DIY Cleaning Blog - Tips & More from SpongeOutlet.com

What to Clean Before Brining Your New Baby Home

There’s no doubt about it, preparing your home for a new baby is a huge feat. You need to stock up on supplies, baby-proof areas like sockets and sharp corners, paint the nursery and that’s not even counting the ways you’ll need to mentally prepare!

One thing that new-moms-to-be are liable to forget about in the stress and excitement of having a new baby is cleaning the home. Bringing a new baby into your house is a great reason to do a little spring cleaning, no matter what time of year it is. You don’t want built up dust and grime bothering your newborn; plus, you’ll probably have a ton of visitors in the next few months, and visitors usually bring their germs with them.

If you’re not sure where to start when it’s time to start cleaning your home in preparation for baby, here’s a list for you and your partner to tackle together.

Clean the Crib & Changing Table Before Baby Arrives

Even if you just purchased your baby’s bedroom furniture, it will need to be cleaned before the baby comes home. The warehouse or shop where the furniture was built or sold probably was not the most sanitary space, so make sure to disinfect all surfaces.

If your items are hand-me-downs, use an eraser sponge to remove stickers, crayon marks, and other general wear and tear that may show on the furniture.

Clean the Nursery Curtains Before Bringing Baby home

If your nursery has curtains hung on the windows, take them down and wash them before baby arrives. Curtains are notorious for holding dust build-up, so if you’re making some cosmetic updates to the room, go with blinds instead. They’re easier to clean, and won’t hold as much dust.

Clean the Car Before Taking Your Baby Home

Head to the garage for your next cleaning task: Give your car a good cleaning on the interior before you drive baby home from the hospital. Build up on the door handles and steering wheel can transfer from your hands onto your newborn, and since they hardly have an immune system yet, you don’t want to risk them getting sick!

Use our microfiber cloths and disinfectant spray on all parts of the car’s interior (and exterior, like door handles) that you touch on a regular drive. And, while you’re at it, make sure baby’s car seat handles are disinfected, and if you can remove the padding for baby’s seat, toss it in the wash.

Clean the Carpets Before Bringing Baby Home

Carpeting is another notorious item for storing dust and mildew. Check out a non-toxic cleaning service. It may not smell as lemon-y fresh, but it’ll clean your carpets without leaving behind chemicals that can be harmful to your baby.

Clean the Kitchen Before Bringing Your Baby Home

Baby food prep, whether you’re breastfeeding or not, will most likely happen in the kitchen—those bottles of breastmilk won’t warm themselves up, after all. Make sure you do a deep clean of your kitchen, including all surfaces, the sink, and the inside of your appliances, including the fridge and the microwave. Anything that you do in the kitchen (like marinating cubes of raw chicken) could come in contact with a baby food item or your formula. Take precautions once baby arrives, but a deep-clean prior to that day will make you worry less.

Clean all Linens Before Baby Arrives

Don’t just open a fresh set of sheets for the crib and throw them on: make sure to machine wash them with soap that’s safe for baby. You should do the same for your bedding, too, including your comforter and any throw pillows that you have hanging around. Chances are, you and baby will be spending quite a bit of time napping in your bed, so cleaning the crib is only half the battle.

Preparing to bring home baby doesn’t have to be a scary process. If you make a list of all the items you need to clean prior to leaving for the hospital, then you and your partner can cross everything off in a couple of days.

Once baby arrives, don’t forget to work these disinfecting practices into your regular cleaning routine: wiping down surfaces with disinfecting wipes will keep your baby from being exposed to potentially germs! And tools like microfiber clothes and eraser sponges can help make your cleaning routine easier to deal with.

For more information on how to stay clean after baby comes home, click here to read our post about how eraser sponges will make cleaning a breeze for any mom.

Posted on May 1, 2018November 8, 2022 by spongeoutlet

How to Use Our Eraser Sponges on Your Car

Cleaning your car with SpongeOutlet Products

During the winter months, it can be hard to keep your car looking clean. The roads are often covered in salt on a daily basis and paying for a car wash seems pointless.

Although we understand the struggle, it’s really important to regularly wash that four-wheeled vehicle. Spring is here (hopefully to stay) which should make it easier to get out and clean your car yourself, saving you money down the line!

A buildup of dirt and grime on a car can result in chipped paint and rusted metal on the exterior of your car and believe it or not, the inside of your car can suffer too from not getting cleaned on a regular basis.

SpongeOutlet has some tips on how you can clean and preserve the exterior and interior of your car with our products, such as our eraser sponge and microfiber towel.

If you’re planning on doing a little bit of “spring cleaning” within your car, which you certainly should, keep these tips handy! If you follow our instructions, both your interior and exterior will shine for months to come.

Using Eraser Sponge on your Cars Interior

You might think that our eraser sponges are meant to be used only in the home but they can serve a great purpose when it comes to cleaning your car as well.

Start with taking a wet sponge to your car’s center console and dashboard.

Both of these areas not only collect a lot of dust but host fingerprints and coffee spills which build up on the surface over time, making them appear both dull and dirty. Using gentle motions move the eraser sponge in a circular motion to remove any buildup.

The steering wheel is another space that you’ll want to pay close attention to when doing a thorough cleaning of your car.

If you are in your car, chances are your hands are on the steering wheel which makes it one of the places that gets, quite frankly, filthy. You can use our eraser sponge to remove gunk and grime from your steering wheel, leaving it as good as new.

If you have a leather or vinyl interior, an eraser sponge can be great for removing food stains or even colored pencil stains if your children got carried away crafting in the backseat during a long road trip.

Click here for some more tips on using your eraser sponge to get the interior of your car cleaned up.

Eraser Sponge for Your Cars Exterior

The eraser sponge can also be used on some parts of your car’s exterior to remove tough stains.

For instance, our hubcaps or rims are often one of the first things on our car to get soiled. If your hubcaps are looking dull, wet an eraser sponge and start scrubbing to make your whole wheel look brand new.

Watch the video below to check out our technique when it comes to scrubbing your hubcaps clean:

It is important to avoid using our eraser sponge on any painted portion of your car because it may cause the paint to chip or fade. However, areas with stubborn stains such as door handles, roof racks, grills, and even glass can benefit from a bit of eraser sponge action!

Wipe with a Microfiber Cloth on the Interior

On a daily basis, your car’s interior collects dust just like your home does. Consider keeping one of our microfiber cloths in your glove compartment to give your car a quick wipe down before you park it for the night. You’ll be surprised to find out how much dust actually builds up inside your car!

If it’s time to give the exterior of your car a good washing, you can use our microfiber cloths to clean your car as well.

Simply fill a bucket of warm water with an appropriate soap, dip in our microfiber cloth, and start wiping!

You can also use our microfiber cloths to dry your car once you’re finished rinsing away any soap residue.

Once you’ve cleaned your car, you should also consider giving it a fresh wax. Other towels made from cotton can leave particles behind resulting in streaks after waxing but our microfiber cloths won’t. The smooth fabric of our microfiber cloth will leave your car looking shiny and clean with no lint left behind.

While you’re cleaning, Auto Trader says you should also check your tire pressure and your wiper blades. Don’t forget to check the oil, too.

Cleaning your car can be a pain, but it’s important to do regularly: don’t overlook the interior after you wash the exterior! The products we offer here at SpongeOutlet can help make the process easier to deal with.

Check out SpongeOutlet’s new video series on our YouTube page for more everyday cleaning tips!

Posted on April 23, 2018 by spongeoutlet

What to Clean at Home After Getting Sick

Spring may have sprung in some parts of the country, but besides warm weather and longer days, that means one thing for sure: it’s the season of the common cold!

No matter what you do on a daily basis, you’re at-risk for the common cold when the weather changes from cold to warm; when you’re out and about, there’s not much you can do to avoid it except washing your hands frequently, and staying away from other people who are sick. If someone gets sick in your home, though, then you definitely need to take a few preventative steps to keep others in your household from getting sick.

Here are some tips on what to clean at home after getting sick, to prevent your loved ones and any visitors to your home from picking up the same virus!

Clean the Usual Places After Getting Sick

High-traffic areas should be your first stop after a virus runs its course through your home. Use disinfectant spray to tackle door knobs, light switches, bedside tables, kitchen appliances, TV remotes, cell phones, and drawer pulls that you may have touched while you were contagious. Don’t forget your garbage cans: if there were lots of tissues piled up in there, your garbage can could probably use a good wipe down.

Think about where you spent most of your sick day home from work, and make sure to disinfect those areas: you might want to add your coffee table, bedside table, entertainment center, gaming consoles and anything else you used to pass your sick time, to the list.

Clean Toys After Getting Sick

If you have kids and one of them was the virus carrier, make sure to disinfect their toys and stuffed animals. Stuffed animals may be able to be machine washed, but for most toys, you’ll need to disinfect and wipe dry. Some toys can be cleaned by going in the top shelf of the dishwasher.

This can prevent your kiddo from spreading the virus to his or her friends at school, and it’ll also make other parents feel more comfortable bringing their little one by for a play date after your child has recovered.

Wash Your Bedding After Getting Sick

If you wallowed in bed for a couple of days during your cold, chances are, your sheets could use a wash. When you’re sick, you sweat more than usual, especially if you had a fever. So, once you’re cured, strip the bedding and wash everything. While your bedding tumbles dry, leave your mattress uncovered for a while so that it can air out, too. Take your vacuum cleaner stick attachment to the mattress to rid it of dust and dandruff that can aggravate colds and allergies in the future.

Wash everything in hot water and use a bit of liquid bleach if your sheets can tolerate it!

Clean Bathrooms After Getting Sick

Clean your bathroom and not just the touchpoints like the faucet. Do a deep clean of the bathroom where the sick family member spent time; wash the shower curtains, scrub the tub and the toilet, and use a disinfectant spray on the sink. Tile floors should be mopped, and any rugs or mats tossed in the washing machine.

Don’t forget the towels! Hand towels should be washed every couple of days and more frequently when someone is sick to prevent spreading the illness. In fact, it’s a good idea to designate one specific hand towel per person while someone is fighting off a cold, to be extra sure that the virus won’t pass while you’re washing your hands in the bathroom.

Use a microfiber cloth for disinfecting the bathroom and other hard surfaces, like the countertop in the kitchen: you’ll get a cleaner clean than using items like paper towels, and you can wash and re-use microfiber cloths.

Clean Your Toothbrush After Getting Sick

If you use an electric toothbrush, follow the cleaning instructions that came with the product in order to give it a deep clean. Disposable tooth brushes should be swapped out for a fresh one.

Let Fresh Air In Your House After Getting Sick

An open window will help wash out that old, stale air from your home so that everything smells fresh and clean. If it’s chilly in your neighborhood, crack the windows at night while you’re snuggled in bed: a little bit of fresh air can do wonders, but you won’t recover fully if it’s too cold inside!

Clean Your Car After Getting Sick

Don’t forget to clean your car! Your steering wheel probably has some dirt and grime on it from your cold, so use a disinfectant spray that’s safe on leather (or whatever your wheel is made of) and disinfect, along with other frequently touched areas in your car like the radio dial, gear shift, and cup holders.

Watch our video for additional car cleaning tips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky9kpm6yaq4

If you’re careful to clean all of these areas in your home, and quit sharing water bottles and food while you’re feeling under the weather, there’s no reason to believe that anyone else will catch your cold!

For more cleaning tips, head over to the Sponge Outlet’s blog, and pick up a few of our essential cleaning supplies, like our eraser sponge, today.

Posted on March 16, 2018 by spongeoutlet

Fully Clean Your Basement With This Guide

It’s officially spring cleaning season, and if you’ve been meaning to get to your basement for a couple of spring seasons now, this year is the year to finally tackle it! We know that it can be hard to fit in de-cluttering and deep-cleaning your home with your busy schedule, but it’s important to make the time for these tasks as often as possible. Dust build up can irritate asthma and negatively affect the air quality of your home; plus, hoarding too much junk isn’t good for anyone.

But, there’s no doubt about it—cleaning up your basement is a huge job. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry: Sponge Outlet has created a basement cleaning guide for you.

Follow these steps, and you’ll have an organized, clean basement in just a couple of days.

De-Clutter and De-Junk Your Basement

The most logical place to start cleaning a basement is by getting rid of your junk. It’s also probably the most difficult item on the list, so getting it out of the way first will make the rest of the process much easier to handle.

You might want to recruit a few friends or family members to help you with this step since de-cluttering your basement is no joke.

Most people use their basement as a storage space, and if you’ve lived in your home for a while, chances are there are tons of random items piled up down there. Take your time and sort through all of your belongings. Open every box and bin, and make sure you take a good inventory of what you have.

Then, start sorting things into piles: if you’re not sure where to start, use categories like these—summer sporting goods, winter sporting goods, off-season clothing, important paperwork, miscellaneous items, and more. Depending on what’s in your basement, your piles will differ.

Once you have everything allocated to a pile, think about how you want to re-organize your basement. It’s important to put everything back in a very organized manner—otherwise, the deep clean will be for naught! You might want to take a quick trip to the hardware store or home goods store to pick up some fresh containers and a few label makers. Start putting things away in a way that makes sense to you, and make sure you clearly label all your boxes.

As you go, toss items that are broken and beyond repair, and make a donate pile of things you no longer need. If you haven’t used the item in the past two years, you’ll probably never need it again. If you can afford to part with it, do it! Local charities will be happy to sort through your belongings and make sure it all goes to a home that could use it.

Dust & Vacuum Your Basement

Before you start re-stacking the shelves, grab the vacuum cleaner and clean out the hard-to-reach crevices behind your shelving. If you can move furniture, do so and do a thorough vacuum of the carpet. You can’t do such a deep clean every year, but it’s important to do so occasionally.

For those of you with concrete surfaces in your basement, use warm water and detergent with a nylon brush to clean the floors. When you’re finished, use a soft mop to rinse the floors with warm water.

Get Rid of the Musty Smell in Your Basement

If your basement tends to have a musty smell, it probably needs some fresh air, a few fans, and a de-humidifier. Talk to your local hardware store about the best way to get some air flowing in your basement.

A few days of fresh air and a new set of fans, combined with a strategically placed de-humidifier, will have your basement smelling fresh in no time.

If you notice mold as you deep-clean your basement, call in the professionals. Chances are that it’s just a harmless household mold, but it could still be dangerous to you and your family. Keep your respiratory systems safe and have an expert mold removal team stop by your basement.

Prep Your Cleaning Toolbox for Your Basement

As you clean, it’s important to have a few key tools handy at all times. Start with a regular sponge to clean up messes, as well as an eraser sponge to tackle tough grease or stains. You’ll also need white vinegar, a soft cloth, dish-washing liquid, a bucket, ammonia for tough messes, a dustpan and broom, vacuum cleaner, baking soda, and kitty litter to mop up any moisture.

Don’t forget to order everything you need for the basement job right here at Sponge Outlet.

Posted on March 9, 2018March 10, 2022 by spongeoutlet

Five Spring Cleaning Tips

Spring is in the air! Which means, it’s time to put away your heavy winter coats, and bring the spring wardrobe out of the closet. And, that means it’s time to do some serious spring cleaning.

Doing a deep-clean of your home once a year is important. It prevents dirt built up on your floors and tile, and also gives you a chance to clean places that you typically leave alone during a normal clean. Plus, it’s a great time to de-clutter your home and get rid of things you haven’t used in the last 12 months or so.

Read on for some spring cleaning tips you won’t want to miss.

We’ll help you keep your spring cleaning to-do list manageable, so you can get your home in tip top shape and can enjoy the spring season.

Spring Cleaning Tip 1: Get Organized

No one likes to be cooped up inside all day vacuuming when the weather is nice, so it’s important to get organized about your spring cleaning and get ahead of it: the more you plan and organize, the less time you’ll waste, so you can get back to your regularly scheduled spring programming in no time.

Make a list of all of the items you want to tackle this spring-cleaning season. Suggestions from House Beautiful include cabinets, windows, the inside of your dishwasher, your fridge shelves, silverware, oven, wood floors, carpet, storage areas, pantry, washing machine, mattress, painted walls, bookshelves, and outdoor furniture.

Spring Cleaning Tip 2: De-Clutter

The best thing to do first when spring cleaning is to de-clutter. Take everything out of your closets, first. Get rid of winter clothing that you didn’t wear this season or last season, and pare down by getting rid of anything you don’t love anymore. Make sure you donate clothing that’s still in good shape to your local Good Will or charity.

Make a pile of shoes you need to get repaired, and call around local shoe repair shops to get the best price. You should also wash or dry clean your winter coats before packing them away for the spring and summer season when you won’t need them.

In the kitchen, take everything out of your pantry and throw away any items that are expired. Don’t forget to check your spice cabinet, too—if you don’t cook frequently, some of those spice bottles may be too old to use!

Wipe out the cabinets and vacuum the bottom of your closet before putting everything away.

Spring Cleaning Tip 3: Visit the Outside of Your House

Choose an overcast day to tackle the outside of your home. Wash the windows (inside and outside), and dust and clean the porch furniture that’s been sitting in your garage all winter. If you need to do some mild landscaping before the spring hits, get that out of the way too.

Use your garden hose to get rid of spider webs or built up dirt on the siding of the house, and if you need to, rent a power washer from your local hardware store to get pollen build up off the side of your home.

Sweep the porch and the deck, clean your welcome mats, and get everything set up for the spring!

Spring Cleaning Tip 4: Tackle the Inside of Your House

Take it one room at a time in the interior of your home, and plan to split this process up over a few days; getting everything done all at once won’t work!

Take down all of the curtains and wash them to remove dust and any other build up. Dust everything! Don’t forget places like the back part of your bookshelves, ceiling fans, sconces, baseboards, night stands, coffee tables, and any other surface that collects dust.

If you have a pet, use the attachment on your vacuum cleaner to get rid of hair and fur on your upholstered surfaces, including your headboard, couches and chairs.

Vacuum and shampoo the carpeting in each room, moving your furniture as you go so that you clean the entire carpet rather than just the traffic areas.

Good Housekeeping says you shouldn’t forget to vacuum your mattress! Use the crevice tool on your vacuum to remove dust from your mattress.

Clean the kitchen next: wipe down your cabinets—if they’re wood, use a wood cleanser so that you don’t dry them out. Clean your appliances, including your oven, microwave and dishwasher, and use vinegar to deep-clean your stainless-steel pots and pans. Don’t forget the fridge: remove all of your food, toss out expired items, and use a disinfectant spray to wipe down the shelves. You may be able to remove them and pop them in the dishwasher.

Spring Cleaning Tip 5: Pay Attention to Your Walls

Your walls can build up with grime from fingertips and other grease, so use an eraser sponge, like the ones we offer here at SpongeOutlet, to freshen up areas around door knobs, light switches, highly trafficked corners, and more.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be overwhelming: follow these tips, and stock up on cleaning supplies from SpongeOutlet before you dive in. If you stay organized and stick to a schedule, your home will be cleaner than ever in just a few days!

Posted on February 27, 2018 by spongeoutlet

Importance of Household Chores

If you’ve got a couple of kiddos running around your house, chances are it’s a bit harder for you than it is for your friends without kids to keep the house looking spic and span at all times. Luckily, if your kids are old enough to locate their toy bin, you can usually have them help out with chores. But, the benefits won’t just be a tidier house.

Kids who grew up doing chores around the house are more confident, self-assured, and responsible later in life. So, asking your kids to do a set list of chores each week or each day, like making their beds and cleaning their rooms, or helping to take out the garbage, can actually contribute to making them more successful adults.

Teach a Work Ethic

Chores are the easiest way to instill a work ethic in your kids at a young age. If you decide to give your children an allowance when they’re old enough, without making them work a bit for the money—even if it’s just a few bucks—you’re missing an opportunity to teach them a lesson about the value of their time and money, and how to have a good work ethic.

Earning their allowance rather than simply being given their allowance will make your kids more aware of the idea of working for their money. They may spend it less haphazardly if they were working to earn a certain amount to save up for a toy. If money is just handed over at the end of the week, your kids might start to take the presence of money for granted.

Start with a chore wheel or a list of tasks that your kids need to do each week; if, at the end of the week, they successfully completed each task, dole out that allowance money. If they forgot to take out the trash, but still kept their playroom clean, doc a few bucks from their pay and explain that completing the chore list and contributing is what gets them that Friday payday.

Build Confidence

According to VeryWell.com, having your kids do chores around the house will leave them feeling accomplished, because they contributed to the household. That sense of accomplishment is an important factor in raising a child, especially when the pressures of school and social lives can be tough to handle, even from a young age. Allowing your kids to take part in the household chores gives them something to make them part of the team, leaving them more self-assured and confident in other situations.

So much in our childhoods is outside of our control, and that’s a tough concept for many kids to grasp; but when they are in control of their own toys and are invested in certain chores around the house, they’ll feel grounded, useful, and self-assured.

Grow Resourcefulness

Doing chores around the house isn’t about making things perfect; it’s about getting the job done. Participation in household chores will teach your kids to be resourceful, and how to manage time.

For example, if your child needs to clean the playroom one afternoon, but doesn’t want to miss their TV show, encourage your child to clean up during commercial breaks or before the show comes on. Having a goal-oriented task can force your child to problem solve, be resourceful, and manage their time.

Prepare for Adulthood

It might seem like a silly concept: your 7-year-old doesn’t have to worry about being a grown-up just yet, right? But in fact, ThirtyHandMadeDays.com says chores will help your kids by preparing them for adulthood—simply by showing them how to do household chores.

As your kids get older and take on more responsibility, they’ll learn the skills they need for running their own successful household as adults. For example, you may dust before vacuuming so that any errant dust gets picked up, and use bleach products in the bathroom. Your kids will notice these things, and carry them into their own homes when they move out someday. Plus, asking your children for help with the laundry will make learning how to do their own when they’re off to college that much easier.

Start Now

PBS says the key to instilling all of these things in our children so that they can have a successful life is to start while they are young; while toddlers may not be able to grab the vacuum cleaner out of the closet and go to town on the living room, encouraging them to keep their space neat and tidy, and contributing to other chores, like clearing plates and cups after a meal, will get them on the right track. As soon as your kids are old enough to start to understand a rewards system, use stickers or an allowance to help keep them goal-oriented on completing their weekly tasks.

When your kids are in their teenage years, they can contribute a lot more, like by being responsible for bringing in the mail, taking out the trash, and even doing their own laundry.

No household cleaning kit is complete without a great eraser sponge; no matter how old your kids are, your home’s walls are bound to be covered in either crayons and markers or smudges of some kind! Click here to learn about the eraser sponges we offer here at Sponge Outlet, and call us today at 877-776-6430 to learn more about our products.

Posted on February 1, 2018 by spongeoutlet

Why Cleaning is Good for Your Health

Have you ever felt like a good cleaning, top to bottom, in your house just makes you feel good? It’s true that we’re supposed to clean our homes, offices and cars regularly, but there’s more at stake than just simple presentation: cleaning is actually good for your health. In fact, the Huffington Post says that there’s a direct correlation between people who have clean homes, and people who lead active, healthy lives.

Here are a few reasons why cleaning is good for your health that just might inspire you to break out the broom and mop when you get home this evening.

Burn Calories

IndiaTimes.com says that cleaning is literally and physically good for your health because it burns calories. If you’re doing light calisthenics like vacuuming and dusting hard-to-reach places, on your feet and moving around, you can probably burn about 200 calories per hour while you vacuum. That’s not a reason to skip the gym all week, but the workout while you clean will actually contribute to making your body feel good afterwards. Exercise, after all, releases endorphins which make you feel good.

So, the next time you have to do a household task like scrubbing dishes or mopping the floor, think of it like a workout. You’ll be accomplishing two things (working out and cleaning) in the same amount of time.

Reduce Anxiety

For people who suffer from occasional anxiety, cluttered and unclean environments can sometimes heighten their emotions, leading to more stress and more unhappiness. If you make a point to regularly clean and de-clutter your space, you can actively reduce the possibility that your home environment will contribute to your anxiety levels in the future. The act of cleaning reduces stress, and a clean, clutter-free space can continue to stave off feelings of anxiety or stress that may be caused by your day-to-day life.

Improve Concentration

Cleaning and de-cluttering can also serve to enhance your ability to concentrate. This is especially important for people who work out of their homes. Messy countertops, piles of laundry, and garbage that needs to be taken out can be distracting while you’re trying to get work done. When you take care of all of that before you sit down to tackle your to-do list, you’ll end up being more focused and have an easier time concentrating on your tasks at hand.

Improve Allergy Symptoms

Many of us suffer from allergies; no matter how many times you clear off your countertop of old bills, if you’re not dusting, vacuuming and sanitizing your home, dust can still trigger allergy symptoms for you. Regularly cleaning your space and removing harmful allergens like dust and dandruff from your pets can improve your health by reducing your allergies.

Remove Harmful Bacteria

Every day, we come in contact with bacteria. On the train while we commute to work, at the office, at a restaurant, when we’re hanging out with our friends at the movies, and when our kids have a play-date at the house down the street. When we venture back into our homes at the end of a busy day, we’re bringing with us all of the bacteria we’ve come into contact with throughout the day. Sure, it’s important to wash your hands when you walk in the door, but harmful bacteria can be spread throughout your home via the soles of your shoes, your gym bag, your cell phone, and more.

Mopping your kitchen floors and your entryway isn’t just about removing stains and keeping the wood shiny and fresh, it’s also important to remove harmful bacteria that we’re tracking inside each and every day.

Some of the bacteria that we track into our homes can make us sick, so it’s important to regularly mop and disinfect your floors, wipe down your door handles, clean the tops of your counters, and make sure everything has been disinfected.

Prevent Illness

If someone in your family has a cold, cleaning your home can keep the other members of your family safe and protected from the virus that might be going around. Taking steps to prevent the spread of germs while a family member is sick is important, and starts with using disinfectant spray or wipes on high-traffic areas like door knobs, sink handles, the handles of the refrigerator, and more.

It’s important to look after the family member who is sick—but it’s equally important to make sure that your home stays clean so that the sickness isn’t spread to healthy family members.

Supplies You’ll Need

Here at SpongeOutlet, we offer everything you need to keep your home, office space and even your car clean and sanitary, so that you can maintain your good health. Click here to shop our products, and make sure to take a look at the eraser sponges, microfiber towels, regular sponges, floor pads, mops, dusters, and more. If you have any questions about our products or the materials we use to make them, give us a call today at 877-776-6430.

Posted on January 12, 2018 by spongeoutlet

Keeping Your Desk Clean

If you’re like most people, a clean, clutter-free workspace will allow you to be less distracted and ultimately get more done. Plus, with the office cold going around this time of year, it’s important to regularly disinfect!

But, many of us struggle to keep the desk area of our homes or offices completely neat and tidy. Here are some tips on how you can keep your desk clean, to help promote a successful, focused and germ-free workspace. Try a few of these out, and we bet you’ll start to get through your to-do list a bit faster!

Dust & De-Crumb

Chances are, the last time you gave your workspace a good, thorough cleaning (and not just a straightening up) was more than a couple of weeks ago. If you’re trying to maintain a clean, germ-free environment, regular cleaning is important. Start by creating a dusting regimen.

Every Friday evening before you leave the office (it can be Monday or Tuesday, or any day of the week that works for you), use a dust can and a microfiber cloth, to clean your workspace and rid the area of dust and crumbs from yesterday’s mid-day snack. You’ll thank us on Monday when your workspace is clean and tidy, and ready to help you tackle the week.

Magic Erase

For the areas that you touch most frequently, like the corners of your desk and the tops of your filing cabinets, take a magic eraser, to the area and gently buff away finger prints and other heavy grime. You might not think the area needs attention, but trust us, a little magic eraser will make your desk look like it’s brand new!

Disinfect

Once everything is erased, and dusted, it’s time to disinfect. Cnet says that keyboards can contain as much bacteria as a toilet seat—yuck! Unplug your keyboard and your mouse from your computer, remove any batteries that they might have, and give everything a once-over with a microfiber cloth and a bit of disinfectant spray. You can also use antibacterial wipes, or a sponge with warm water and a drop of antibacterial dish soap.

Don’t Forget: Computer Screens

Computer screens can get dusty throughout the course of the week. Gently wipe down your screens with a dry microfiber cloth, regularly. Microfiber is soft enough to remove any dust in the area without damaging your screens!

Don’t Forget: Computer Cables

Dust can also build up on your computer cables—when’s the last time you dusted everything underneath your desk? Build ups in this area can trigger asthma and allergies, and give your office and overall dingy feel. Make sure to tackle this area, every other week or once a month, with a microfiber duster.

In a Pinch: Scotch Tape

If you’ve got some leftover lunch crumbs on your desk or keyboard, but you’re out of desk dusting spray, wrap a few inches of scotch tape around your fingers, and use it to lift away pesky crumbs before depositing them in the trash.

Deep Clean: Remove the Keys

Apartment Therapy takes keyboard cleaning to the next level. How clean is it, after all, if you haven’t checked under the keys? If your keys are removable, use a small screw driver to pop them off and dust and remove crumbs and debris from underneath. Before you pop off the keys, snap a pic of how it looked before the deep clean, in case you forget where the ALT and CTL buttons belong!

Desk Phone

Do you wipe down your cell phone a few times a week? Don’t forget your office phone! It’s probably dustier than it is grimy, especially if you usually use your cell phone to make work calls, but it needs special attention nonetheless. Unplug, and use an air canister or a microfiber cloth to remove dust.

Mousepad

Spilled coffee on your mousepad lately? Flip it over to see if you can toss it in the wash; if not, use a cloth or a sponge with mild dish soap to get rid of any stains. And if it’s too far gone, consider asking your office manager to order you a new one!

Desk Calendar

If you have a calendar on your desk, there’s one thing you should know: cleaning underneath it is as important as keeping it up to date! Lift it once a week and wipe up any crumbs.

Bits & Bobs Tray

For those of you who tend to let things accumulate on your desk, a great way to keep it looking neat and tidy (and to make disinfecting a breeze) is to grab a tray from your local office supplies store to hold all your spare paperclips, business cards and push pins.

For more tips on keeping your life tidy and clean, visit our cleaning tips page. If you’re ordering cleaning supplies for an office (or like to purchase in bulk) call SpongeOutlet today at 877-776-6430.

Posted on January 4, 2018 by spongeoutlet

Holiday Cleaning Tips for the Home

The holidays are a time for special decorations, gifts and visitors, all of which require extra preparation and cleaning! So how can you tackle the messes around your house in time for your guests’ arrival? Follow these helpful holiday cleaning tips for the home.

Space Out Holiday Cleaning and Do It Early

To avoid feeling totally overwhelmed, try cleaning a little bit every day. You can divide up your cleaning task by the task itself, or clean an entire room a day.

Individual tasks:

decluttering
storage organization (closets, cabinets, refrigerator)
dusting
washing windows
wiping or cleaning surfaces (tables, countertops, appliances)
vacuuming and/or mopping

Cleaning by Room

Guest bedroom (if guests are staying overnight)
Living room/family room
Dining room
Hallway or mudroom
Kitchen
Bathroom

Using this method allows you time to do a thorough job without being rushed or left exhausted. Plus, you will have enough energy afterwards to enjoy time with your holiday guests. Before guests arrive, perform quick touch-ups such as wiping down counters and putting away items.

Don’t Overlook These Spots When Cleaning for the Holidays

It’s easy to overlook light switches, doors and baseboards as we don’t tend to notice these items on a daily basis. Use a wet Eraser Sponge to remove scuff marks from walls and doors, fingerprints and smudges from light switches, and dirt and grime from doors. Try our Eraser Sponge Extension Handle Kit to clean your baseboards without bending. It comes with four eraser sponges that attach to the handle via Velcro.

To use,:

Wet one of the kit’s eraser sponges and squeeze out the excess water
Stick it to the end of the handle
Use the buttons on the handle to extend it to desired length
Press it firmly against a baseboard, wall, or other surface and gently move it back and forth to clean away dust, dirt, stains and dark scuff marks.

Holiday Cleaning the Entryway

Your entryway is the first thing guests will encounter when they arrive at your home, so making sure it’s spick and span will guarantee a good first impression. Wipe down your front door with our Eraser Sponge, shake out the doormat and add some festive decorations like a holiday wreath and garland. Also be sure to organize coat closets and shoe storage so everything is neat and tidy. A clean and cozy entryway is just what you need to make your guests feel welcome!

Holiday Cleaning Tips for the Kitchen

All of your delicious food will taste better in a clean oven! Mix white vinegar and baking soda together to create a foamy mixture. Let it sit on greasy spots and then use our scrubby sponge to scrub it clean. Next, declutter your countertops and wipe them down with a Swedish Dishcloth. The Swedish Dishcloth is non-scratch and safe to use on marble and granite countertops and on wood cabinets.

Preparing a Guest Bedroom

If your guests are visiting from out of town, chances are they are staying at your home for all of the holiday fun. You’ll want your guests to feel like they are in a home-away-from-home, so make sure the guest bedroom is ready with fresh sheets, towels and extra toiletry items. If you don’t remember the last time you had guests stay over, chances are there is a lot of dust in the room, so you’ll want to remove it with microfiber cloths or a microfiber duster.

Not only will your guests need a place to sleep, but they will also need somewhere to put their clothing, coats and luggage. Tackle one closet at a time and empty everything out of it. After the closet is empty, create four piles: keep, give away, throw away and store. Don’t forget the golden rule: if you can’t remember the last time you wore or used something, get rid of it!

Tips for Cleaning the Bathroom

Go through the closet and medicine cabinets and get rid of any unnecessary items. Add new towels and replenish toilet paper and hand soap so you don’t have to worry about running out when the Christmas craziness begins.

Wipe down the bathroom sink, clean the toilet and mirror. Eraser sponges are great for removing dirt and grime from shower stall floors and soap scum from glass doors and tiles. You can also use an eraser sponge to clean the sink, floor and toilet bowl.

Now your home is ready for lots of company and entertaining! For home-cleaning supplies, shop now!

Posted on December 20, 2017December 6, 2022 by spongeoutlet

How to Remove Christmas Tree Sap This Holiday Season

We love our Christmas trees. The twinkling lights, the festive decorations, the presents waiting to be unwrapped … but then there’s the sap. Cleaning sticky pine sap residue off the floor could even turn Santa Claus into the Grinch. There is hope, however: with the right products and techniques you can eliminate Christmas tree sap this holiday season.

Here are a few tips for removing Christmas tree sap and preventing sticky, gooey buildup on your floors:

Use Ice to Remove Christmas Tree Sap

Placing ice cubes over puddles of sap for 10 to 15 minutes will cause the sap to harden. If you have hardwood floors, scrape the sap off with a plastic knife, a razor or even your fingernail. Just be careful to position the tool nearly parallel to the floor so you don’t scrape or scratch the wood or tile. For carpeted floors, use your fingers to pick the sap out of the carpet fibers.

Try Oil Soap to Remove Pine Tree Sap

Non-diluted oil soap, like Murphy’s, is great for cleaning pine sap off hardwood floors. Apply it with a sponge directly to the sap and let it sit for 15 minutes. The oil-based soap will soften the sap, making it easier to scrub off with a brush or non-scratch sponge and then rinse. If you don’t have oil soap, vegetable shortening or rubbing alcohol can work, too.

Don’t forget, the right products can go a long way toward protecting your floors this holiday season. SpongeOutlet’s amazing Eraser Sponge is ideal for spot cleaning carpet stains, and our Melamine Floor Pads will get your whole floor nice and clean after the holiday season ends and you take down your tree. Happy Holidays!

Posted on December 9, 2017December 6, 2022 by spongeoutlet

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