You might assume that making an effort to tackle at least some of your cleaning chores is better than nothing, but this isn’t actually the case.
Many people have at least one bad cleaning habit that could result in wasted money, time and effort. You understandably want to produce the best results from your efforts, so what are some of the top bad cleaning habits that you should avoid?
Why Breaking These Habits Can Save Time, Effort, and Money
When you have bad cleaning habits, you might inadvertently be adding extra time to your cleaning process, or you might be leaving your home dirtier in some areas than when you started.
In some cases, cleaning habits can result in wasted money in the form of excessive use of products, improper use of cleaning tools and more. When you understand what common bad cleaning habits are and how to break them, you could save time, effort and money.
What Are the Most Common Cleaning Mistake?
It’s possible to make unfortunate cleaning mistakes when cleaning any area of your home, but some mistakes are more common than others. What are some of the top cleaning habits to break?
Letting Clutter Pile Up Before You Clean
Clutter is problematic in most homes. Things simply have a way of piling up as you go about your daily activities. Unfortunately, clutter makes your cleaning process more time-consuming. Consider, for example, that you need to move all of the clutter around to clean the furniture and surfaces underneath it.
If you don’t, your house will continue to be filthy. Rather than spend time dealing with clutter on cleaning day, stay on top of the clutter with daily efforts. For example, spend 10 minutes at the end of each day straightening up and putting things back where they belong.
Skipping the “Top to Bottom” Rule
One of the most important rules of effective cleaning is to clean your house from top to bottom. This begins with removing dust bunnies from the ceiling corners and wiping down ceiling fan blades.
When you clean the upper areas of your rooms first, any dirt that is dislodged will fall down. This dirt can then be dusted off or vacuumed for efficient cleaning.
Using Dirty Tools to “Clean”
How often do you clean your cleaning tools? If you’re using a filthy sponge or a dusty dust cloth for cleaning, you are inadvertently spreading dust, dust mites, bacteria and other unhealthy elements throughout your home.
Everything from your vacuum and broom to your cleaning cloths, dusters and more need to be cleaned on a regular basis.
Overloading Surfaces with Products
Many people overestimate how much cleaning products should be used. As a result, they may leave behind residue that affects cleanliness.
More than that, using too much of your cleaning products unnecessarily is a waste of money. Cleaning products are expensive, so the cost of wasted products can add up fast.
Ignoring High-Touch Areas
Some of the dirtiest areas in your home are areas that are frequently touched. These include toilet handles, doorknobs, drawer pulls, water faucet handles, fridge handles and more. Unfortunately, these are also areas that are frequently overlooked on cleaning day.
When someone in your home touches a bacteria-covered knob or pull and then touches another area of the home, they are spreading germs to areas that you might have recently cleaned. High-touch areas should be cleaned at least several times per week.
Forgetting to Read Labels or Test Products First
Even if you’ve been using the same cleaning products for years, it’s possible that you are misusing the products. Misuse can result in a dirtier home and spending more time than necessary cleaning.
Whether you are using a new product or a product that you’re accustomed to, always read and understand the product label. In addition, test a new product on a hidden area first before cleaning an entire surface.
Cleaning Everything All at Once (Then Burning Out)
If you’re the type of person who gets a “cleaning bug” and go into high-powered cleaning mode once every few months, your home might not be as clean as you think. This type of cleaning behavior inevitably leads to burnout, which often means that the home isn’t properly cleaned for weeks or even months on end.
It’s best to create a maintainable cleaning schedule. For example, set up a schedule where you tackle a few chores each day to cover all of the bases more frequently.
Our TidyHere housekeepers are eager to help you take the hassle out of maintaining a healthy, clean home. We are honored to be your trusted and reliable professional home cleaning service in Boston, and we are ready to start working for you. For next-level home cleaning services, contact us today for an appointment.
