Ask a House Cleaner, Sponges, Savvy Cleaner

Sponges for House Cleaning? Or is that Gross?

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Dirty cleaning sponges with used disposable glovesLet’s talk sponges. Should you use sponges for house cleaning? Or do sponges carry too much bacteria? And when should you use a non-scratch scrub sponge (or scrubby sponge) over a Magic Eraser sponge? 

We Ask a House Cleaner how to disinfect a sponge and best kitchen sponges for everyday use. 

Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru talks type of sponges and the best sponge for cleaning a bathroom. 

Today’s sponsors are Savvy Perks (Employee perks program for small business owners.) Savvy Cleaner (Training for house cleaners and maids.) My Cleaning Connection (a hub for cool cleaning stuff including the infamous long lasting sponge.)

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Hey there, I’m Angela Brown, and this is Ask a House Cleaner. This is a show where you get to ask a house cleaning question, and I get to help you find an answer.

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Question: Sponges for House Cleaning? Or is that GrossSponges, Cleaning Shower With Sponge?

 Sponges. Should you use sponges when you clean house or is that gross? Because then you’re cross-contaminating from house to house? “I was wondering how you feel about using sponges and places like bathroom showers and around the toilet and all the sinks and things like that. Is there anything else that we can use to maybe cut down on costs? Because when you use a sponge, then you have to throw it away. I would hate to take a sponge from one customer’s toilet and shower and then use it on another customer’s sink or something like that. What are our options?” 

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Answer: Cross Contamination of Sponges

Incompatible Workers, SpongesFirst of all, let me say that I’m not a fan of cross-contamination. If there’s an opportunity for you to have sponges specific to each customer’s house, you’re talking about a great big bin of sponges.

You can buy your sponges in bulk, which is what I recommend. Even big warehouse discount places like Sam’s and Costco, sell big packs of sponges. This way you can have one per customer.

Now how you break that up is up to you, whether you have an individual pack that you take to each customer’s house with their stuff in it.

That’s always the way that I’ve preferred to do it, because that way I know when I do my inventory, oh, this is Mrs. Jones’ tomorrow. This is Mrs. Jones’ pack of stuff.

Have Customer Specific Supplies – Including Sponges

Sponges, String MopNow, back in the day before washable mop pads, we had string mops. We had a different mop for every customer.

On the initial deep clean we charge more. We chare more because we are buying cleaning supplies like a mop, sponges and toilet brush just for that customer. The supplies we brought back with us (like the sponges.) We cleaned them with baking soda and put them in a Ziploc baggie with their name on it. 

This prevented us from cross-contaminating sponges at different customer’s houses.

The cloths and washable mop heads we wash together because those we can sanitize. 

Do You Use a Sponge on a Toilet?

Sponges, Cleaning Toilet With SpongeNow there are things that are up for debate. One of them is; do you use a sponge on toilets? I don’t. I don’t use anything except paper towels and spray on toilets for this reason. I’m talking about the outside of the toilet, the underneath side of the toilet, both sides of the seat, and the floor around the toilet.

Inside the toilet, we’ll use a toilet brush to clean the toilet bowl ring. But this way you’re not using a sponge on a toilet and then using (or tempted to use it) on a sink. 

You don’t want to scatter toilet germs around the bathroom.

Wipe the commode down with a paper towel and then toss the toilet paper in the trash. And I do carry paper towels with me for this reason. 

I don’t cross-contaminate even inside the same house from the toilet to toilet. Or from the toilet to shower or from the toilet to shower to sink to any one of those things.

I Love My Non-Scratch Scrub Sponges

Sponges, SoapyBut I do love the non-scratch scrub sponges. One side is scrubby. It’s a non-scratch scrubby so that I can use it on fiberglass like on the bottoms of the bathtubs or the bottoms of a shower. Or I can turn it over and I can use the non-scratch part on the side of a shower door for example with some dish soap to get off the soap scum. The key is to know what kind of sponge to use on what. 

I am a fan of sponges and I enjoy using them, all 5 types. I think they’re great for what they’re designed to do. But cross-contamination, no, because that is kind of gross and it’s kind of icky.  

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Resources For This Episode

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Extra Durable, Cleaning Pads with Durafoam – https://amzn.to/2Ew3XVr

Grouting Super Sponge – https://amzn.to/2qe8SpI

Scotch-Brite Greener Clean Natural Fiber Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge, Made from 100% – https://amzn.to/2EvSftL

Kitchen Sink Caddy Sponge Holder, Dull rout Slim Sink Organization Basket for Kitchen Accessories, Sponges, Dish Brushes- Stainless Steel – https://amzn.to/2GLUqvp

Scotch-Brite 6 Piece Multi-Purpose Scrub Sponge Pack – https://amzn.to/2EwoWaG

Multi-purpose Scouring Pads by Scrub-It / Non- Scratch Cleaning for Pots, Pans, Dishes, Utensils & Non-Stick Cookware – Sponge Use for Kitchen, Bathroom – https://amzn.to/2qhXKbp

Body Sponge – Natural Sea Wool Sponge 4-5″ by Spa Destinations ® Amazing Natural Renewable Resource “Creating the In Perfect Bath and Shower Experience – https://amzn.to/2IFT0D

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

 

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