There are a lot of techniques and tools to do the big cleanup. There are also many ways to do your household chores… and especially to make mistakes! So of course, there is no such thing as perfection, but some mistakes can end up costing the budget, harming the planet and being completely counterproductive in terms of cleanliness. And even when we replace household products based on harmful chemicals for the maintenance of the house with natural ecological products which serve as multi-use cleaning products (black soap, Marseille soap, white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, soda crystals, etc.), we can also continue to make mistakes. In this article, we have brought together 8 common and easily avoidable mistakes when cleaning! Do you do them?
1) Add three tons of product each time
We often believe that using more product allows for better effectiveness on large stains and we sometimes put a lot without even realizing it… we go “with a ladle” and more generously than necessary. However, you sometimes risk obtaining the opposite effect of the desired effect by giving yourself more work: in addition to having the dirt to remove, you will also have to manage the excess product (so more to wipe, more dirty rags or wasted paper towels… in short, counterproductive). Plus, you waste product, so you lose money. Follow the instructions on the back of the product and use the correct doses, especially for detergent and cleaner! This also applies to dishwashing liquid: using too much detergent is useless to properly degrease!
2) Moldy shower curtains and bath mats
When you get out of the shower, are you one of those people who leaves the shower curtain open and leaves the rug in place? If so, know that this is the best way to retain moisture, bacteria and moisture. By closing the shower curtain and draining and drying the shower mat, you won’t have those nasty moisture problems. This simple gesture will greatly clean up the bathroom!
3) Use tools that are dirty or in poor condition
Sometimes we are inclined to keep a sponge a little too long or to clean the floor with a dusty broom and a mop that is not fresh. The problem is that you just risk spreading the bacteria even more rather than cleaning and you are less likely to have the desired result!
4) Use disinfectant wipes for everything and all the time
It’s so convenient to grab a disinfectant wipe and wipe it over all the surfaces that need to be cleaned! However, this solution is not only not very ecological, but also not very clever and not very effective. As their name suggests, they are used to disinfect and not to clean. They are also used on small surfaces to be effective (not the entire room). The solution is simple: clean first then disinfect. And above all, use the right products and tools to clean your house without mistakes. The chore of cleaning will be forgotten all the more quickly.
5) Make piles of damp towels and rags
It’s best to let your rags and towels dry before putting them in the dirt. Humidity risks forming mold, bacteria and other unpleasant odors that we could do without… especially among the clothes we wear every day!
6) Use bleach to clean
Why is using bleach one of the worst housekeeping mistakes? It’s simple! It is used to disinfect and whiten. If you use it thinking you’re cleaning, know that you’re not actually cleaning anything at all. So remember to clean before then disinfect afterwards with bleach if necessary. Its harmful effects on health and the planet are not its only faults.
7) Leave dishes in the sink indefinitely
There are times when you just want to put the dishes aside. However, it is the best way to quickly find yourself with a large pile of dirty dishes, encrusted marks and mess. The good idea is to always force yourself to put the dishes in the dishwasher right away or clean them by hand right away. Once it’s done, it’s done!
8) Using too much paper towel (instead of microfibers)
It’s very easy to grab paper towel, clean and throw away. However, is it much simpler than grabbing a cloth, brush or sponge depending on what you want to clean? Paper towels are not only a source of waste that could be avoided, but also a source of unnecessary expense. We often see paper towels as something cheap… in the end, we waste them, we keep buying them again and the cost over the year can suddenly seem higher than a batch of good old cloths in reusable microfiber that do the same job. Do the math and you will understand why this is one of the worst housekeeping mistakes!