning supplies and tools such as mops, vacuums, cloths, brushes, and dusters become dirty, worn out, and less effective with use over time. These cleaning tools and supplies often require regular cleanings for increased efficiency. The top reasons why you should clean these cleaning supplies and tools are:

  • Cleaning tools like mop heads or vacuum filters accumulate dirt, dust, hair, and debris with regular usage over time. This buildup reduces the tool's efficiency and leaves streaks behind when used on the floors.
  • Cleaning tools such as cloths and mop heads introduce germs and bacteria into your house when you fail to clean them effectively. It leads to potential hygiene issues.
  • Cleaning tools, if left wet or stored improperly, develop unpleasant odors.
  • Vacuum filters that aren’t cleaned regularly cause the motor to overheat, which leads to costly repairs or replacements.

Common Cleaning Tools That Should Get Regular Cleaning

Keeping your cleaning tools ensures they continue to perform their best and prevent the spread of dirt and bacteria around your home. Here are the cleaning tools that you should regularly clean in your home.

Cloths and Rags

Cloths and rags are commonly used for wiping down surfaces, dusting, and absorbing spills. However, over time, they accumulate dirt, grime, and bacteria, which reduces their effectiveness and hygiene.

How to Clean My Cleaning Cloths?

  • Machine wash cloths and rags using hot water and mild detergent to kill germs and bacteria. Check the manufacturer's label for any specific washing instructions. Moreover, avoid fabric softener as it leaves residues on the cloths and rags. These residues reduce their ability to absorb moisture and make cleaning less effective.
  • Quick wash clothes and rags with dish soap and hot water for effective results. 
  • Rinse cloths and rags thoroughly to remove any soap residue. After rinsing, wring out excess water so no moisture remains in clothes and rags.
  • Hang cloth and rags in well-ventilated areas to dry them thoroughly, as wet rags can lead to mold and mildew growth. Alternatively, you can use low heat in the dryer to dry them.

Vacuum Brushes

Brushes like vacuum heads start trapping hair, dust, and dirt in the bristles with regular usage. This makes brushes less effective for performing cleaning jobs. For example, a clogged vacuum brush leaves dirt behind rather than removing it. Be sure to regularly clean and disinfect these tools to maintain their performance and prevent the buildup of germs.

How to Clean Vacuum Brushes?

  • Soak brush bristles in dish soap to scrub away any grime. However, for stubborn debris, sprinkle baking soda on the bristles to lift away dirt in the brushes.
  • Pull out tangled hair from the brushes using a small comb to prevent bristles from clogging and keep it functioning smoothly. 

Vacuums

Vacuums effectively remove dust, dirt, and pet hair from various surfaces. However, several parts, like HEPA filters, trap fine dust and allergens, ultimately reducing vacuum performance. Cleaning or replacing these filters maintains the optimal air quality in your home. 

How to Maintain My Vacuum?

  • Remove tangled hair and other trapped particles from the brush roll, ensuring no trapped particles are left behind.
  • Use cleaning tools to push any debris from inside the vacuum hose for any clogs. 

How to Clean Vacuum Filters?

Clean or replace HEPA filters regularly to maintain your vacuum's suction power and prevent dust and allergens from circulating back into the air. To clean the HEPA filters:

  • Turn off the vacuum, unplug, and remove the filter. 
  • Rinse the filter under lukewarm water to flush out dust. 
  • Air dry the filter completely and then reinsert it back into the vacuum. 
  • If the filter is not washable, use a soft brush or vacuum attachment to remove the dirt from it. 

Regular cleaning or replacement of HEPA filters ensures your vacuum performs efficiently and helps improve indoor air quality.

Mop Heads

Just like cloths and rags, mop heads easily accumulate dirt and germs, ultimately transferring back to your floors if they aren’t properly cleaned. Regularly cleaning mop heads prevents the spread of contaminants and ensures hygienic and spotless floors in your home.

How to Clean My Mop?

  • Simply machine wash your removable mop heads with hot water and mild detergent for deep cleanings. This will kill germs and remove built-up dirt from the mop heads.
  • Rinse mop heads thoroughly with warm water and dish soap if mop heads can’t be machine-washed. Soak the mop head in hot water and dish soap mixture for a few minutes to remove loosened dirt. Scrub the mop heads using the brush to remove the remaining debris. 
  • Dry mop heads in well-ventilated areas to ensure they are thoroughly dried to reduce the risk of mold or mildew growth. Proper drying helps maintain the mop's effectiveness and prolongs its lifespan.

Dusters

Modern dusters, primarily made of microfiber, have excellent dust-capturing abilities, which makes them a great option for quick cleanups. However, feather dusters are ideal for cleaning fragile items. Therefore, modern and feather dusters require proper care and cleaning to keep them performing best and maintain a dust-free home.

How to Clean My Duster?

  • Machine wash the modern microfiber duster with warm water and mild detergent to remove dust and debris. Air dry the microfiber duster after wash. It will ensure your duster stays clean and effective for future use without damaging the fibers.
  • Shake the feather duster vigorously to remove any loose dirt. Wipe feather duster gently with a damp cloth or rinse them under cold water to clean stubborn dust clinging to the feathers. Air dry the feather duster before using it again.

Conclusion

Cleaning tools require proper care and maintenance to maintain a healthy home. Keeping your cleaning tools in great shape doesn't have to be a hassle now. Consider hiring a professional Chicago cleaning service to keep your cleaning tools cleaned, maintained, and ready to go. You can even search for "cleaning tools near me" or “Chicago cleaners near me” to find local services that can assist with cleaning and maintaining your tools.

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