This is a guest post by Ann Smarty. Ann is a blogger and search marketer. Her recent project is My Blog Guest – a community of guest bloggers that welcomes new members.
Household supplies, such as mops, sponges, vacuums, and appliances won’t last forever. While they can be painful to replace due to their high cost, not replacing them will leave you with an item that no longer cleans the way it’s supposed to clean. In some cases, a poorly maintained cleaning tool that is kept too long can actually make the surface you’re cleaning even dirtier than it was in the first place. So, when is it time to switch to new household supplies?
When it’s no longer working at all.
This is the line in the sand for the average person. Once the head of the mop is no longer mopping, the vacuum is no longer vacuuming, or the bottle of Windex is empty, they will trudge to the store. However, this obvious “bare minimum” situation will generally happen long after the item should have been discarded.
When it shows significant deterioration.
Different items will deteriorate at different rates, and many variables will influence this particular time line. If you use an item more frequently than the average person, if you purchased a more durable variety, or if you maintain your item more often than average, the life of the item can be extended to a significant degree.
As such, general rules of thumb, such as replacing a sponge once a month, should remain rules of thumb. The key here is to pay attention and look for wear and tear that interferes with the actual function of the product.
When it’s likely to have deep contamination.
A sponge or mop that shows no significant wear and tear can still be infested with vicious bacteria. There’s no solid way to tell when this has happened, but proper maintenance and occasional replacement will serve as guardians against using bacteria infested implements.
Different bacteria killing techniques, such as microwaving your sponge, can be used to prolong the lifespan of your cleaning tools. At a bare minimum, items that see frequent use should have vulnerable areas replaced about once every other year. This includes the heads of mops, sponges, or any other absorbent material.
When it’s time to invest in new technology.
Eureka vacuums have been on the market for several decades. If you’re still using one of the company’s original models, then it’s probably time to check out some of the newer technology. In addition to being more powerful, new versions of products tend to save on energy consumption, add useful new features, and look more attractive.
If the job that you’re doing doesn’t meet your standards when all is said and done, it may not be because you didn’t put in enough elbow grease. Buying newer and better utilities for any task will increase the quality of the final result. If you’re looking for these final results, or are simply ready to make your life a little bit easier, it may be a good idea to look at the new innovations that have been introduced to cleaning supplies.
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