If you’re going to put time and effort into cleaning your home, you want to know that you’re doing it effectively, right? And if there were things that you were doing wrong, or ineffectively, you’d want to be told?
Well there just may be a few things that most of us do during our cleaning routines, that are holding us back, here are 5 of the most common mistakes that people make when cleaning at home:
- Not cleaning our sponges or cloths properly
Sponges are great for use when scrubbing dirty pots and pans, but they are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria. Rinsing sponges with water isn’t enough to get rid of germs, you really need to soak them in hot water and bleach, or even run them through the dishwasher. Dishcloths can be equally as good at playing host to bacteria, so either soak them in hot water and a disinfectant solution or put them through a hot wash in the laundry machine.
- Not spraying disinfectant onto a cloth/sponge first
In can be tempting to grab a bottle of disinfectant, and spray or slosh it directly onto grubby surfaces, but if you do this often, it can result in a sticky residue being left behind. The best way is to spray the solution onto a cloth or sponge (or pour it onto a sponge or cloth), you’ll also find that the product lasts longer this way.
- Cleaning without gloves
If something needs cleaning in a hurry, the quickest way is to grab a sponge or cloth and get to it right away, but your skin is highly absorbent and tends to soak up virtually any substance thatcomes into contact. Always wear gloves, and if you choose flock lined gloves, you’ll be more inclined to wear them as they’re easier to get on and off and don’t make your hands sweat so much.
- Not sorting through the laundry
Having to mess around putting inside out clothes back around the right way before you get on with the laundry, is just an unnecessary waste of your time. Ensure that all family members do their bit by turning clothes the right way before they place them in the laundry basket, a simple task that they can do to reduce the time spent sorting laundry before washing it.
- Incorrect utensil placement in the dishwasher
Placing all the kitchen utensils into the dishwasher basket facing the same way, might look neat and tidy, but it’s not the best way to ensure that they all come out sparkling and clean. Forks can be placed facing up, but if the spoons all face the same way, they’ll not come out clean and the same can be said for knives. Try to have a mixture of some facing up, and some facing down. It may take a minute or two longer when loading the dishwasher, but it will prevent you from having to put any of them back through.
