Introduction
If you’re like me, you tend to clean when the house is a wreck. I always feel better after a good cleaning session, but there are some mistakes I’ve made over the years that keep me from really getting things sparkling. Here’s how to avoid them:
Wearing dirty clothes.
Wearing dirty clothes.
- Clean your clothes before you wear them. Dirty clothes can harbor bacteria and make you sick, especially if they’re worn for a long time.
- Wear clothing that’s easy to clean: t-shirts are better than sweaters, jeans are better than dress pants, etc. Wearing light-colored clothes is also helpful because stains may be more visible on darker colored garments (but don’t worry about this too much—it’s not like anyone’s going to be looking at your behind).
- Wear protective gear when working with chemicals or getting messy in general; it’ll save your hands from getting burned by hot water and detergent and protect your eyes from the splashes of dirty water when cleaning up spills on hard surfaces around the house.”
Cleaning windows on a sunny day.
It is important to know that cleaning windows on a sunny day can be very dangerous. The sun can cause streaks on the glass and heat up the window. The sun can also dry your window cleaning solution too fast, which makes it harder to see what you are doing and could cause you to break the glass surface if you don’t clean it carefully enough.
These mistakes come from not knowing how different weather conditions impact cleaning window surfaces, so take note of this information and use it in your own home!
Not reading cleaning product labels.
Read the label before using any cleaning product. If you don’t, there’s a good chance you’ll end up with something toxic on your hands or in your home—and that’s no fun for anyone. Be aware of how to use the product safely, as well as any potential health risks associated with it. Finally, be aware of how to dispose of the product safely once its job is done.
Not dusting before cleaning.
You may think that dusting before you clean is pointless, but it’s important to do so. Dust is an attractant for dirt, so if you’re wondering why your floor hasn’t been getting cleaned regularly, it could be because there’s still dust on the floor from when you last cleaned up.
Dust can also transfer from one surface to another as you’re cleaning it—say from a lampshade to a bookcase or picture frames—which means if those surfaces haven’t been dusted in months, they’ll be much harder to clean once you do get around to them.
And finally: DUST IS DIRTY! It contains allergens and irritants that can cause health problems like allergies or sinus issues (if not cleaned off).
Using the wrong tools to clean.
- Use the right tool for the job.
- If you want to sweep, use a broom. If you want to vacuum, use a vacuum cleaner. If you have a spill on your floor, don’t reach for a sponge—it’s not made to absorb liquids and can make things worse by spreading the liquid around!
- Similarly, if it’s time to mop the floor, don’t reach for that towel hanging over your kitchen chair—that’ll just leave lint all over your sparkling clean floors and make them look dirty again. Don’t even think about using a regular window cleaner on mirrors or windows; they’re too delicate and will scratch easily!
Pushing dirt around instead of picking it up.
Picking up dirt is what you’re there to do, so the best way to do that is by using a dustpan. A broom and vacuum cleaner are both designed to pick up dust and dirt on floors, but they often leave your hands full of it instead.
You may be tempted to use your hands when cleaning, but unless you’re wearing gloves or have just washed them, this will only push the dirt around rather than picking it up. They also won’t allow for as efficient a clean because of their size; if you have a large area to clear or many different types of surfaces (like carpets), then having several tools at hand can help speed things along
Using hot water instead of cold water when cleaning.
Hot water is better for cleaning. Cold water is better to clean with. If you are not sure why this is, it is because hot water can open up the pores of your skin and cause them to dry out. While using cold water can dry out your skin as well, it does not have the same effect on your pores as hot water does.
Cold water also helps keep bacteria away from your face while you shower or bathe because they cannot survive in cold temperatures.*
There are other benefits associated with using cold water over hot:*
- If you live in an area where there are many insects around (i.e., near a lake or river), then having a cold shower will help reduce their number.*
- Hot showers take longer than cold ones do; therefore, if someone needs to get ready quickly then they should opt for a warm shower instead of one that’s too hot.*
- It helps keep mold at bay by making sure that no condensation forms around any pipes or valves within the walls of the house whenever possible during winter months when humidity levels tend to increase due to increased temperatures outside rather than inside where these appliances are located.”
Using too much detergent or cleaner.
Too much detergent or cleaner can be harmful to the environment. The more water you use, the faster your water bill will increase. If you have a pool, too much chlorine in the water can burn your eyes and lungs if you swim without goggles or nose plugs.
Too much detergent or cleaner can be harmful to people, pets and plants that use them on their clothes or in their homes. Here are some things to think about:
Skipping the vacuuming step.
Vacuuming is a crucial step in cleaning your home, as it removes dust and dirt from the carpet, hair from the carpet (especially if you have pets), crumbs and other debris from the floor, and more. Vacuuming also helps to remove bacteria and allergens that can be harmful to those with asthma or allergies.
Starting with the walls and ceiling and not ending with them.
Starting with the walls and ceiling and not ending with them is a common mistake. You’re going to have to clean your walls and ceiling eventually, so it’s best to start there first. Also, don’t forget about cleaning above your baseboards!
You have to do things in order to clean properly
The mistake: You clean in an order that doesn’t matter.
The truth: You have to do things in order to clean properly. Cleaning a room might seem simple, but even a beginner will be able to tell you that there’s an order in which you should do things—and it isn’t random! So before you start cleaning, it’s important to know what steps need to be taken first. If you’re not sure how your house should be cleaned, ask someone who does this for a living (like our professional house cleaners!) or look online for some general advice on how rooms are organized by size and shape.
We hope that you’ve learned some of the mistakes people make when cleaning their homes. Everyone knows how important it is to keep your home clean, but sometimes it can be hard if you don’t know what exactly needs doing and when. Hopefully, these tips will help you avoid these mistakes next time around!