Knowing how to clean things properly will not only make things cleaner, but it can also save you some time.
These tips from the pros for windows, surfaces, floors and more will get you really cleaning everything in your home instead of unintentionally making things worse.
If you’ve cleaned your entire house and later find that it’s not any cleaner than when you started, you’re likely to feel a little disgusted and upset. Here are the explanations from the experts…
ARE THE DISHWASHERS CLEAN?
You use dish towels to clean your hands, dishes and counters.
If you use the same dish towels to clean your hands, dry dishes, and wipe countertops, you’re spreading germs and messes instead of actually cleaning everything.
“The dish towel may be carrying crumbs, oils, food residues and germs on it. A cleaning expert asked, “You think your pot is clean? When you dry it with a towel that is not really clean, it is no longer clean!” says.
Keep your towels separate each time you use them to make sure they are really clean. Do not forget to change the towels and wash them regularly. Also, let used towels dry before throwing them in your laundry basket.
DO YOU USE A MOP TO CLEAN FLOORS?
Using a mop to clean your floors may sound like a good idea, but sometimes, they can make your floors dirtier than if you didn’t mop them.
Robert Moeller, vice president of Anvid Products, told Insider: “In addition to leaving dirt behind, the mop moves dirt around the floor. Dirt is displaced, but not cleaned.”
You should make sure that you are constantly cleaning your mop.
IS IT CORRECT TO CLEAN FLOORS BEFORE CLEANING SURROUNDING ITEMS?
Starting the floor cleaning before cleaning the items in the house is another mistake that can cause your home to be dirtier than you think.
“This is the reverse process,” Jennifer Rodriguez, chief hygiene officer for Pro Housekeepers, told Insider. “Dust and dirt will fall to the floor and you will have to clean them again! You have to clean the surfaces first.”
That way you don’t have to clean the floor twice.
IS IT CORRECT TO CLEAN WINDOWS WITH NEWSPAPER?
You may have heard that cleaning your windows with newspapers cleans better than using other methods because they won’t make your windows look streaky.
But streaking isn’t the only thing to consider when it comes to judging whether your windows are truly clean.
“Newspapers have ink and other corrosive chemicals that cause further contamination,” said Merin Jay, a window cleaning specialist. “Instead, cleaning should be done with a professional squeegee and microfiber towel.”
ARE YOU WASHING YOUR SINK?
Washing your sink is very important, but often people don’t think about the necessity of cleaning the sink, instead focusing on the dirty dishes in the sink.
After washing the dishes, you should wash your sink with liquid dish soap. Pay particular attention to the strainer, which tends to run off a blackish/greyish sludge-like dirt, filled with the ugliest germs.
Keeping your dishes and counters clean is of course important, but you shouldn’t overlook or underestimate the importance of cleaning your sink.
DO YOU DUST EVERYTHING WITH DRY CLOTH OR DUST CLOTH?
Wiping the surface with a dry cloth or duster while dusting may not actually be as effective as you think.
“Wiping surfaces with a dry cloth will only transfer dust and grime from one surface to another,” said Lily Cameron, a cleaning specialist at Fantastic Services.
Using a dry cloth on delicate surfaces can even cause scratches. To avoid all this, consider using a microfiber cloth or a soft duster. They will catch and hold dust and dirt particles instead of just moving them. “
IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO BRUSH THE CARPET?
Stains or spills on your carpets can be a cause for concern, but brushing too hard isn’t actually doing you any favors, contrary to what you might think.
“Brushing the carpet dissolves the fibers and damages the pile, thus placing the stain even deeper in the fibers,” Cameron said.
Instead of rubbing, wipe the stain by pressing with the heel of your hand. Dry the surface using a dry towel until as much liquid has been absorbed as possible. For heavier stains, you can vacuum the carpet with a wet-dry vacuum before the stain dries. (not a regular vacuum cleaner!)
DO YOU CLEAN EVERY AREA IN THE HOME WITH THE SAME CLOTH?
If you use the same cloth or sponge for every area of your home, you may be leaving your surroundings dirtier than you would like. Rodriguez said using the same cloths can spread germs, dust and dirt all over the house.
“Clean and wash an area or use a new cloth,” Rodriguez says.
ARE YOU SPRAYING CLEANERS DIRECTLY ON THE SURFACES YOU ARE CLEANING?
You may think that spraying cleaner on the surfaces you clean or the materials you use to clean makes no difference.
In fact, for proper cleaning, it would be better to spray on the cloth rather than the surface. “Spraying cleaner directly on furniture and surfaces can create an oily deposit that attracts even more dust. When dust builds up, it may be more difficult for you to remove it. Get rid of it by spraying the solution onto a cloth and then wipe the surface.” (My home)