How to Sanitize Your Cleaning Tools

There is a lot to clean in a home. The spaces or things that probably pop into your mind first are larger spaces like your bathroom or major appliances like your oven. But one big category that often gets overlooked is your actual cleaning supplies. You know, the unsung heroes that help you scrub, wipe, and cleanse all of those other things in your home. And yes, these things really need to be cleaned…and pretty frequently too! So next time you go to pick up that mop, broom, towel, or brush, you might want to consider giving it some love in the form of a good wash. Here’s how to do it.

Brooms

Sometimes we get so swept up in things, we forget that our brooms need TLC! After every few uses, run the bristles through the teeth on your dust pan, if it has them, or remove the dust bunnies and hair with an old wide-tooth comb. Every few weeks, dunk the broom’s business end into a bucket of warm water and a few drops of dish soap and swish it around. Rinse it with water and let it dry for 24 hours before using it again. As bristles become dull, bent, or frayed, grab your scissors and trim the ends.

Mopheads

If your mophead is machine washable, huzzah! Throw it into the wash (by itself or with cleaning rags, and without fabric softener, which can leave residue) on a gentle cycle and air-dry it. No such luck? You’ll have to clean it by hand. Start by pulling off any large debris with your fingers or running the mophead under the faucet. Then fill a bucket with warm water and some mild detergent or a few drops of dish soap. Submerge the mop, letting it soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse it under running water to wash away excess soap and dirt, then hang it up to dry completely before storing it.

Dish Brushes

These guys step up to the plate night after night, so they need a good, soapy bath before you go to bed. Fill a bowl with warm water and a few drops of dish soap and give your brush a 10-to-15-minute soak. This will loosen up gunk and grease. Then you can use your hands (with dish gloves, if you prefer) to comb through the bristles before rinsing them off. If the brush is plastic, it can go on the top rack of your dishwasher instead.

Sponges

Let this soak in: Sponges need to be tossed and replaced at least every two weeks. They can harbor tons of bacteria—up to 54 billion per cubic centimeter, a 2022 study says—and no amount of cleaning will make them safe to use long-term. (Microwaving or boiling them may reduce some of the bacteria, but the USDA says those methods are not enough to make dirty sponges safe.) During their brief lifespan, make sure to rinse sponges thoroughly after each use and stand them up in a holder so they can dry completely. Sadly, there’s nothing you can safely do with a used sponge. If it’s plant-based, like those iconic cellulose ones, you can at least compost it.

Microfiber Cloths

Collect your dirty, dusty, juice-soaked, and otherwise gross cloths and throw them all into the wash (they can mix with your mophead, but keep them separate from everything else so they don’t get, say, your white bath towels dirty). Use cool or warm water and mild detergent. Avoid fabric softener,
as it can cause the fibers to become less absorbent over time. Air-dry or dry on the coolest setting to keep fibers from melting.

Toilet Brushes

It kind of stinks, but your toilet brush needs to be cleaned after every use, and the holder should be disinfected monthly. After you’ve cleaned the bowl and flushed, swish the brush around in the new, fresh water. Then secure the handle under the toilet seat so the brush is suspended over the bowl. Spray the bristles with hydrogen peroxide, turning the brush as you work to ensure you hit the whole thing. Let it hang out there for 30 minutes before flushing again and rinsing the brush in the fresh toilet water. Wipe the handle with a disinfecting wipe and you’re good to go.

For the holder: Spritz it with plenty of disinfecting spray and let it sit for 10 minutes. When the time is up, rinse it under hot water. Let both the brush and holder dry completely before reuniting them.