Even though most people hate spending the few hours of their free time during the weekend tidying up the house, eventually everyone does it. Cleaning the house is crucial because it ensure the environment you live in is free of dirt, allergens and harmful microorganism. Not to mention that it helps prolong the lifespan of your furniture and other household appliances.
True enough, considering that your home will get dirty again – sometimes pretty damn fast because you have little kids or a furry friend around the house – some might see this action as futile. However, since you have to do it anyhow, don’t you want to do the job right the first time? Following is a top of the most common cleaning mistakes you too might be making without realizing it.
1. You use the wrong cleaning products
A widespread and common mistake most people make during their cleaning routine is not using the right tool for the job. While ruining an inexpensive area rug is not going to affect you too much, utilizing the wrong cleaners on natural stone counter tops will surely be costly. Therefore, in order to prevent etching and other damages, you should always read the label and establish if the formula of the product is acidic or basic and hence, suitable to use on a certain type of surface. In addition, it is important to note that mixing chemicals in order to obtain that ultra-clean effect is an error that could prove fatal.
2. Washing windows on hot, sunny days
Since natural light makes those smudges and fingertips on your windows more visible, you are probably thinking that there is no better time for scrubbing the windows than a warm, sunny day. Without denying this is true, it is necessary to mention that the hot temperatures also affect the effectiveness of your cleaning products and will cause the motion to leave behind streaks. This is especially true for ammonia based window cleaners. However, you can overcome this setback by utilizing a handheld steamer free of harsh chemicals.
3. You use the same wash cloth/sponge for an extended period of time
In the eventuality that you are using sponges or wash clothes to scrub various surfaces around the house, then you must remember to change them regularly. Wet cleaning aids filled with dust, debris, allergens and other microorganisms constitute the ideal environments for bacteria. Even though most people are accustomed to throwing these items away only when they start developing an unpleasent smell, the correct approach is to change them every week.
4. You do not wear rubber gloves
Because in order to remove difficult stain you might have to utilize harsh chemicals, it is recommended to wear rubber gloves to protect your skin from burns and irritations. As dermatologists suggest, certain cleaning products tend to penetrate beyond the protective natural oils found in the skin and damage the superior layer of the epidermis. Nonetheless, if you have applied harsh cleaning products on a stain without wearing protection, you can still mitigate the harm by rinsing thoroughly after you are done.
5. You try to remove spills from the carpet by scrubbing
The only thing you will manage to achieve by trying to remove a spill from the carpet via scrubbing is to damage the fibers in the rug permanently. Even if the stain is no longer visible, the particle ingraining into the carpet’s fibers will become a new place for bacteria to thrive. A better solution implies pouring a small quantity of soda water and then blotting the spill with a clean dry cloth.
6. You forget about the high places
Few people actually realize that the dirt innately tends to move from the high locations to the bottom areas. Since they never include wiping the dust from atop of the fridge or ceiling fans in their cleaning routine, the dirt gathered there will soon spread to the rest of the house. On a side note, it is a good idea to start with those areas so you won’t spread the dust onto your freshly cleaned floors or furniture.
7. You don’t let the cleaning agent act
If you want to simplify your cleaning task and obtain great results, then you should be patient and allow the cleaning agent to act for at least one minute before scrubbing it off. Irrespective of the effectiveness of a product and its highly appraised cleaning power, the truth is that not even the best cleaner in the world could provide the desired results unless you let it break down the dirt particles.
8. Over-soaking the mop
Cleaning the dust and debris with an over-soaked mop is a common practice you probably noticed in various shops and supermarkets. However, take note that the excessive water in the mop is more likely to destroy your floors, rather than clean them properly. A good way to limit the amount of liquid permeating your wooden floors is to utilize a small quantity of hot water instead of warm water, as the first will evaporate faster. In addition, to make your job easier you could also vacuum the surface to remove hair and debris that could otherwise get stuck in the mop.
9. Vacuuming in the wrong direction
Maybe because they are in a hurry or simply want to get this tedious task done faster, most tend to use the vacuum wrong. To be more precise, they tend to vacuum too close to the dashboard or push the device against the wall, actions that will basically shove the dirt under the floor. The best approach is to make sure you are holding the vacuum cleaner parallel to the floor and not perpendicular to the dashboard.
10. You forget about important germ spots
Even though you and your loved ones touch them several times every day, there are high chances you too forgot to wipe doorknobs, faucets, light switches, remote controls and other items you regularly employ. In fact, if you are the kind of person who usually cleans up only when guests are about to arrive, then you probably never knew you had to clean these germ hotspots.
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