7 Cleaning Supplies You’re Not Replacing Often Enough

How clean is your house, really? You might assume it’s spotless just because you keep up with your daily and weekly cleaning routines. However, if your cleaning tools themselves aren’t exactly fresh, your home might not be as clean as you think. If you can’t recall the last time you replaced your cleaning supplies, it’s probably time to do just that. Here are seven cleaning items you should be replacing far more often than you realize.

Dish Sponges

According to Andrea Ponce, multi-unit owner of MaidPro, you probably aren’t replacing your dish sponges often enough. She reveals they should be replaced weekly. However, if that isn’t in your budget or it’s something you simply don’t want to commit to—consider sanitizing your sponge in the microwave. According to the USDA, microwaving a sponge kills 99.99999% of the bacteria.

Rubber Gloves

While you’re in the kitchen, you might need some new rubber gloves, says Patricia Duarte, owner of MaidPro Temecula and Murrieta. If you only use your rubber gloves occasionally, you should be fine replacing them every two to three months. If you use them for weekly cleaning sessions, they likely last four to six weeks. For heavy use, such as daily cleaning or exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals, the expert advises replacing them every one to two weeks.

However, you may still need to replace your rubber gloves sooner than you anticipated. “If your gloves feel stretched, brittle, or have visible damage, don’t wait—replace them immediately,” Duarte says. “Fresh gloves mean better protection for you.”

Trash Bags

We’ve all been there and kept a trash bag in the can a little longer than we should have because we didn’t feel like taking out the garbage or lifting a heavy bag (no judgments here). But you should probably be replacing it more often, Duarte says.. “If your bag is full, leaking, or smells funky, replace it immediately,” she suggests. “But for households with a lot of waste (especially food), take the trash out daily.”

On the other hand, in offices or low-waste homes, she tells me you can stretch out your garbage bag replacement schedule to every few days. “But let’s be honest: no one likes a week-old trash bag,” Duarte says. “When in doubt, take it out.”

Vacuum Bags

If you have a traditional bag vacuum, you probably don’t think about replacing the bag until it’s totally full, but a full bag won’t end up holding all the dirt and dust on the floor. This means your appliance won’t work as efficiently as it can. Duarte says that vacuum bags should be replaced every two weeks in high-use homes with pets, kids, and lots of traffic. However, for an average home without pets, every 1 to 3 months should be fine.

If you’re still not sure if it’s time to replace your vacuum bag or not, Duarte says a good rule of thumb is to replace it when it’s ¾ full to maintain suction and spare your motor from getting overworked.

Or, “If you can’t even remember the last time you bought vacuum bags, take this as your official reminder,” Duarte adds. “Grab a fresh pack now and set a replacement schedule because no one wants a germ-filled science experiment lurking in their storage closet.”

Air Conditioner Filters

Much like vacuum bags, you might not remember the last time your A/C filter was replaced. Ponce suggests replacing them monthly. Keep in mind, if you live somewhere that has questionable air quality or there has been a fire recently, you may need to replace this more often.

Air Purifier Filters

While Ponce advises replacing your air purifier filters at least annually, you may need to do it more frequently depending on how often you run your machine. If you only do it occasionally, such as when someone is sick, you’re probably safe with a yearly replacement. But if you live somewhere with air quality issues or you run your air purifier 24 hours a day, you definitely need to replace it more often. Not sure how long your filter should last? Check the filter replacement directions or the manufacturer’s website.

Toilet Brushes

There’s nothing less sanitary than a dirty toilet brush. Ponce says they should be replaced every six months. So, if you can’t remember the last time you bought a new toilet brush, it’s probably time to get a new one.