Those who have been cleaning for decades can make mistakes that cost us time, patience, and money (the expense of cleaning products adds up). When you commit to making your home spotless, you want to ensure you’re doing it right—because the last thing anyone needs is to have to repeat a room after they’ve put their cleaning supplies away. Whether you’re finding streaks on bathroom mirrors, dust in living room corners, or surfaces that don’t emerge as clean as you had hoped, an easily fixable mistake could be the culprit.
Here are some of the common mistakes
Spraying cleaner directly on surfaces
According to Jennifer Rodriguez, chief hygiene officer at Pro Housekeepers, many people spray cleaners directly onto surfaces like glass, countertops, and furniture, which can lead to streaking, residue buildup, or even damage (especially on wood!). “Spray the cleaner onto a microfibre cloth first, then wipe,” Rodriquez says. “This gives you better control and prevents oversaturation.”
An exception to this is if you are disinfecting and sanitizing surfaces such as your sink and will want to apply the product directly to the surface and leave it on for a few minutes before wiping it off.
In those cases, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends always cleaning the surface first with soapy water or a cleaning product appropriate for use on the surface to get rid of dirt, and then sanitizing. According to the U.S. National Science Foundation, you should wash and disinfect the sides and bottom of the sink once or twice a week with a disinfecting cleaner. Follow directions on individual cleaning products to ensure they’re being used correctly.
Not letting cleaner sit before wiping it
If you read cleaning labels, you will likely see that different products suggest leaving the cleaner on surfaces for a specific amount of time before wiping it up (this is called the contact time).
It’s essential to read directions on contact times to ensure that products that claim to disinfect do their job correctly.
Using too much cleaning product
Overloading surfaces with soap, detergent, or polish leaves a residue that attracts even more dirt. Follow the instructions—most cleaning products are formulated to work efficiently with just a small amount. A little goes a long way. According to Handel, using too much detergent can lead to product buildup in your machine, mold, prolonging your machine’s rinse cycle, and possibly causing rashes and itchy skin.
Dusting with paper towels instead of microfibre cloths
Microfibre rags are positively charged, which means they attract negatively charged dirt and grease. They also dry faster than cotton rags and can be washed and reused, which means you may save money cleaning with microfibre cloths.
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Diluting floor cleaner with boiling water or too much water
Diluting floor cleaner with boiling water or too much water
Cleaning your floors with boiling water may damage them, and not following specific dilution instructions for your floor cleaner may mean you’re adding too much water and not enough cleaner for the job at hand. “For hardwood floors, you definitely don’t want to clean them with boiling water because that might damage the finish and also your floors,” says Pang-Chieh Ho, a content manager on CR’s Home team. Ho adds that manufacturers like iRobot have cautioned against using excessive water—and definitely hot water—on linoleum floors because linoleum is susceptible to water.
Forgetting to clean cleaning tools
Once your cleaning tool has picked up dirt and dust, don’t forget to clean it so you aren’t reintroducing germs and nasty dirt back into your space. “People rely on the same dirty sponge, mop, or vacuum filter for weeks (or worse, months),” Rodriquez says. “Instead of cleaning, they’re just spreading grime and bacteria. Disinfect sponges daily, replace them often, wash mop heads in hot water after each use, and clean vacuum filters regularly.”
Ensure to replace dish sponges every one to two weeks, dish brushes every three to four months, and bottle brushes every one to two months.
Ignoring high-touch areas
Think about where your hands and fingers have been and don’t neglect those surfaces when cleaning to help rid your home of bacteria and germs. People scrub their floors and countertops but forget to clean things they touch all day—light switches, remotes, doorknobs, and fridge handles. Wipe these spots down with a disinfectant regularly, especially during flu season or after hosting guests.
Ignoring baseboards
Baseboards collect a surprising amount of dust and grime and should be wiped down almost every time you wash your floors. Baseboards accumulate dirt, pet hair, and dust, and if not cleaned frequently, the grime settles, making it even harder to clean. A simple fix is to vacuum your baseboards with a brush attachment every two weeks. You can also use a wet microfibre cloth and a bit of mild soap to do the trick.
Using magic eraser sponges on stainless steel
When you realize how well a magic eraser sponge handles a variety of surfaces, like walls, baseboards, bathroom tile, and even sneakers, it’s tempting to try and put it to work on every surface that’s annoying to clean. Stainless steel dishwashers and fridges, we’re looking at you. But Morgan Eberhard, scientific communications director, NA Home Care at Procter & Gamble, which manufactures the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, tells CR stainless steel is one of a few surfaces that a magic eraser can damage.
Mixing cleaners
Never mix bleach and ammonia cleaners because this can create gases called chloramines that can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation and even death. Read labels and be aware of the chemicals in your cleaners so that you stay safe as you clean.
Culled from ctvnews.ca
