How Often Should I Clean Dish Scrubbing Tools?

Regular house cleaning is important to keeping your home clean and bacteria free.

Whether you hire a pro to clean or go the DIY route, one area that shouldn’t be overlooked is the kitchen — in particular, the instruments used to clean dishes and appliances.

Most of us associate dishwashing products and tools with cleanliness in the home, but a failure to replace old tools can actually spread bacteria, reduce cleanliness and negatively impact the overall health of you and your family members.

Because failing to properly clean and regularly replace your dishwashing tools can result in very serious problems, it's important to practice better maintenance and more frequent replacement of these tools to ensure a healthy and clean environment.

Here's a quick reference guide on how often you should clean or replace the tools you use to clean your dishes.

One of the most common culprits of bacteria buildup is the kitchen sponge. Determining when to replace your sponges will depend on how often you use them to wash the dishes. If you wash the dishes at least once a day, then you should replace your sponge at least once a month.

In keeping with this frequency, try to replace sponges after 30 uses. To maintain cleanliness in between replacements, you can place your sponge in the dishwasher with your other dishes each time you run the cycle. If you don't have a dishwasher, you can wash your sponge in hot water and bleach to kill any residual bacteria.

Cloths or dishcloths should also be replaced about every month or after about 30 uses. Sponges are often considered to be more susceptible to bacteria, but dishcloths can be just as bad. They both share similarly moist and warm environments that are ideal for bacterial growth.

There is no hygienic reason to choose a dishcloth over a sponge, though it’s easier to clean a dishcloth than replace a sponge. To clean dishcloths, simply wash them in the washing machine.

Be sure to use bleach and hot water for the ultimate effect. You can also eliminate bacteria through heat exposure by hanging dishcloths in the sun to dry or by running them through the dryer.

Of the dishwashing tools mentioned, brushes are actually the most hygienic choice. Brushes are easier to clean and have faster drying times, which makes them less appealing environments for bacteria. Clean them by tossing the dishwasher-safe models in the dishwasher.

You also can soak the bristles of the brush in vinegar for a couple of hours and then rinse it off with hot water. This will help loosen any remaining debris and kill any leftover bacteria. If necessary, you may have to use a fork to fully remove any particles that might remain.