How Often You Really Need to Replace Your Mop, Sponges, and Other Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning supplies don’t stay clean for long, but it’s not always clear how often you should clean or replace them. Let’s go over some common supplies and how frequently they need to be tossed.

How often to replace your dish sponge

Toss out your dish sponge once per week, according to WebMD, and right away if it starts to smell. You should also wring it out every time you use it and store it in an airy place. There are two ways to clean a sponge, which you should do more often: You can pop it in the dishwasher during a cycle, or you can microwave it for a minute while it’s a little damp. In a test run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, microwaving sponges 99.99999% of present bacteria while dishwashing killed 99.9998%.

How often to replace your loofahs

If your loofah is natural, it should be tossed out every three to four weeks, per the Cleveland Clinic, and if it’s synthetic, feel free to hold onto it for two months. You can clean it weekly by soaking it in a diluted bleach solution for five minutes and rinsing it out, or just putting it in your dishwasher.

How often to replace your mop heads

According to Mop Pull, your mop head should be replaced every two to three months…but there’s a little more to it. If fibers are shedding or it’s just not doing a good job of cleaning anymore, toss it out. Wash your mop head regularly, ideally after every use, and never put it away wet or store it in a dark space, per Rubbermaid. You can toss detachable mop heads in the washing machine or add dish detergent to a bucket of water and lather it up, then rinse it off. If you want to go the extra mile, you can soak it in a diluted bleach mixture for about 10 minutes and rinse it again, then wring it out well and air dry it before putting it away.

How often to replace your cleaning rags

You should use a fresh rag in the kitchen every day or every other day at most, according to Apartment Therapy, so keep enough on hand that you’re not left without one while your others are in the wash. Once you notice major wear and tear, throw them out, but they should last a while as long as you’re washing them thoroughly.

How often to replace your brooms

There’s no hard and fast timeline for brooms, but you should chuck yours and replace it when the bristles are worn down—especially if there are gaps between them, as it’s way less effective once that happens. You should be washing it in warm, soapy water about once a month in the meantime. Here’s our full guide on broom cleaning.

How often to replace your toilet brushes

According to British bathroom retailer Drench, you should throw out your toilet brush every six months, though Good Housekeeping says you can hold onto it longer if you’re cleaning it after every use or at least weekly. Swish it around it warm, soapy water, then rinse it. You can also add bleach to cold water and soak your toilet brush for about 10 minutes, then rinse and air dry it. Make sure to clean its holder as well.