I’m honored to have Emma Macmillan, a professional writer, present a how to clean a dust pan and brush segment.

Though I rarely use a dust pan and we don’t have a brush, I’m not sure I’ve ever cleaned the dust pan.

To clean my floors, I sweep with a broom and dump the contents onto our carpet. I pick up any large pieces or strands of dust, and then vacuum.

When I use my dust pan, I am usually cutting hair. After having placed all the strands into the trash, I just wipe out the dust pan.

Realizing that picked up does not mean it is cleaned, I will clean the dust pan on its next use.

Without putting you on a guilt trip but alerting you to the why and how, Emma shares three methods to clean a dust pan and brush. Thank you, Emma, and happy cleaning! ~ Tracy

Domestic Cleaning: How to Clean a Dust Pan and Brush

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Believe it or not, you need to clean your dust pan and brush with every domestic cleaning session.

Because the two are so small and contained, we tend to ignore the fact that bacteria gets trapped in the bristles of the brush, serving to infect every new surface it apparently brushes clean.

House cleaning will invariably involve a dust pan and brush at some point. You most likely rely on the device in attending to the line of muck you’ve just swept to one side with your broom.

There’s nothing wrong in doing this, only you will be left with a pretty dirty brush and dust pan afterwards.

Especially when it comes to kitchen cleaning, all sorts of debris are ultimately removed via the dust pan and brush.

Homes with pets are obviously going to have twice as much bacteria floating around, in which case, there’s even more of a pressing need to clean your small-scale cleaning equipment more often.

So how do we do this? There are a few different ways, so choose your preference from the following:

1. Bucket of Lemon Juice and Vinegar

Simply slice a lemon in two. Then take one half and place it in a small bucket, resting it diagonally and having the inside face outwards – as if greeting the sun. Put a full kettle on to boil.

Once boiling, pour the water directly onto lemon slowly and carefully, gradually filling the bucket. The aim here is to release small doses of pure lemon juice into your solution without de-juicing manually – without getting strands of messy pulp in your mix. Then, add two cap-fulls of white wine vinegar to the mix and stir with a wooden spoon.

Slowly proceed to place the brush and dust pan into the mix, ensuring all the brush’s bristles are submerged. Now grab an old rain coat and place it over the bucket in order to trap air. The steam circulating beneath will thus become so strong that, with the assistance of the lemon juice and vinegar, will serve to penetrate the bristles and remove debris.

Let it sit for 5 hours before removing the brush and dust pan and rinsing them in the bath with hot water. Pour your solution out, mindful not to clog your drain with debris that came off the brush.

2. Use the Washing Machine

This one is simple but is a waste of laundry detergent since you will need to wash the brush and dust pan alone while applying the standard amount of detergent.

If you prefer to use your wash machine however, simply proceed to connect the brush and dust pan together before wrapping a bath towel around the cleaning apparatus. This bundle will prevent a noisy washing machine as it throws the tools around.

Protect your kit this way as the plastic could chip off otherwise. Apply your regular dose of detergent and put on a half hour wash. Dry outside in the sun for 4-5 hours.

3. Vacuum and Air Dry

If you don’t want your brush and dust pan to get wet at all, then you can always vacuum the set and place it outside afterwards. While this is okay in the short term, you’re advised to clean with hot liquid before too long.

To vacuum, use the end of the hose. Hold it closely to the brush. The cylindrical hose end of the vacuum is good on the brush since it lets you really get into the bristles. Push the hose end right into the brush and comb over thoroughly before combing the dust pan as well.

Proceed to connect the brush and dust pan together again before placing them outside in the sun for 4-5 hours.

Emma is part of a team of professional writers, who, with enthusiasm and flair to detail, create content on home, renovating, cleaning etc. related topics. For further information check: Pimlico cleaning home.