Why it matters
Kitchen sponges and dishcloths stay warm and damp and are full of food particles – ideal conditions for bacteria. Studies of household kitchens regularly find the sponge to be one of the most contaminated items in the home. Using the same cloth on the toilet and then the kitchen worktop is a quick way to spread germs.
Mop heads left wet in a bucket smell sour within a day and leave that smell on the floor. Microfibre cloths that are washed with fabric conditioner lose their ability to pick up dirt. A few habits fix all of this.
Colour coding: the simplest habit
Professional cleaners use colour-coded cloths so the same cloth is never used in a toilet and a kitchen. A common system in UK workplaces is red for toilets and urinals, yellow for washroom basins and other washroom surfaces, blue for general areas and green for kitchens and food areas. At home you can use any colours you like, as long as everyone sticks to them.
Do the same with mops if you can: one for the kitchen, one for bathrooms and toilets.
Microfibre cloths
Rinse cloths after use and hang them to dry rather than leaving them scrunched up. Wash them regularly in the washing machine at 60°C with ordinary detergent. Avoid fabric conditioner and don't tumble dry on high heat – both clog or melt the fine fibres that make microfibre effective.
Wash microfibre separately from cotton towels, which shed lint that sticks to the cloths. Replace microfibre cloths when they feel rough or stop picking up dust.
Sponges and dishcloths
Rinse sponges thoroughly after each use, squeeze them out and leave them to dry somewhere airy, not sitting in a puddle by the tap. Dishcloths can be washed at 60°C with tea towels every few days.
Heating a damp sponge in the microwave or washing it in the dishwasher reduces bacteria but doesn't eliminate them, and it can make some sponges a fire risk in the microwave. The simplest approach is to replace kitchen sponges every week or two, and to use a dish brush instead, which dries faster and can go in the dishwasher.
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Mop heads
After mopping, rinse the mop head in clean water, wring it out thoroughly and hang it head-up or head-down outside or in a well-ventilated place to dry. Never leave it standing in the bucket. Rinse and dry the bucket too.
Many flat mop pads and some string mop heads are machine washable at 60°C – wash them weekly, or after mopping up anything unhygienic. Replace string and sponge mop heads every few months, or as soon as they smell even after washing.
Brushes, toilet brushes and dusters
Wash dish brushes and scrubbing brushes in hot soapy water or the dishwasher weekly. Rinse toilet brushes in clean flush water after use, let them drip dry before returning them to the holder, and wash the holder every week or two. Replace a toilet brush when the bristles splay.
Shake out feather and lambswool dusters outside after use, and wash microfibre dusters with your other microfibre cloths.
How often to replace cleaning tools
A rough guide for a typical household:
- Kitchen sponges: every one to two weeks
- Dishcloths: wash every few days, replace when worn
- Microfibre cloths: hundreds of washes, until they stop picking up dust
- Mop heads: every two to three months, or sooner if they smell
- Toilet brush: every six months to a year
- Dish brush: every two to three months, or when the bristles splay
Professional cleaners' equipment
Reputable cleaning companies have their own processes for laundering cloths and mop heads, often washing them at high temperatures and using a fresh set for each home or site. If your cleaner brings their own equipment, it's reasonable to ask how they keep it clean between customers. Our guide on whether cleaners should bring their own products discusses the options, and cleaning vs disinfecting explains when hygiene really matters.
