Having a clean home has become everyone’s priority when the COVID-19 pandemic happened. Everyone seems so conscious of hygiene and home sanitation to ensure any trace of virus won’t linger in their homes. This is also the time when people’s cleaning skills are put to the test. For the neat freaks, cleaning is already second nature to them. But for the lazy ones, many realized that cleaning isn’t as easy as it seems.
Cleaning and sanitation services became a booming business during the pandemic. One example is the mold removal franchise that offers business opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start a restoration franchise in their community.
From basic house cleaning, restoration, deep cleaning, sanitation services, and pressure washing, these businesses offer different types of house cleaning to ensure your house is free from dirt, dust, viruses, bacteria, contaminants, and other fine particles.
But for those who are skilled enough to do their own cleaning, many would relate that cleaning itself is a never-ending process. Despite the cleaning hacks and tips, our homes never seem to look clean no matter how much time and effort we put into it.
The secret lies in our bad cleaning habits. We might be doing something completely useless, causing us more stress and wasting our precious time. With that in mind, here are some bad cleaning habits that make your cleaning efforts ineffective.
Applying large amounts of cleaning products
When we encounter a cleaning product that seems effective, most of us tend to use it more often. The popular”The more, the merrier” doesn’t apply to cleaning chores. Applying excessive cleaning products isn’t only a waste of money but it also does more harm than good.
For example, applying large quantities of dishwashing liquid on a single plate requires intense rinsing to get rid of the soapsuds.If you don’t rinse well enough, the remaining suds of the product will attract more dirt once they dry off. The same rule applies when doing the laundry. Too much soap can ruin clothes and leave residues in the washer that serves as a breeding ground for mold and smelly bacteria. This explains why some clothes have a stinking smell even if they’re fresh from the laundry.
Using dirty vacuum and cleaning tools
Cleaning the vacuum can be a difficult task if you hate dealing with dust and unknown dirt. But using a dirty vacuum to clean up dust defeats the purpose. Why? A fully loaded vacuum bin won’t suck up dirt well and is likely to emit dust since it doesn’t have enough space to store dirt.
There are different ways to detect if the vacuum needs some cleaning. If you’re noticing a foul smell every time you use the vacuum, there’s a good chance it needs some cleaning. You can also check out high-tech vacuums on the market that send out a warning signal if the bin is already full. Some come with a transparent canister so you can check the level of dirt fluff.
Whether your vacuum is starting to smell or doesn’t suck up dirt, clean it immediately. Also, make sure to rinse it well to eliminate the dirt.
This approach also applies to other cleaning tools. Don’t expect clean dishes if you’re using an old sponge. A dirty mop will only push around more bacteria and soil if you don’t clean it regularly. Meanwhile, a dirty washer can lead to smelly clothes if you don’t remove the detergent residue and built-up bacteria.
Take the time to clean your cleaning equipment before and after each use. A great tip is to use hot water and disinfectant to kill the bacteria. Also, know the right time to replace the sponge, mop, and other cleaning tools to ensure better cleaning results.
Wiping the disinfectant right after spraying
If there’s one thing we’re guilty about, it would be spraying disinfectant and wiping the surface immediately. Many household disinfectants have a 10-minute dwell time, where the product has to stay on the surface to really work.
Another cleaning mistake is using the disinfectant right away without cleaning the surface first. Experts say that you have to remove dirt and debris before disinfecting. To disinfect properly, wipe the surface using a towel to remove lingering particles then spray it with a disinfectant. Read the product instruction to know the dwell time, then wipe it up.
We all search for the best ways to keep our homes safe and clean. While the internet offers a variety of cleaning tips, we should also study whether they’re effective enough and worthy of our effort. Doing cleaning shortcuts may save you time but some of them won’t do a great job. In the end, it’s best to identify which cleaning patterns are inefficient and go for the ones to give you a clean and comfortable home.