When it comes to cleaning and housework there are lots of products you can use. However there are also lots of ways to use these products some which are better than others… Of course there is no such think as perfection but some errors can weigh heavily on your purse strings, harm the planet or be totally counter productive when it comes to the task in hand. In this article we have pulled together 8 bad cleaning habits we are all guilty of that you need to break straight away!
1) Putting three times more product than needed
We can often think that by adding more product it will be more effective at getting rid of big marks or we use a lot without even realising… We give estimations but often use more than is really necessary. Nevertheless, you can sometimes get the opposite effect to what you are looking for by giving yourself more work. As well as having the dirt that you need to remove you also have all the excess product to wipe away meaning you have more dirty cloths or wasted kitchen roll… Put simply using too much product is just counter productive! What is more you are wasting products so you lose money. Follow the instructions on the packet and use the correct measurements, particularly for the washing machine!
2) Moldy shower curtain and shower mat
When you take a shower are you someone who leaves the shower curtain open and keeps the mat on the floor? Well you should know that this is the best way to keep moisture and bacteria in the shower. If you close you shower curtain and leave your shower mat to dry by dabbing it a bit beforehand you won’t be bothered by humidity problems anymore.
3) Using dirty clothes in a terrible state
Sometimes we like to keep hold of cloths that are long past their sell-by date. We can also sweep the floor with a brush that is clumped up with dust or a mop that is not very fresh. If you are a culprit of doing this then remember that instead of cleaning you are in fact spreading more bacteria and are less likely to have the result that you are looking for. This is one of many cleaning habits you need to break!
4) Having a backup of disinfecting wipes that you use all the time
Of course it is really handy getting hold of a disinfecting wipe and then using it to wipe all surfaces needing cleaned. However this is not the most environmentally friendly solution. Moreover, it is also not very effective as these wipes only disinfect the area and don’t actually clean it. They can be used on small areas but shouldn’t be used for an entire room. You should simply clean first and then disinfect. Make sure that you use good products and cloths so that you can get the job done properly.
5) Pile up damp and dirty cloths
You should really let cloths and towels dry out before putting them into the wash basket. The moisture could encourage mold, bacteria and other unpleasant smells to develop which we could really do without… especially in the middle of our clothes that we were every day! Get your cleaning habits in check!
6) Using bleach to clean
Bleach can be used to breach and disinfect. If you use it to clean you should know that you are not cleaning anything at all. You should always clean first and then use bleach to disinfect after if needed.
7) Leaving dishes in the sink
Sometimes all you want to do is leave your dishes aside so you can clean them later. However this is the easiest way to have a big cluttered pile of dirty, food encrusted dishes. The best thing to do is to always put your dishes in the dish washer straight away or to clean your dishes by hand after you have used them. Once it is done then it is done!
8) Using lots of kitchen roll (instead of a cloth)
It’s really easy to take kitchen roll, use it to clean and then throw it away, however it is even more simple to pick up a cloth, brush or sponge depending on what you want to clean. Kitchen roll is not only a waste product that we can avoid it also don’t serve any really useful purpose. We can often think that kitchen roll is something that is not very expensive but in the end we can often waste it and then have to continuously buy it. This makes the price of kitchen roll over the year often a lot higher than your pack of clothes which are reusable and can be used for the same purpose. Do the math and see what you come up with!
Are you a culprit of these bad cleaning habits? For more information check out the video below.
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