Let's Talk Cloths...

Whenever I clean a client's home, I supply all of the products, materials and equipment needed, including a huge supply of cloths. During an average house clean, I can go through literally dozens of cloths. I can't clean with dirty cloths or mop heads so as soon as they're dirty, I grab another clean one. They're colour coded and I never use cloths across different rooms or surfaces as this is unhygienic and can cause cross-contamination. Each home that I clean has its own supply of cloths and mop heads which are hot washed and sanitised after every clean. You can't clean properly and hygienically if you re-use dirty cloths, mop heads or any cleaning tool. This is why I carry so much kit around with me and look as though I am about to move in when I arrive to clean your home!

So many of us think to buy sprays, bottles and all of the liquid cleaning products out there, but few people think about the cloth they're going to use for each job. Finish perfection is achieved not just with the liquid products I carry in my kit but perhaps even more importantly, with the different styles and types of cleaning cloths I use. If you're looking for gleaming glass shower doors, shining taps, hobs, windows, mirrors, etc, that look like they did the day you got them, then you need the right cloth for the right job.

And you must wash your cloths after using them. I usually replace my cloths around every 2-3 months due to the amount of use and washes they go through. Everything has a life cycle and this is so true with cleaning. It includes your products, cloths, mop heads, vacuum cleaners and sponges. If we look after these things along the way, they often last longer but they still have a life cycle and it's important to remember that. Firstly it won't do the job it's intended for if it's worn, dirty and past its best. Secondly with something like a kitchen cloth, you need to think on a hygiene level and change it regularly.

I have colour coded cleaning cloths for all of my jobs, designating certain colours to cleaning certain areas to reduce the spread of germs and increase hygiene. Colour coding is not a legal requirement for professional cleaners but it's a widely used system by cleaners and businesses to create a safer operational environment. The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICS) recommends the use of colour coding to ensure hygiene standards. It can stop cross-contamination between areas that shouldn't share cleaning equipment such as bathrooms and kitchens. I am committed to the highest hygiene standards.