Chances are you’ve wiped, spritzed and scrubbed the things in your home more than ever before this year and some things you wouldn’t normally even think of - anti-bac wiping your post, anyone? But there are a few sneaky dirt magnets that, let’s face it, we just forget all about.

I’ve put together a list of five things to go and take a look at immediately in your home that are probably overdue a very good clean. And, if when you get there you find it’s had its day, I’ve linked some suggestions to sustainable alternatives you might want to consider if you need to repurchase.

Let the gross out begin...

HAIR BRUSH

If you’re anything like me, for several months of 2020 your hair brush may have been surplus to requirement. But now that we’re all out of the house a little more it’s probably back in daily rotation again.

Not cleaning your hairbrush can lead to a build up of rogue hairs, skin cells, oils and bacteria which can not only start to smell but irritate your scalp and make your freshly washed mane dirty all over again. The University of Arizona found that the average hair brush can contain more bacteria than a plug hole!

So, now you’re suitably grossed out it’s time to give it a wash - remove any hairs that may be caught in the brush and soak it in warm water mixed with gentle shampoo once a week. Easy! However, if yours is beyond saving, or if all you see when you look at it is plug holes, then bamboo brushes can be a great alternative to plastic or you could go for this biodegradable hair brush from SoEco.

KITCHEN SPONGE

According to WebMD, this is likely the dirtiest item in your home. Think of all the things you clean in your kitchen sink - your sponge is likely to touch all of them and it hangs around a lot longer than it probably should in most cases.

It is recommended you change your kitchen sponge once a fortnight and to kill bacteria that might be lurking in them, you can pop them in the microwave in water for 2 minutes to keep them clean in between.

When you need to replace yours, natural loofah sponges are a great sustainable option, like these ones from Zero Waste World.

MAKEUP BRUSHES

Every time you apply makeup to your skin with a brush it’s collecting surplus product within the fibres as well as excess oil and bacteria from your face. These build up in your brush and can not only clog your pores causing breakouts but worse, lead to eye and skin infections.

But if even that doesn’t convince you to go take a look at yours, not washing your brushes also compromises how well they work. If your brush is loaded up with excess product and oils it’ll be very difficult to achieve a smooth finish on the skin.

The most sustainable brushes are the ones you already have, so it’s worth buying quality brushes if you can and then taking good care of them. If you are in the market for some new brushes I’d recommend these ones by EcoTools which are brilliant quality, wash really well and are super soft.

HEADPHONES

You’ve likely used your headphones or earbuds a lot more lately, with many of us needing them for work calls as well as the usual music and podcasts to chill out. We can often place them down on dirty surfaces between uses, causing them to gather germs and dust that we then pop back into our ears. If left to build up it can cause some pretty nasty ear infections as well as damage to the headphones themselves.

Chances are yours, like mine, are in need of a good wipe at the very least. Wipes can feel like the only way to go at the moment but there’s growing concern for the environment about the effect of many more single use wipes ending up in landfill.

You can do your bit by using refillable cleaning products to reduce your plastic consumption and choosing a washable cloth instead of wipes. Method products not only look beautiful in their bottles but are super effective and smell amazing.

HOME GYM EQUIPMENT

For many of us our homes are now the gym. Sales of weights and treadmills rocketed just after lockdown started, meaning as a nation we’ve been sweating it out in our living rooms or bedrooms. It’s good etiquette at the gym to wipe down any machines after you’ve used them but how often do you do that with your home equipment? A quick spritz is all they need to keep them clean and looking fresh.

If you’re looking for a mat to help you work out at home or need to replace one that may have become a little sticky and gross after months of use then Yogi Bare have a beautiful range of eco-friendly mats made from recycled materials.

So go and have some fun spritzing all of the gross things that you probably use every day!

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Written by Ali Critchley

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