Cleaning is a never-ending task. It’s something everyone has to do, and no one wants to do, especially when we think about the time it takes and how much effort it requires. We all have bad habits when it comes to cleaning our homes, but these mistakes can cause damage not only to your home but also to your health.
You need proper tools and methods to get the job done right. With this guide, you will learn about bad cleaning habits to stop doing to live in a cleaner environment.
1. Using Dirty Cleaning Tools
When it comes to bad cleaning habits, cleaning tools are the first culprit. How can you expect the best results when using dirty cleaning tools to clean your home? If your washing machine has some odor from built-up bacteria from some detergent residue, it will make your clothes stink.
If your vacuum bag is filled with dust, it won’t do a good job sucking up anymore. A dirty mop and a dirty sponge will push around more soil and bacteria. So, take your time to thoroughly clean tools by emptying completely and washing them in hot water after every use. Also, use enough disinfectant to kill the germs. Replacing new tools is also a good idea.
2. Leaving Wet Towels and Shower Curtains Bunched Up
If you’re tired of spending too much time in your laundry room scrubbing mold and mildew on your bathroom surfaces, don’t worry. You can easily break these bad habits and have more time to focus on other tasks. Avoid leaving wet shower curtains bunched up and wet tower curtains in a heap on the floor.
Image credit: https://www.enchantehome.com/
Always hang up your non-slip shower mat after each use. By hanging the shower curtain, it will dry more quickly and discourage mold and mildew growth. By hanging wet towels to dry, you’ll be able to re-use them without having to wash out the mildew smell.
3. Leaving Dirty Dishes on the Sink
Your dirty dishes are a breeding ground for bacteria and germs that you don’t want in your kitchen. Leaving dirty dishes in the sink is a jackpot for hungry insects. Rinse off your plates before stacking them in the sink. Load the dishwasher every time it’s full, so you won’t have to worry about leaving food scraps from last night’s dinner sitting out on the counter overnight.
You can also break this bad cleaning habit by training everyone in your household to either put the dishes in the dishwasher or wash them immediately. After washing your dishes, wash out your sink with hot soapy water, spray with Vital Oxide, and let it dry.
4. Using Disinfectant Wipes
Don’t use disinfectant wipes on surfaces that food touches. This includes countertops and cutting boards. Wipes are less harsh, but they don’t do a great job of killing bacteria.
Image credit: https://www.lysol.com/
If you want to keep your kitchen clean with disinfecting wipes, it’s important to understand that you can’t swipe on everything and expect your home to be germ-free. Make sure you buy wipes that can kill viruses and bacteria. Also, ensure that you’re using these disinfectant wipes the right way; otherwise, you risk cross-contamination. For better hygiene learn how to make disinfectant wipes for home use.
5. Allowing Paper Clutter to Accumulate
Even with the emerging technology, including online billing and banking, there’s still a mountain of papers that ends up in our homes. These include magazines, newspapers, flyers, school papers, and projects. These papers tend to pile up. However, this is one of the easiest bad cleaning habits to break.
Instead of letting the paper pile up, designate a place in your kitchen for all this paper clutter. Also, keep a shredder and recycling bin nearby and sort it at least once a week. For children’s school papers and projects, opt for a designated storage bin, select a few to save space, frame a few, and hang them up. Learn how to declutter your room properly and you’ll never have trouble with cleaning.
6. Ignoring Product Directions
This is especially true for general cleaning supplies like dishwashing soap, general cleaners, and fabric softeners. Product directions are there for a reason. Ignoring it is a surefire way to make cleaning fail. Also, not following product directions might render the product useless if the solution is wrong.
The manufacturers will have recommendations on using the product, how much you need, and where it should be used. Application methods are also different, so it’s always important to read the label. This also applies to cleaning tools; follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prevent injuries.
7. Wearing Outside Shoes in the House
This is especially important when you have wooden flooring because this can cause scratches on the surface. It’s highly recommended to remove your footwear before entering the house. This way, you can keep your floors looking new longer.
If needed, apply an environmentally friendly wood polish to clean and protect the wood from damage caused by extreme weather elements. Whether your entryway is through the mudroom or the front door, make this cleaning habit simple by providing a bench and a chair for shoe removal. Get a shoe tray closed for wet or muddy shoes. Plus, provide a bin to collect each family member’s footwear.
8. Using Harsh Cleaners
Using too much cleaner can be a bad cleaning habit; using a harsh cleaner can damage your floors. Using harsh chemicals can strip the finish of wood floors, leaving them dull looking and requiring you to refinish them. For example, chlorine bleach is good in disinfecting, but that doesn’t mean it’s good on all surfaces.
Image credit: https://4.bp.blogspot.com/
Chlorine bleach is not a good dirt and grime remover, and the fumes can be toxic. It’s important to use gentle cleaning products to produce the best results. One of the safest and widely used home cleaning products is cleaning vinegar
9. Not Completing Tasks
Yes, we all get distracted while cleaning, but always try to finish a task once you’ve started it. For example, if you’re dusting the living room, don’t stop for a social media break until you’ve dusted the entire room.
If you have a few minutes to clean, start by removing the clutter and putting items in their proper place. Then if you’re interrupted, you can come back later to do the deeper cleaning.
10. Waiting Until the Cleaning Task is Overwhelming
If you have a huge cleanup job ahead of you, don’t try to bite off more than you can chew. Break the task into small pieces that are easier to manage. Don’t wait for the task to become overwhelming. Putting off cleaning and waiting until the task becomes overwhelming is one of the worst cleaning habits to break.
But if you do a bit of cleaning each day, like load, empty the dishwasher before the dishes pile, vacuum one or two rooms, and complete your load of laundry, then cleaning the entire house will not be as overwhelming.
11. Relying too Much on Bleach
Of course, bleach has been a household staple long cleaning and disinfecting agent. But it turns out that bleach isn’t as good a cleaner as once thought. Bleach is intensely harsh and can irritate the eyes, lungs, and skin.
Image credit: https://cominguprosestheblog.com/
The fumes are also toxic. A better alternative is baking soda or vinegar. If you still doubt how harmful bleach is, these reasons should motivate you to skip the bleach next time you begin your spring clean.
12. Leaving Your Bed Unmade
This might not be a big deal in the colder months when you’re bundling up under your covers and keeping your home well heated. But in the summertime, leaving bed linen unwashed can pose a real threat to your health. Experts recommend changing sheets every two weeks for best cleaning results.
Even if the rest of your bedroom looks neat and clean, the unmade bed can make it look messy. Making your bed each morning will keep the rest of the room and the entire house organized. You can as well make this task simple by selecting bedding that is easy to spread up neatly.
13. Storing Cleaning Products Incorrectly
Do you spend a lot of time trying to find your cleaners and tools? Well, this bad cleaning habit is quite easy to break. Gather all the cleaning supplies you’ll need for each area of your home and store them close to that area. Place them in a plastic carryall for bathroom cleaners and stash them on a shelf or under the sink.
You can also create two baskets of supplies if you have upstairs and downstairs bathrooms. Keep your dusting and furniture cleaning products in the kitchen. And all your laundry products should be kept in the laundry room. Make it easy to get started, and this will likely lead you to clean more often.
14. Hoarding Food in the Refrigerator
It’s a common bad habit to keep too much food in the fridge. Resist this temptation as your refrigerator does not have an infinite capacity and cannot store half-empty containers of milk, cream cheese, cottage cheese, or yogurt that will not be used up within a few days.
Image credit: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/
If you and your family hate leftovers, then don’t stash them in the refrigerator. Go ahead and toss it instead of storing it because improperly stored food promotes mold and bacteria growth, making cleaning the refrigerator daunting.
FAQs on Bad Cleaning Habits You Need to Break
Can cleaning make you sick?
Yes and no. Cleaning will not make you sick, but it can make you sick if you use improper cleaning methods. Plus, using harsh chemicals that can cause mild irritation and affect your health negatively.
Is it ok to clean regularly?
If you maintain a cleaning routine, it will be easier to break these bad habits. Cleaning should not harm your health or make you feel worse.
Final Thought on Bad Cleaning Habits You Need to Break
Whether it’s the cleaning and our lives in general, we all have these bad habits. We like cutting corners when cleaning. Everyone wants to make their chores easier and get them done faster. However, taking these shortcuts can have a lot of negative impacts on your life.
That’s why it’s important to break bad cleaning habits. They might be tolerable or even bring some benefits, but they shouldn’t be part of your life if you want to live a healthy and cleaner lifestyle.
The post 14 Bad Cleaning Habits You Need to Break appeared first on Kitchen Infinity.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.thelavkitchen.com/?p=388