Substrate- carpet vs mulch

[jncoclub]

2 questions:
I currently use cage carpet as the substrate for my snakes. After each poop (which is roughly once a week) I take out the carpet, spot clean it with soap and vinegar, then drop it into the washing machine so I can use it again. There tanks are kept very clean. Is reusing the carpet and cleaning it the way I have been good/bad? Or are they still "dirty"?

Next question, my fiance recently was sold a bag of "multipurpose" mulch from a reptile shop and was told to use it because it's better, cleaner, etc. I am willing to change to a different kind of substrate, but I have heard a couple of times that certain brands of mulch and mulch-like substrates are infested with mites, fungus and all sorts of bad stuff. I was also told that some brands are worse than others. I am not at my house and of course I forgot the brand we got, but can anyone let me know if this is true or not? I don't want to change their substrate if it is going toharm them.

zgo