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Some people like cleaning, some don’t – it all depends on how you do it. But one thing is for sure, we are all doing at least some things wrong. Here are some of the most common culprits and cleaning tips to avoid them:
Are you using a feather duster? You might want to stop. Why? Well, no matter how many ads these things get for locking dust or how many movies and TV shows feature them, feather dusters only spread dust and push it on the ground. A microfiber cloth or a damp paper towel are much better options, as they will actually grip the dust.
How frequently are you cleaning your vacuum? If you haven’t changed or cleaned your filter in a while, it’s time to do it now. The vacuum can’t pick up as much dirt as it can when clean and it also blows dirt back into your floors and carpets. Immediately after you vacuum clean your home, you should clean your filter.
Tossing everything you can find in the kitchen in the dishwasher? Wrong strategy. Small kitchen tools and gadgets can’t be so easily cleaned by a dishwasher which leads to mold if it stays on for a while. To avoid this, wash these tools immediately after usage.
How often do you clean your washing machine?
While it serves for cleaning, this doesn’t mean that it’s always clean. Skin cells, dust, stains and food from clothes inevitably end up lingering in your washing machine. This means that you are washing your clothes in the dirty water and your clothes will start to stink after a while. You can clean it by pouring baking soda in the detergent compartment and vinegar inside of it, turn it at the hottest temperature and let it wash. You should do this frequently, especially if you have small children where food often ends up on the clothes.
Most people wash their cutting boards with dish soap, just like anything else. However, if you want to avoid getting bacteria stuck in these small cracks, you should avoid this and the dishwasher as well. Instead, let it sit in a solution of 2 tablespoons of bleach and a gallon of water. You can then rinse it and dry it completely.
7 Ways You’re Actually Making Your House Dirtier
Cleaning can be either relaxing or stressful. On a good day, when everything is going well, your home ends up shining and you are satisfied with your work. But some days you can clean all you want and your house still looks dirty. It seems like nothing can help.
The secret is in the methods of cleaning. You, in fact, might be doing something wrong.
Here are some of the examples of the things you might be doing wrong:
1. You are cleaning your hands, dishes and countertops with a dish towel
You might think that your perfectly clean dish towel will clean everything properly. However, dish towels spread germs; they don’t really clean. Especially if you are using the same dish towel to clean your hands, dishes and other things as well. You are just messing things up then. The dish towel picks up whatever is on your countertop or dishes and drags it around.
Fix this by having different towels for every use. Swap them out regularly as well.
2. You are cleaning your floor with an old mop
Instead of cleaning, old mops can really drag you down – it moves dirt and germs around. In the end, your floor looks dirty and messy. Instead of just buying any regular mop, invest in a good one that has a replaceable head. Even better are steam-powered mops, which can actually kill germs on contact.
3. You clean your floor first
While you clean your home, dust and dirt end up on the floor. If you clean your floor first, it will just get dirty soon. Instead, one of our favorite cleaning tips is to clean the floors last.
4. You use newspapers to clean your windows
There was a tip for a while that cleaning your windows with newspapers is a great idea, leading to less grime and a cleaner look. However, this is a bad idea that only makes your windows dirtier, not cleaner. Newspapers have ink and chemicals in them which make the windows dirtier. Swap it for a microfiber cloth.
5. You are not washing your sink
Your sink is very important but some usually overlook it. But once you are done cleaning the dishes in the sink, you should focus on washing the sink with dish soap. Pay special attention to the strainer.
6. You are dusting everything with a dry rag
Dry rags are not very useful when it comes to wiping dust. They just transfer dust around and can cause scratches to your devices and surfaces. All the cleaning tips in the world won't reverse serious scratches. Use a microfiber cloth or a damp rag.
7. You are scrubbing your carpet to fight the stains
Scrubbing causes damage to your carpet and the stain will set much deeper in the carpet. Instead you should blot the stain and press it firmly with a cloth. Then you can apply stain removing treatments.
How Can You Make Cleaning Easier?
Cleaning can be easier, if you know how to do it in a simple way. Here are some useful and easy cleaning tips:
Use dryer sheets to clean water spots from mirrors and surfaces, remove the ring inside the toilet, wipe things and more.
Stinky garbage disposal? Toss some lemon or orange peels down inside. Run cold water as you run the disposal for instant freshness.
Clean your blender by filling with warm water and a bit of dish soap. Let it run for a few seconds and then rinse it.
To clean your sponges and kill all of the bacteria, put your damp sponge in the microwave for thirty seconds. Do not do this dry! Soak the sponge in water and gently wring out prior.
Your tile floors could look new again if you vacuum them and then scrub them with a rag and detergent. For difficult spots, use a toothbrush.
Cleaning the baseboards is easy – vacuum them and then wash them with a sponge and a water and detergent mixture. After that go over it with a damp rag.
Use a soft vacuum brush tool to clean your air vents. After that, soak a rag with a cleaning agent and use it on your air vents.
Hard spots stressing you out? Use some vinegar to clean them.
Combine water and vinegar in equal parts and dip a sock in the solution. Put that sock on your hand and go over your blinds to remove dust and dirt.
Do you want cleaner laundry? Use baking soda with the wash. Use salt to remove stains.
Clean your stainless steel appliances with a microfiber cloth and some rubbing alcohol. You can even add some olive oil to make it super shiny.
Clean your couch with some baking soda – let it sit on the area you want to clean and then vacuum with a brush attachment. Fresh scented seating!
Clean your keyboard with some white vinegar and a microfiber cloth, a cotton swab and vinegar for nooks and a microfiber with a light mixture of vinegar and water for the screen.
Cloudy glasses? Clean them with some vinegar and paper towels.
Remove grease with rubbing alcohol and salt (rub the mixture, then vacuum)
Clean dust and dirt with a tape or a lint roller.
Want your sneakers clean? Use some toothpaste and rub it on them with an old toothbrush.
Remove kitchen cabinet gunk with vegetable oil and baking soda, scrub with a toothbrush.
Burnt pan? Clean it with vinegar, water and some baking soda.
To pick up shards of glass, grab a piece of bread and press it on the area where you think there’s glass.
Unclog a drain with some vinegar, baking soda and boiling water.
Natural DIY Cleaning Products
Cleaning your home may sound like a nightmare without the usual detergents and cleaners. However, did you know that you can clean just about anything with some simple items in your pantry?
Here are some recipes and cleaning tips:
- Scented Cleaner For All Purposes = One Part Vinegar + One Part Water + Some Lemon Rind + Rosemary Sprigs
- Kitchen Cleaner = 1 Quart Warm Water + 4 Tablespoons Baking Soda
- Glass Cleaner = ½ Cup Vinegar + ¼ Rubbing Alcohol + 2 Drops of Essential Oil (Pick your favorite scent! Rose and lavender is calming while peppermint will be more invigorating.)
- Brass Cleaner = Vinegar + Table Salt
- For a Good Scrub = ½ Lemon + ½ Borax Powder
- To Clean Grease = ½ Cup Sudsy Ammonia + ½ Water
- Water Ring Remover = ½ Toothpaste + ½ Baking Soda
How Often Should You Clean Your House?
Here are some recommendations on the frequency of cleaning different areas of your home:
Daily: make your bed, clean your coffeemaker, wash dishes, wipe counters and tables, do laundry, sweep floors, wipe bathroom, sanitize kitchen and bathroom sinks.
Weekly: Clean floors, scrub bathroom, clean mirrors, dust furniture, vacuum floors, change bedding, clean the fridge, clean microwave.
Monthly: Vacuum vents and woodwork, dust blinds and lights, clean dishwashers and washing machine
While you can clean whenever you feel like cleaning, this is one of the best schedules. Deep cleaning is done either bi-monthly, every quarter, yearly and so on. This schedule can fly by easily with the cleaning tips listed in the section below.
Best Ways to Make Cleaning More Fun
Here are some fun cleaning tips to make cleaning more fun:
- Play some music you like
- Make it to be a workout
- Involve the family and create a cleaning game
- Time yourselves and see who wins
- Create a chore list
- Get the kids involved
- Talk to a friend while cleaning
- Watch TV
- Reward yourself
Cleaning can be really fun and interesting if you know how to do it properly and if you find a way to make it fun. Enjoy cleaning your way and have fun!
What are some of your favorite cleaning tips? Share your squeaky-clean secrets down below!
Sources:
https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/cleaning-mistakes-that-are-actually-making-your-home-dirtier/
https://clark.com/home-category/home-cleaning-hacks-make-your-routine-easier/
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a24885/make-at-home-cleaners/
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