Common Cleaning Mistakes that can Destroy Your Home

It may sound surprising, but more often than not, we use cleaning measures that could end up doing more damage than good.

Can cleaning really cause damage? Of course, cleaning is hygienic and most recommended, but the methods of cleaning could be detrimental.

Worse still, most of us make these mistakes, at least before someone, a book or article says otherwise.

In this case, we will outline the most common mistakes that we should avoid when doing cleaning at home.

1. Using the Same Towel for Different Surfaces in the House

More often than not, we plan to clean multiple house points and places within a few hours. This schedule clears cleaning out of the way, but what could really go wrong here? 

You find that you use the same cleaning towel for the kitchen surfaces, sometimes the microwave, fridge, and even cooker tops.

When cleaning the bathroom, you may use the same cleaning towel for the bowl top, the wall, window, and shower tubs. 

The problem with this cleaning mode is that you may be transferring bacteria and fungi from one area to another completely uninfected.

What if you are using disinfectants? Don’t be so sure that every parasite dies immediately.

The best solution would be to use different towels for different areas in the house to avoid the mess altogether.

2. Using a Flood of Water on Wooden Floors, Surfaces, and Furniture

Never does anyone use a lot of water to clean and destroy a surface. On the contrary, you want to maintain its lustrous outlook.

Maintain, you mean? If you use a lot of water on wooden floors and surfaces, you will not maintain the surface. Sadly, the water causes damage.

Therefore, to prevent this problem, you can use a vacuum cleaner on wood surfaces. Alternatively, consider dust mops or minimal possible wetness on the surfaces and floors.

3. Using Sponge Dish Cleaners

A sponge is really soft and among the most gentle ways to clean your delicate utensils.

However, a sponge cleaner easily transfers fungi and bacteria from one utensil to another, from one wash to another. In the end, you may get food poisoning that you will not even guess the cause.

Therefore, use other soft microfiber towels or other rigid towels for your delicate glasses and utensils.

4. Using Vinegar for Marble and Porous Surfaces

Vinegar is indeed a recommendable chemical-free cleaning detergent.

However, the challenge steps in when you use it on porous and delicate surfaces such as marble. It causes damage to the surfaces, which is not worth the stainless surface you got using vinegar.

Nevertheless, you can get around this by mixing minimal vinegar with more water. This will ensure that you clean the surface, scrub it and still maintain the structure.

5. Mixing Bleach with Cleaning Agents

Sometimes we use bleach to bring back the glamor of a bright white surface. And this is all in order, especially for suitable surfaces. 

However, when you mix bleach with cleaning agents, you may cause dangerous reactions. For instance, mixing bleach with ammonia results in chlorine, an irritating gas that is dangerous and irritating for the eyes.

Instead of mixing the two, you could mix bleach with some water and scrub the affected surface after using the cleaning agent.

6. Not Cleaning Throw Pillows

Are you wondering whether this is a cleaning mistake if you are not cleaning at all? Of course, because you clean the rest of the household items and forget to throw pillows.

This is a common mistake that we often make and which could cost as much. By the end of the day, they may not show, but they are the dirtiest.

Therefore, including the throw pillows in your laundry often is recommended. Weekly if your house is always inhabited, and at least monthly if no one is rarely home.

Besides, there is also the dust, which throw pillows can easily trap.

7. Using a Common Cleaner for the Whole Home

If you are really into all-purpose cleaning products, then you could be doing some damage unknowingly.

You may have surfaces that are delicate and require special cleaning products or you could be using a product that is too mild for a surface that leaves stains.

The best thing to go about cleaning is to use special products for special surfaces, at least where possible. This way, you will protect your surfaces from bleach, damage, or even adamant stains.

Bottom Line

There are common mistakes that can destroy your home, and unfortunately, we have all done them at one point.

The best part of the deal is that you avoid these mistakes when you know what to do and what to avoid.