When it comes to keeping our dishes clean, dish brushes are probably our most dependable tools.
Think about it, you cannot but admit that a dish brush does a really good job of cleaning your dishes. However, that’s not why we’re calling it our “favourite” option.
There are many other things which you can use to make your dishes look nice and clean, for example, crocheted cloths and sponges. But, these share a MAJOR disadvantage.
Which is maintaining hygiene. Anyone who’s studied 6th-grade science will know that bacteria and microorganisms just love wet things to create families in! Anything that stays wet for almost the whole day or long durations for days at a stretch is bound to become a paradise for bacteria.
So basically, if you’re using either of those things (a cloth or a sponge) you are not only farming bacteria, but also bringing them onto all your dishes while aiming to clean them! The irony is real.
Luckily, that’s not the case with dish brushes. Their distinct, separate bristles make it a piece of cake to dry them off. Since they do not retain water, they do not have the risk of becoming a microorganism’s factory.
Therefore, you can actually clean your dish brush more often and use it in no time, unlike sponges or clothes for which you have to wait long periods of time for them to dry off if you do wash them. Cleaning your cleaner tools is very, very important even though it is something we tend to ignore.
So how should you clean your dish brush, you ask? The ease of cleaning your dish brush depends on whether yours has a wooden handle and if you own a dishwasher.
If the answer to both those points is yes, then cleaning your dish brush is the easiest thing ever. Just put it in the silverware or top rack (bristle side up) when you’re going to run a cycle and you’ll get a squeaky clean dish brush at the end of it. But do make sure you took off any big chunks of food that were stuck on the bristles.
On the other hand, if you do not have one with a wooden handle or your own dishwasher, worry not because there’s a simple way you can clean your brush too. The simple strategy is to soak your brush in a mixture of white distilled vinegar and dish soap for an hour or so. Here is the procedure in details:
Things to keep in hand:
- Fork (if you have one around)
- A big size plastic cup or pot or dishpan
- A cup of white vinegar (should be distilled)
- Dish soap (aka dishwashing liquid)
- A fresh dish towel
Steps:
- Get rid of big chunks of food particles which are attached to the bristles. The first step to remove loose bits is to hold it under running warm water till you see all of the particles are out.
- Ensure that you get ALL of it out. This is why we suggested keeping a fork nearby if possible. Poke the bristles with the fork to remove any hard or stuck pieces that are not coming off easily.
- Make the solution in which you will soak your brush. Pour the vinegar into the container you’ve collected (be it a cup or a pan) and mix a drop of the dish soap. Mix the solution and then put the brush into it. Mix and swirl it again.
- Keep the brush soaked in the solution for at least an hour, but the longer the better. Afterwards, wash it thoroughly with mildly warm water (make sure you get all the soap out). Shake it to remove the excessive water.
- Dry the brush. Let it lie flat on the fresh towel or hang it somewhere. The air should be enough to dry it properly.
Hygiene is not something we can compromise with. Especially if you have a family to take care off, the smallest of mistakes can have the biggest consequences. Make sure to clean your dish brushes regularly!
