It’s time to start breaking these habits so you can get to a cleaner home, faster. To help, we’ve enlisted an expert to bust those bad cleaning mistakes. If you start by picking one or two bad cleaning habits to change each week, you’ll soon be on your way to a cleaner home—which leaves more free time for things you enjoy. Designate a place near the entryway for all mail, periodicals, and paper forms and keep a shredder or recycling bin close by. At least once a week, sort through and complete the needed action or toss. File important papers like tax receipts. Take digital photos of children’s special artwork or frame them for display. Share magazines with retirement homes, schools, or simply read the articles online. “Be sure to leave a few inches of space to either side of the shower curtain so air can circulate and help it dry, too,” cleaning expert Katie Berry notes. This will cut back on mildew and dampness. As far as damp towels on the floor, they’ll give your bathroom that mildew smell and also tend to attract pests. like ants and silverfish." This is one of the simplest bad habits to break. By closing the shower curtain after each use, it will dry more quickly and discourage mildew growth. By hanging wet towels to dry, you’ll get a second or third use and lighten your laundry loads. “Those cleaning videos on TikTok with all the suds are satisfying to watch, but that much soap can leave a film that attracts grime,” Berry explains. “When you use too much product, there’s also a risk of the residue remaining active and conflicting with other cleaning products to form dangerous fumes. Berry recommends always using one product at a time, in the amounts recommended by the manufacturer, and don’t skip rinsing if it’s recommended on the label. That’s why you should read directions and always use the recommended amount or even a little less. You’re wasting time and money on the extra product and the water to rinse it away. Take the time to thoroughly clean tools after every use by emptying completely or washing in hot water and adding a disinfectant. Periodically, replace with new tools. To be effective, the wipe should contain enough disinfectant moisture so the surface remains wet for at least four minutes. For a thorough cleaning, use multiple wipes or a clean cloth and sufficient disinfectant and water solution. Train everyone in the household to either put the dishes in the dishwasher or wash them immediately. Whether entry is through a mudroom or the front door, make this habit simple for everyone by providing a bench or chair for easier shoe removal. Keep a shoe tray close by for wet or muddy shoes and a bin to collect each family member’s footwear. “Clear glass bottles might look nice on a shelf, but they’re not appropriate for all products,” Berry explains. “Some, like hydrogen peroxide or chlorine bleach, lose their effectiveness when exposed to sunlight. Others, including solvents like rubbing alcohol or acetone, are flammable, so they must be kept in tightly sealed containers away from heat and light.” Gather together the cleaning supplies you need for each area of the home and store them close to that area. Bathroom cleaners can be placed in a small plastic carryall and stashed on a shelf or under the sink. Create two baskets of supplies if you have upstairs and downstairs bathrooms. Keep dusting and furniture cleaning products and tools together for quick touch-ups. And, of course, all laundry products should be stored safely in the laundry room. Make the task simple by selecting bedding that is easy to spread up neatly. A bed with a simple comforter and pillow shams is much easier to make than one with lots of fussy pillows. Most cleaners don’t work instantly and need a bit of time so that the ingredients can break down the soil and lift it so it can be easily wiped or rinsed away. Spend 30 seconds reading the directions to avoid 30 minutes of extra scrubbing. A good example is chlorine bleach. While it is a good disinfectant, it is not a good dirt and grime remover and the fumes can be toxic. Always use the gentlest cleaning products needed to produce results. “This was the way to go when vacuums didn’t have HEPA filters to keep their exhaust from spewing dust into the air,” Berry shares. “It’s still a good approach if you use a broom to clean your floors, and for the same reason—you’ll stir up dust that settles back onto your furniture. For those using a modern vacuum, though, it’s best to dust first to move dirt off of surfaces and onto the floor then vacuum it away.” And remember how that one disinfectant wipe can’t effectively clean an entire bathroom? The same goes for a disposable duster. If it has been a while since you dusted, grab a clean duster when the one you’re using turns a solid grey. You’re no longer trapping dust, you’re just pushing it around with a dirty duster. If you only have 15 minutes to clean, start by removing clutter and putting items in their proper place. Then if you get sidetracked, you can come back later to do the deeper cleaning. But if you and your family do a bit of cleaning each day, like load and empty the dishwasher, complete a load of laundry, and vacuum one or two rooms, then cleaning the entire house will not be so overwhelming.
