Top 5 Cleaning Mistakes You're Making in Your Home

Even though it’s the chore a lot of people look forward to the least, cleaning your home is a necessity. Most people aim to complete housework as fast as possible, while still meeting their standard of cleanliness. However, this often leads to areas getting missed or mistakes being made. While it sounds like a simple task, cleaning your home can often be confusing, time-intensive, and difficult!

To help make your cleaning easier, here are 5 common cleaning mistakes that you should avoid!

Not Reading the Labels on Your Cleaning Products

You might be using your cleaning products completely wrong. Checking the labels doesn’t only save time by avoiding having to re-clean surfaces, but it also saves money by using less cleaning products! This includes laundry detergents, dishwasher soap, and any other cleaning product in your home. If you find washed clothes still have stains, you used the wrong laundry products.

In some cases, using the wrong product could completely ruin some surfaces. Other times, a little cleaner often goes a long way, but using too much cleaner could damage the surface you’re cleaning. If you are looking to use less chemicals in your home, there are many natural cleaning products that can be very effective when used correctly.

Not Cleaning Your Vacuum

Cleaning your vacuum is simple but can be easily forgotten or neglected. A dirty or clogged filter means your vacuum will pick up less dirt and dust. A clogged filter also blows dust back out into your room via the air vent. Meaning that instead of cleaning your home of dirt and dust, you may just be re-distributing it.

To keep your vacuum clean, regularly change or empty bags/canisters and wipe all attachments, hoses, & vents with a damp cleaning cloth or paper towel. To help keep it clean for longer, avoid the temptation to clean up wet messes with your vacuum which can cause bad odors and even ruin your vacuum.

Washing Your Windows on a Sunny Day

Sunshine makes dirt and streaks stand out, driving us crazy. But direct sunlight dries up glass cleaner, leaving annoying streaks if you can’t rinse your windows before the cleaning solution evaporates. Which is why no matter how tempting it is, you should never clean your windows on a warm, sunny day.

For the best results, wash your windows on overcast days when the temperature is below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. To speed up drying time, use a window squeegee instead of a cloth.

Not Cleaning Your Dishwasher

We often think of our dishwasher as self-cleaning, but it’s not! Food particles and residues can build up, causing bad odors. If your dishes are coming out cloudy or dirty, you need to clean your dishwasher.

To easily clean your dishwasher, remove the filter, rinse it thoroughly with cold water, and re-install it (if you notice your filter is worn or damaged, consider purchasing a replacement filter). Next, place a glass of vinegar on the top rack and run a short cycle to give it a good cleaning. We recommend you clean your dishwasher at least once a month to prevent having to re-wash an entire load of dishes.

Not Cleaning Your Washing Machine

It’s easy to forget that this appliance gets dirty too! Soap residue, dirt, fibers, and mildew can build up, causing bad odors. In addition to bad odor, the skin cells, stains, and dust mites from clothes can linger in your washer, leading to clothes being washed in dirty water.

To easily clean a washing machine, run a hot cycle with only baking soda and vinegar to give it a good cleaning. Wiping down gaskets and around buttons and knobs will also help.

Get Cleaning!

We all do our best to ensure that our homes are as clean as possible, but it’s not easy sometimes! Not only can it be labor-intensive, but it also takes a lot of time out of your already busy day. This means that when you do have time to clean, it’s important that you’re cleaning in the most efficient way possible. We hope that these easy tips will make your cleaning faster and less frustrating.