Post pandemic, many of us are cleaning our homes more frequently and more thoroughly. Zapping all that grease, germs, dirt and dust feels pretty satisfying, doesn’t it? That is, unless you’re accidentally using cleaning supplies that are old, dirty, worn, or out of date. If you’re not replacing your cleaning products on a regular basis, you could be leaving behind germs or worse, spreading bacteria while you’re trying to clean! So how often do you have to replace different cleaning products? Let’s take a quick look…
Dish Sponges
The sponges you use to clean your dishes and wipe down your surfaces will get dirty and worn fast. But what’s really concerning is that they could harbour bacteria like E. coli and salmonella. It’s recommended that you replace them regularly – once a week should be fine.
Mops / Mop Heads
When you think about how we’re cleaning our floors, we’re essentially plunging a mop into dirty water over and over again. Doesn’t sound too sanitary, does it? So you won’t be surprised that mop heads can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria and need to be replaced every couple of months. And in between replacing them, they need to be washed thoroughly and dried after every use.
Dusters
You’ll know when your feather duster needs replacing because the feathers will start falling out. Until then, once a week, give your duster a good shake outdoors, and every month or so, wash it out. Microfiber dusting cloths can be washed and reused hundreds of times, so are usually a better option.
Home-Made Cleaning Products
Home-made cleaning products are a great alternative if you want to avoid using too many chemicals in your home. However, they don't last as long as the ones you’d pick up from the shop. Ideally, they should be discarded after each use, so only make a few days' worth at a time.
Shop-Bought Cleaning Products
All cleaning products have an expiration date and need to be stored correctly to be effective. Just keep an eye on the "use by" dates and make sure that products are kept out of direct sunlight and in a cool, dry place.
Don’t Replace, Instead Refill!
Replacing all of the above can become costly, especially if you’re keen to battle the bacteria and keep your home feeling fresh and clean. But there are ways to keep costs down. For example, investing in smart, multi-functional cleaning systems can both eliminate the need for multiple cleaning tools and products, and take away the constant need to replace all of your supplies.
The H2O HD is a steam mop that can be used on carpets, floors and for handheld steam cleaning. All it needs for a sanitizing clean is tap water – not only is that a fabulously cheap cleaning product, but it will also never run out! After turning tap water into super-heated steam, it’s proven to kill 99% of germs and bacteria including Salmonella, E.coli, Influenza and Listeria.
If you like the idea of not needing to use chemicals in your home or having to replace products, the H2O e3 allows you generate an endless supply of your own multi-purpose cleaner that kills 99.9% of germs, bacteria and viruses. All you need is tap water and table salt, and the e3 system’s low voltage electrical current electrolyzes the water and salt, turning it into an S-Water cleaning solution powerful enough to cut through grease and grime.
The H2O e3 and the H2O HD are your perfect cleaning companions because they don’t require regularly buying bottles of cleaning detergent and don’t use harsh chemicals which is not only better for your home, but better for the environment too. In short, they eliminate the need to keep replacing, allowing you to simply refill with cheap and cheerful tap water!