Maintaining a clean and tidy home can be time-consuming but did you know that some common cleaning blunders end up making more work? It’s true! If you’re looking for ways to get your cleaning routine done as quickly and efficiently as possible, take a look at six common cleaning mistakes (and how to fix them) to see how you can shave precious time off your chores.
Using the same rag
If you’re using the same rag to clean around the house, we hate to break it to you but you’re not actually cleaning anything. Even if you’re spraying the cleaning solution on it, you’re simply wiping the germs, dirt, grime, and grease from surface to surface. Instead, use a new cloth or sponge for each surface or area of your home.
Washing your windows on a sunny day
A warm, sunny day may seem like a good time to wash the windows but it isn’t. The warmth of the sun causes the cleaning solution to evaporate more quickly, resulting in unsightly streaks and sunspots before you’re able to rinse and dry the windows. Wait for an overcast day to clean to windows.
Spraying cleaning solution directly on surfaces
It’s okay to spray cleaning solutions directly onto an extremely dirty surface that needs a little extra help, but doing so on a regular basis is less than ideal. Spraying cleaning solution directly on to a surface creates a layer of build-up that can be difficult to remove. You’ll also use more than you need. Instead, spray the solution on your cleaning rag.
Cleaning from the ground up
Think about your regular cleaning routine: when do you usually clean the floors? If you’re not ending with them, then you’re making more work for yourself. Instead, clean a room from the top down, ending with the floors. That way you’ll sweep up any dirt or dust that may fall from the higher locations when you finally clean the floors.
Not cleaning your tools
Appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and vacuums are designed to clean things, but when was the last time you cleaned them? Don’t overlook these workhorses! Save yourself some time from having to redo chores (especially laundry. Once is enough) because things aren’t coming out as clean as they should by regularly maintaining and cleaning your machines.
Not cleaning often enough
This is possibly the biggest mistake many of us make. We’re all busy and it’s tempting to save the cleaning for another day but then we’re cursing ourselves when it’s time to finally clean. Instead of spending the entire weekend in a cleaning frenzy, try to clean a little bit every day. That way, by the time the weekend rolls around, you’ll have more time to enjoy fun activities instead.
We all want to have the cleanest home possible without having to devote a large amount of time. Tweaking your cleaning habits can save you time and effort and leave you with a much cleaner home.