We all do laundry, in some way, shape or form. And I bet most of the time whatever is in the hamper is what goes into the washer.
Some not so obvious thing, though, also really need to be laundered to wash away bacteria, virus, and even fungus or parasites.
- Reusable shopping bags
- laundry bags or hamper liners
- Hats/visors
- Medical items like a back brace, wrist brace or ace bandage
- pillows
- make up brushes
- fabric dish cloths & towels
- Pet dishes
- Pet bedding
- Electronic equipment
Reusable Shopping bags : Thanks for considering the environment! But also now consider your health. Reusable bags can garner all kinds of bacteria that rubs off from fruits and vegetables, off boxes, and of course from meat juices. It’s best to wash cloth bags after every use, or at a minimum every few uses.
Laundry bags/ hamper bags: as with cloth food bags, bacteria from clothes and whatever was on the clothes will be transferred by direct contact onto a laundry bag. At least once a month wash the laundry bag or hamper bag (my wooden hamper has a cloth lining) along with a load of clothes.
Hats: wash at least once a month, just like the hamper bag. Continual wearing will transfer hair dirt and oils, as well as mites from eyebrows (yes, we all have them!). And think about where you hat lands – on a table, a chair, someplace outside on the ground? Chances are it harbors a lot more bugs and grime than you would care to know about!
Braces and the like: same as with hats, continual or frequent wearing will absorb body oils, skin cells, and environmental dirt. You don’t want to end up with a skin infection in addition to whatever problem lads you to wear a brace!
Pillows: I read once that pillows should be replaced every couple years. Dust and body mites end up taking over the pillow, eating the pillow material, and leave mite dust (i.e. mite feces) inside that pillow case. Given what a good pillow costs these days, I’m not sure I want that, so anything that can prolong the safe use of my favorite pillow works for me. I happen to love http://My Pillow – and according to the manufacturer they last longer than the average pillow, and are completely washable. That said, you can wash even a feather pillow in your washer. Just throw in a sneaker to help fluff it in the dryer. The dryer by itself, on high heat, will kill mites.
Make up brushes: Those little brushes build up all kinds of bacteria and skin cells in them. Give them a gentle washing every couple weeks, especially if you use them daily. After using baby or other gentle soap, rinse well and dry with paper towels, then lay flat on a small towel to dry before putting them away in a drawer or brush package. This is especially important for brushes used around your eyes. It makes applying makeup safer, as well as extending the lifetime of the brush. While your at it, throw out any old eye shadow or blush that will contaminate that nice clean brush the next time you use it.
Fabric dish cloths and towels: I’ve given up buying sponges and gone back to an old fashioned dish cloth. Sponges build up a tremendous amount of bacteria, and I see people who use the same sponge for weeks. Ugh. A dish cloth will also build up bacteria, but I can get out a clean one every day and throw the used one in the hamper (another reason to wash the hamper lining!) Same thing with towels – we all have plenty of them. Wash them every day or two, not just once a week. AS my friend said, “a stained cloth/towel doesn’t mean it’s dirty”. So even then they don’t look brand new anymore, they are still safer to use than a sponge.
Pet dishes: this item made the news not too long ago. How many times do we just pour in the dry food daily without thinking about when we last washed the dish? Pets explore the world with their mouths – puppies notoriously chew on things. Dogs and cats lick and chew on all kinds of things, especially outside – when was the last time your farm dog dragged home a piece of rotting carcass? Think about that for a moment….and did he lick your face later that same day? Whatever grime was in his mouth also went into the dog dish and on your skin. Pet bowls have been found to carry a number of serious infectious bacteria when left unwashed. So do you and your dog a favor by running the dish under soap & hot water, or into the dishwasher one cycle every week. Don’t forget teh water bowl too!
Pet bedding: if you’ve ever had a flea infestation in your house then you know mites, & fleas (adults and larva) can hide out for a long time. Use a cover on a dog bed (even an old blanket) that can be removed and washed. If the bed isn’t too big and can fit in your washer, you might want to try washing the whole thing. I have found that those with foam padding may not return to the original shape however.
Electronic equipment: items with hard surfaces that we use frequently also need a gentle cleaning. Not only does it prolong the lifetime of the item, but cleaning will prevent the spread of germs and flu virus between family members. Think things like computer keyboards, telephone handsets, iPads, tv remotes, and the like. Technology has invaded most of our lives, so let’s keep it from making us sick! Use a moist disinfecting wipe or barely moist towel sprayed with disinfectant to kill germs. Be careful not to make it too wet so moisture could leak into the unit around keys or buttons.
What other items in your home need attention? Let me know what I forgot!