18 CLEANING MISTAKES YOU MAY BE MAKING

As much as I enjoy having a clean house, I am aware of the effort required to maintain it. Finding time to clean among the countless other things that need to be done during the day can be challenging for a busy parent. Making housekeeping more difficult than it needs to be is the last thing we want to do.

Therefore, the key is to discover methods to clean more effectively. Learning from our errors is another action we can take. We can be more effective and save time by being conscious of what not to do when it comes to cleaning our homes. And as mothers, let's face it, we could always use more time.

18 CLEANING MISTAKES YOU MIGHT BE MAKING

In order to keep your house clean and your family healthier, you should avoid the following 18 cleaning mistakes.

1. DELAY IN DOING THE CLEANING

It's no surprise that cleaning is viewed as a burden. There aren't many individuals who genuinely like cleaning their homes. This is not to say that they don't want a clean home, but the idea of actually making it happen is a different matter. They put off doing it because it becomes too burdensome to handle. However, as their home becomes more and more filthy, they are actually making matters worse for themselves.

Try using a cleaning routine to keep your house clean rather than waiting until the weekend to get your cleaning done (and taking time away from activities you actually want to do). If you work on the clutter little by little each day rather than having to deal with it all at once, you are less likely to let it grow.

2. NOT CARRYING OUT A THOROUGH CLEANSING

Cleaning your house doesn't have to be difficult, but there are some things you might be doing when you clean without even being aware of it, such as washing from bottom to top.

Never vacuum, sweep, or mop your floor prior to dusting or cleaning your surfaces, whether you are performing a deep clean or your daily cleaning routine. Otherwise, you are only adding to your workload. Nobody likes to have to go back and clean up their previous work.

Working smarter, not harder, is the ultimate objective. Therefore, be sure to always tidy your house from top to bottom when you begin.

3. IGNORING THE UPKEEPING OF HOUSEKEEPING SUPPLIES

Forgetting to keep your cleaning tools is one of the biggest cleaning mistakes that people frequently commit without even realizing it.

Simply emptying your vacuum bag or container will improve its performance. Additionally, since sponges are a breeding ground for bacteria, make sure to change or clean them frequently. Put your towels in the microwave for a few minutes on high to sterilize them.

4. COMBINING VARIOUS CLEANING AGENTS

Never combine various cleaning agents because doing so can be hazardous and produce toxic gases. To make sure you are not combining bleach products with other cleaning products, particularly those containing ammonia, it is essential to read the labels of your cleaning supplies.

5. NOT CLEANING CERTAIN AREAS OF YOUR HOME

Even though I enjoy a good speed clean or power hour clean, I am aware that if you do it too frequently, you might overlook some areas of your house. Particularly considering that the purpose of a speed clean is to complete your cleaning as quickly as feasible.

But in all honesty, there will always be areas in your house that need cleaning, even if you have excellent cleaning practices.

Utilizing a monthly cleaning schedule or taking care of them during your spring or autumn cleaning is the best way to stay on top of all these hidden areas that you are not dealing with on a daily or weekly basis.

6. LACK OF ORGANIZATION WHEN IT COMES TO CLEANING

Finding the desire to clean your house can be challenging. But it is much simpler to complete with a strategy in place. I use routines and cleaning checklists to help keep me on track so that my house is always tidy.

7. USING THE SAME RAG TO CLEAN VARIOUS AREAS

Even though you are cleaning your surfaces with a cleaning solution, the cloth may still be contaminated with all the germs from the prior room. Obviously, we don't want to contaminate our entire house with that dirt and germs. Try to use fresh cloth each time you enter a new area to help prevent this.

8. NOT SOAKING THE PLATES IN WATER BEFORE WASHING THEM

Nobody desires to spend their entire evening washing dishes. You can save time by soaking your plates for a short while before washing them. I'll fill my sink with hot, soapy water when I'm cooking supper so that my pots and pans can soak while I eat. The dishes are also simple to clean, which saves me time when I'm performing my nightly cleaning routine after supper.

9. CLEANING THE WINDOWS WHEN SUN IS BEAMING

Did you realize that on a sunny day, you should avoid washing your windows? Sunlight shining through the glass causes you to overlook areas, and since your glass cleaner evaporates and dries quickly, it can also result in streaking.

Choose a cloudy day for this cleaning job if you decide to clean your windows

10. NEGLECTING TO SANITIZE THE DISHWASHER OR SINK

Unbelievably, this is a very typical housekeeping blunder. We may believe that dishes are cleaned each time they are washed, whether in the dishwasher or the counter. But in reality, they are overflowing with bacteria from discarded food fragments.

Be sure to occasionally perform a thorough cleaning of your dishwasher and wipe down your sink frequently to keep your family healthy and your home cleaner.

11. REMOVING SPOTS FROM CARPET

If you have dogs, you are aware of how frequent carpet stains are. However, being aware of how to handle them can be useful in preventing the stain from spreading or penetrating further into the flooring.

While it may be tempting to scrub or rub the stain out, it is actually preferable to use a damp towel to blot the stain first before applying a carpet stain remover.

12. USING A FEATHER BRUSH NONETHELESS

Are you still cleaning your house with a feather duster? You may have heard that although these dusters are designed to trap dust, in practice they only disseminate it. The last thing you want to do is this if you have allergy sufferers in your house.

It's preferable to use a microfiber towel to collect dust particles when dusting your house.

13. USING A MULTIPURPOSE CLEANER FOR ALL TASKS

There are many options available when buying cleaning supplies for your house, making it simple to become perplexed. You might discover yourself using a multipurpose cleaner because you believe it will do everything. However, regrettably, that is not the situation.

While multipurpose cleaners can clean a variety of surfaces, some surfaces, like marble or granite, require a particular kind of cleaner to ensure the work is done properly. Additionally, streaking can result from cleaning your windows and mirrors with a multipurpose cleanser.

14. LACK OF ORGANIZATION

Nothing will make cleaning take longer than having your cleaning supplies dispersed all over the place. Make sure to keep your cleaning supplies in a single location, such as a cleaning caddy, to save time and make cleaning your house easier. You can move them from room to room because they are transportable.

Since I'm routinely organized and keep my house clean, I can focus on other tasks when I have crazy busy days because I know I can clean the kitchen and bathroom swiftly and easily.

15. LEAVING THE LAUNDRY AND DRYER UNCLEANED

I most certainly do not appreciate doing laundry. It's definitely one of my least favorite things. Despite this, I still want my garments to always come out clean, and the only way to guarantee this is to regularly deep clean your washing machine.

Undoubtedly, washing machines and dryers are frequently neglected when it comes to cleaning because, like the dishwasher, you might believe that they are constantly being cleaned when you run a load. But these home gadgets need to be maintained in order to keep them functioning properly.

16. DECLUTTERING PRIOR TO CLEANING

Cleaning around debris not only takes longer but also discourages you from doing more cleaning.

Prior to beginning your cleaning, take a few minutes to remove any clutter from your house. Try to set aside a few minutes each week to declutter your house if you want to make life even simpler for yourself. To get you started, here are 30 items you can get rid of in your home right now.

17. NOT ASKING FOR HELP

Nobody should be expected to clean the entire house, particularly if there are other occupants. Make task charts for kids when they are young so that they will understand how crucial it is to chip in and assist with cleaning.

As a mother of teenagers, I can assure you that it is much simpler to get teenagers to clean when they are introduced to the task at a young age and are aware of what is anticipated of them than to wait and attempt to enlist their assistance when they are older.

18. CLEANING BEFORE DISINFECTING

The most frequent cleaning error on this list may be failing to grasp the distinction between cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.

Surfaces must first be cleansed (by removing the filth and grime) in order to be disinfected; otherwise, the disinfecting product won't function properly. Therefore, make sure to clear up any spills, crumbs, or grime on surfaces before using a can of disinfecting spray or wipes.