Here’s the thing whether you actually use it or not - you need to clean + sanitize your plunger. . Case in point - I rarely need to use it - but because it’s sitting next to the toilet - it inevitably gets dusty, dirty and picks up germs. . I used Lysol, Clorox and paper towels to clean and disinfect my plunger. I pre-cleaned first and then I went back and sprayed it down to disinfect - making sure to keep the surface wet for 10 minutes (as per the instructions). . If you ask me how often you should clean your plunger - after each use and when it looks like it needs to be cleaned. LTKhome