Maintaining a home is no easy task. Whether your messes come from kids, pets, or guests, cleaning up after everyone can be exhausting. Many people make the process even harder on themselves when they fall victim to cleaning schemes that do more harm than good. If tidying your space seems more difficult than it should be, learn about these common home cleaning mistakes you’re probably making.
Mistake #1: Using the Wrong Products
All-purpose and DIY cleaners have many homeowners convinced that they can use these products on all surfaces. However, some materials react poorly to bleach-based products and homemade vinegar solutions. While bleach and vinegar-based mixtures work wonders on some tough areas, they will exacerbate problems on things like stone countertops and surfaces with rust stains, so make sure you’re always using the appropriate cleaning product.
Mistake #2: Scrubbing Instead of Blotting
When you see a stain on your carpet or upholstered furniture, your first thought might be to scrub the spot until it’s clean. In reality, scrubbing stains is one of the worst things you can do to your fabric home elements. Scrubbing can push stains deeper into your fibers and make them even harder to remove. Stop making this common home cleaning mistake and start blotting problem areas to clean blemishes from your carpet.
Mistake #3: Vacuuming With a Full Bag
Some people only empty their vacuum bags and compartments until they are completely full. Waiting this long to clean out your vacuum only blows dirt back into your space, which can cause allergy flare-ups and dirty your home even further. Full vacuums also lose suction, making your cleaning process even longer. Make your vacuuming routine easier by emptying dirt compartments more frequently.
Mistake #4: Cleaning Your Floors First
Floors probably take up a huge portion of your cleaning routine, so it’s only natural to get them out of the way first. However, when you do this, you’re only creating more work for yourself. Wiping down and dusting surfaces will only send more particles to your floors, so there’s no use in cleaning them first. When cleaning hardwood floors, push this task to the bottom of your to-do list to avoid doing double the work.
There are many things you shouldn’t forget to clean at home, and cleaning them correctly will only make the process easier. Now that you know how to avoid common problems, you can spend less time picking up after everyone and more time creating precious memories with your family and friends.