\nBy Jennifer Noonan\n
Believe it or not, there are right and wrong ways to clean the house. Check out what cleaning mistakes you might be making and how to fix them.\n
Many toilet brushes come in a stand that\u2019s easily tucked behind the commode. Resist placing the toilet brush right back into the stand after swishing the bowl. Doing so will allow all sorts of bacteria to breed in it. Instead, allow it to rest across the seat so it can dry out first, then store it in its caddy.\n
\n
The use of vinegar for cleaning in the home is an old tradition, and an excellent alternative to conventional cleaning products for many. It cuts grease and is effective on some bacterias. It is not, however, a worthy substitute for a disinfectant. So, if you need to eradicate flu and virus germs, vinegar should not be your cleaner of choice.\n
\n
Sponges are a breeding place for bacteria and germs. Do not make the mistake of using the kitchen sink sponge to clean the stove and countertops. You will only transfer all that yuck to the surfaces where you prepare food. Make sure if you use a sponge to wipe down surfaces, it is fresh and clean.\n
\n
It seems obvious you should clean your windows when the sun is shining so you can see what you\u2019re doing. But, actually, the opposite is true. Hot sun will make glass cleaner evaporate quickly and cause streaking. Instead, wait for a cloudy day, when temps are under 70 degrees.\n
\n
Never use sprays like window cleaners on electronics like your TV, cell phones, or LCD screens. They can do damage, as can the wood fibers from paper towels and tissues. Use a microfiber cloth instead or in the absence of that a coffee filter. If you need the extra umpf of a cleaner, use rubbing alcohol. And always spray onto your cloth, not onto the screen.\n
\n
You should never mix cleaning products. Period. But you should especially never work with an ammonia-based and a bleach-based cleaner at the same time. This is most likely to occur in a bathroom or kitchen, so carefully check labels before getting to work. When vapors from ammonia and bleach mix together, they form a toxic gas that is extremely dangerous. If you discover that you, or someone in your home, has been exposed to these fumes, leave the area immediately and call 911.\n
\n
Using abrasive cleaners or tools on porcelain tile and bath tubs is a very common mistake. Abrasives will remove stubborn dirt, but will also dull the finish. So resist using that pot scrubbing sponge on your tub, and opt for a soft cloth and a non-abrasive liquid cleanser or a non-abrasive powder like Bon Ami. Your tub and tile will thank you.\n
\n
Water is the enemy of any wood floor. While it\u2019s tempting to get the mop and bucket out to clean hardwood and laminate floors, just like linoleum or tile, it\u2019s harmful and not simply necessary. Sweep and vacuum often with the proper attachments, and mop with a barely-damp cloth when necessary.\n
\n
Routines we use to clean the home become second nature. We may never stop to think if we\u2019re doing it right or if we could be doing it better. Believe it or not, there are actually some right and wrong ways to dust, mop, scrub, vacuum, and clean essentially everything in the home.\n
\n
Furniture polish, while it smells great and makes your cabinets look shiny, should be used sparingly. Most commercial furniture polish has a large percentage of oil in it, which can smear and make fingerprints more prominent. In general, a cloth, barely damp with water, will suffice for general maintenance cleaning.\n
\n
Stains happen. Everywhere. Even in your carpets. When it does, resist the urge to scrub the stain out; that will damage the pile. Instead, blot as much of the spill up as you can with a clean, dry towel. Then, rinse it thoroughly with clean water, and blot dry again. Repeat as needed, and apply carpet stain remover if necessary, following the manufacturer\u2019s directions.\n
\n
\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Jennifer Noonan Believe it or not, there are right and wrong ways to clean the house. Check out what cleaning mistakes you might be making and how to fix them. Not Letting the Toilet Brush Dry Out Many toilet brushes come in a stand that\u2019s easily tucked behind the commode. Resist placing the toilet\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14889,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[47,48,54,44,43,85,61,30,46,6,31],"class_list":{"0":"post-14637","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tie-life-style","8":"tag-bathroom","9":"tag-bedroom","10":"tag-clean-hack","11":"tag-cleaners","12":"tag-cleaning-house","13":"tag-cleaning-mistake","14":"tag-cleaning-tips","15":"tag-household-hacks","16":"tag-life-hacks","17":"tag-life-style","18":"tag-tips"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Anh-ghep-Trang-Xanh-duong-va-Vang-Hien-dai-Cam-nang-Van-hoa-Cong-ty-Bai-thuyet-trinh.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14637"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14637\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}