7 Cleaning Mistakes that Might be Making your Home Dirtier

When cleaning up your home, it may be an easy task to go through your regular cleaning routine without a second thought. Though it probably feels natural by now, some common cleaning habits may be harming your home more than doing good. You may be leaving behind bacteria, grime and dust that only makes work harder in the long run. As you are working on your strategies and cleaning, you should consider whether you can make things better. 

Cleaning Tips To Avoid Mistakes That Make Your Home Worse Off

Using Dirty Tools

Your cleaning routine is not only as good as your diligence but also as the supplies you’re using. Before you start, you should ensure your cleaning tools are in great order so you won’t be spreading dust, dirt and bacteria all over the place. You should wash your scrub brushes, cleaning cloths, and mop heads. Sanitise any germ-covered items such as toilet brushes. Empty your vacuum cleaner as soon as it’s full, and make sure you change or wash the filter for the best performance.

Not Cleaning Before you Disinfect

There is a difference between disinfecting and cleaning, and the difference may make or break the way you clean your home. Though cleaning may physically remove the stains from a surface, disinfection will use chemicals to kill the unseen germs your naked eye can’t spot. Making sure the surface is free of residue, debris and stains will let the chemicals do what they do best. If the surface is covered with dirt or dust, the disinfection won’t properly target the germs, so you need always to clean first, as diligently as possible.

Rubbing Stains Over Blotting

Spills and splatters will often require some quick action to avoid stains from setting in. Your first instinct on the matter may be to scrub them, but that will likely make things much worse. Rubbing stains may make them spread more, push them deeper into the material, and damage the upholstery fibres. Blotting the stains with a clean white cloth will help draw the residue out of the fabric, and then using a stain removal method will protect the materials.

Wiping Surfaces Too Soon

Getting the best cleaning done isn’t always as simple as wiping, spraying and walking away. With disinfectants, things take time to work and take hold, so you will need to be patient. Sometimes, the surface will have to be visibly wet for minutes to allow proper sanitation. Read the product’s label before determining the time needed to disinfect your home.

Cleaning Surfaces Using Sponges

Kitchen sponges are terrible breeding grounds for bacteria most of the time, and those will transfer to other surfaces you clean. To avoid spreading germs everywhere, use a clean microfibre cloth and wipe areas down. You should reconsider when you want to use the sponge to wipe down countertops. Make sure you disinfect your sponges and replace them once a month.

Using the Same Cleaning Cloth Around Your Entire Home

Reusing the same cloth throughout your home seems like an efficient solution, but it is also a great way to get germs transferred between rooms. Of course, you don’t want the bacteria in your bathroom ending up on your plate. Designate specific cleaning cloths for each room and launder them after each cleaning. Using disposable wipes instead, you can use one per cleaning job.

The Importance of Ventilation

Whenever you use cleaning ingredients like bleach or ammonia, you need to ensure proper ventilation. As you clean, the fumes produced by these products will linger in the room and irritate your eyes and airways. Turn on a vent fan, open your window, and use an air purifier – any of these things will improve things. When you’re done cleaning, leave the room and let the air change a bit before coming back.

© MillaG5