How Often Should You Wash, Clean, or Replace Household Essentials?

 

While so many items we regularly use are designed for one-time or short-term use, others seemingly last for years until they wear out. In reality, however, many of the items that you’ve been using for years may be past their prime. Cleaning and maintaining essentials is the best way to optimize their life. So, how often should you wash, clean, or replace household essentials?

Why Regular Cleaning and Replacement of Household Items Matter

 

Failing to clean and wash some items can do more than decrease their longevity. Some of these items can harbor bacteria, mold, and other germs, and they can make everyone in your home sick.

 

Items that you know that you need to replace periodically, such as your toothbrush, can also be riddled with germs. For toothbrushes and some other items, it’s best to replace them relatively frequently than try to maintain them with cleaning.

 

When to Clean It and When to Toss It

 

Cleaning and replacing items on a timely basis give you notable benefits. So, exactly when should you toss or clean the important essentials in your home?

 

Sponges and Dishcloths

 

Sponges and dishcloths remain moist for extended periods of time. This moisture combines with tiny food remnants as well as the bacteria and viruses that you wipe off your counters. To prevent the growth and spread of yeast, mold, salmonella, and E. coli, sponges should be sanitized daily and replaced weekly.

 

 

Dishcloths should be laundered daily. If you use them to wipe up raw eggs or raw meat juices, they should be laundered immediately.

 

Cutting Boards

 

Cutting boards should be thoroughly washed and sanitized after every use. With use, however, cutting boards inevitably develop deep cuts. Wood boards can warp. Because of these cuts and warping, food remnants and bacteria are increasingly difficult to remove from the cutting board.

 

 

Pay attention to the condition of your cutting board. It should be replaced if it has tough stains, persistent odors, and deep cuts.

 

Food Containers

 

The extremely hot water and soap in your dishwasher are seemingly sufficient to kill all germs lurking on your reusable food containers. However, plastic containers absorb odors and stains over time. This makes them difficult to clean and can even taint the foods that you store in them.

 

 

Plastic food containers should be replaced every few years. Consider upgrading to glass containers, which will not retain odors and stains.

 

Towels and Bathmats

 

Bath towels and mats get saturated with water on a daily basis or even several times a day if you share your bathroom with others. Germ and mold or mildew growth are problematic.

 

 

Your towels must be laundered every four to six days, depending on how frequently you shower. Bathmats should be laundered weekly. Both the towels and mats should also be replaced every two years.

 

Toothbrush and Toothbrush Holder

 

The mere thought of putting a germ-covered toothbrush in your mouth can make you downright squeamish. Unfortunately, toothbrushes as well as their holders are covered in germs, and these germs grow rapidly thanks to the humidity in the bathroom.

 

 

Plan to replace your toothbrush every three months. In addition, wash your toothbrush holder each time you clean the bathroom.

 

Shower Curtain and Liner

 

The best way to reduce mildew growth on the shower curtain and liner in your bathroom is to spread them open after showering and run the humidifier for at least an hour. If your shower curtain is washable, it should be laundered on a monthly basis.

 

 

The shower curtain liner is most likely to get moldy or mildewy. Soap scum and bacteria are also problematic. While you should wash the shower curtain liner monthly, you should also replace it every six months.

 

Pillows and Mattresses

 

While you undoubtedly launder your bedding every week or two, your pillows and mattress need attention, too. Like your bedding, the pillows and mattresses accumulate dead skin cells, oil, dirt, and dust. They might also be riddled with dust mites and even mold.

 

 

Your pillows and mattresses should be washed or cleaned every three months. Pillows should also be replaced every three years. Mattresses should be replaced every six years.

 

Vacuum Cleaner and Mop

 

Your vacuum cleaner and mop do some heavy cleaning in your home, and they can get filthy. Your floors can’t be properly cleaned if your cleaning tools are dirty. Your mop should be cleaned and sanitized after every use.

 

 

Reusable mop heads should also be replaced every three months. Your vacuum cleaner should be deep cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The typical recommended cleaning schedule is every 12 to 18 months.

 

Your home won’t be completely clean if you aren’t cleaning and replacing these and other household items in a timely manner. It can seem overwhelming to keep up with the maintenance and replacement needs with so many items in your home, but you don’t need to handle everything on your own. Cleanzen is your trusted Boston apartment cleaning service, and we are ready to visit your home soon. Book your next Cleanzen service today.

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