How Often Should You Replace Your Cleaning Supplies?

1/19/2018 (Permalink)

No matter what the size of your house, office location, or school is, keeping it clean is an absolute priority. Though having the right cleaning supplies is imperative to ensure a clean living space, they too need to be replaced in time. Unfortunately, knowing when to replace said items is easier said than done. We here at SERVPRO of Belle Meade / West Nashville have some cleaning tips for you that will let you know when to replace certain cleaning supplies and how it can benefit your work space.

Understanding Why It’s Important to Replace

Before diving into any other information, it’s important to first understand why we should be replacing cleaning products. Over time, bacteria can build up on mops, sponges, and other cleaning tools that we use often. It can get to the point to where the bacteria is offsetting the actual cleaning process. It’s imperative to use this information to ensure that bacteria is not spread around your living space.

Replacing Mop Heads

Of any cleansing product on the market, mops can collect more bacteria than any other cleaning item due to its size. Mops sit in water for long periods of time and retain water even after rinsing. This can create a bacteria rich environment, one that can be detrimental to your health. The standard replacement time for mops is two to three months after first using one.

Do I need to Replace Chemical Solutions?

While this doesn’t cause any concern for sanitation reasons, chemicals themselves should be replaced over time. Check the expiration date on the container of the cleaning solution, as these products break down over time, decreasing their cleaning potency.

Sponges

Sponges see more action daily due to cleaning dirty dishes, among other surfaces in the house. Because of this, sponges collect a lot of bacteria at an alarming rate. This can be detrimental to your health and should be replaced weekly to ensure that germs aren’t building up over time in your sink.

Vacuum Filter

If you’re using your vacuum on the daily, the filter inside of the machine can most certainly wear thin over time. If completely worn down, dust and bacteria can escape into the area, causing a multitude of problems. While they don’t need replacement often, you should do your best to replace the filter every six months or so. Not only will this stop dust from spreading in the air, but it will help with the odor removal process in your carpet too.