Everybody tidies, and almost everybody hates it. There are right and wrong ways of doing the house cleaning chores. If you do it correctly, you will gradually start to spend less and less time on this dull task. Here is a list that will help you learn what not to do when cleaning.

1. Cleaning Stains After They Are Dried Out

The most frequent mistake every household does is to leave the fresh stains uncleaned. No matter what it is and where it is, it must be cleaned right away or else it may damage or permanently stain the surface. The most problematic substances that must be cleaned immediately are:

  • red wine;
  • white wine;
  • blood;
  • Sharpie or permanent marker;
  • tomato sauce;
  • oil and grease;

2. Dusting Mistakes

If you think, dusting is easy you most certainly are making one, if not both, of the mistakes listed below:

  • Cleaning the dust with a dry cloth – this will only result in transferring the tiny particles from one place to another. Always use a moist microfiber or cotton cloth when you are wiping the dust.
  • Using only a feather duster – the plus side of this type of tool is to use it to reach a high place, like on the top of the bookshelf, for example. The feather duster, contrary to the common beliefs, doesn’t actually clean. It only moves the particles from one place to another, more often to the lower shelves or the ground. Use your vacuum cleaner’s dust brush or a wet cloth to clean properly.

A lot of dust accumulates in the average home, and it poses a serious danger for people. If you are interested to know more on the topic, head on to our blog and check out how dust affects our lives.

3. When You Don’t Make a Proper Use of Your Vacuum Cleaner’s Attachments

This is a typical problem in almost every household. When you buy a vacuum cleaner, you usually leave the attachments in the box and forget about them. They, however, are made to help and simplify the cleaning process and it is a pity not to utilise them properly. Here is a brief guide created by our London professional cleaners on the purpose of each attachment:

  • hoverDusting brush – it is round with long bristles, and it is used to clean the dust out of high shelves, books, wall art and pictures.
  • Crevice tool – it is long and thin with an angled tip and helps you get to the tight spots – under furniture, between sofa cushions, etc.
  • Extension wand – this tool is specifically made, so you can clean the unreachable places – sealing corners, wardrobe tops, etc.
  • Upholstery tool – it looks exactly like a miniature copy of your original vacuum cleaner’s brush but it has a special line of fabric on one of its sides. This helps with collecting pet hairs and fibres from your furniture.

4. Always Use Cleaning Protection

You must never overlook the importance of rubber gloves. Human skin is very delicate and absorbent. You have to always wear protection on your hands when using non-natural detergents, especially if you are washing the toilet, tiles or drains. Cleaning solutions that contain ammonia or chlorine can easily burn you and cause rashes and an allergic reaction. Consider wearing gloves even when washing the dishes as most soaps dry off the skin.

5. Not Enough Air

When you are dealing with strong cleaners, you need to assure there is proper ventilation throughout the home. This is something frequently overlooked. Tiny particles from the detergents continue to linger in the air, and unless you provide a steady airflow, they will attach themselves to your lungs and skin.

6. Misusing the Floor Cleaners

When washing the floor, most people like to leave the tile cleaners to stay for some time before starting to scrub. The idea is the liquid will need a couple of minutes to absorb, break down the dirt and kill the bacteria. That is the case, but you don’t have to scrub fiercely after. Letting the cleaners sit for a while means, it does the job for you. So don’t give yourself a sore arm for the next morning. Just wipe it away.

7. Spray Cleaner Directly on a Surface

This method is practised quite often but is bad for the things that you are cleaning. There is a big chance you will permanently stain or damage the surfaces and won’t be able to wash equally all parts of it. The right way to do it is to spray a little amount of the detergent on a cloth and wipe the dirt away. This method prevents buildups and saves on cleaning liquid.

Electronics in a home in London8. Using General Cleaners on Electronics

You must remember there is a big difference between a window and a PC screen. You can’t clean them both with the same type of detergent. Electronics need to be handled with care and precision. There are specialised cleaners used for screens and components. You should avoid using common cleaning tools as well. Brushes and cloths can make tiny scratches and damage your electrical devices.

9. Not Taking Care of Your Dishwasher

Dishwashers often stop functioning well because we tend to load them with dishes either full with leftover food or wash completely beforehand. Scrubbing the plates and glasses is good, but it renders using the dishwasher pointless. Leaving food scrapes on the plates can clog the machine and damage it. You need to properly clean the insides of your machine every week and be careful when loading it with your dishes.

10. Window Cleaning in a Sunny Day

If you live in London, this won’t be a problem for you, but it is still a good thing to know. If you have decided that today will be the big house cleaning day, and outside the sun is shining, and the birds are singing, ignore your windows. Glass cleaners tend to dry very fast on direct sunlight which can be a problem. The sunshine will reflect from your windows, and you won’t be able to see if there are any stains or spots left. You will end up with large smudges and will need to clean your windows again. The perfect weather for this cleaning job is when it is cloudy outside or in the late afternoon when the sun is low enough.
If you want to know more about what is the perfect weather to clean the different parts of your house you can check our seasonal cleaning guide.

11. Pet-related Mistakes

Owning a pet, you have undoubtedly experienced these situations at least once. But did you handle them correctly?

  • Taking a walk in the park with your pup on a rainy day can be fun and refreshing. But only if you aren’t the one scrubbing the floor from the soggy paw or shoe prints. If you happen to have a carpet, things get even worse. Remember to always wash your dog’s paws the moment you get back from your walk. You can use baby wipes to clean your pet before entering the home.
  • Pet accidents do happen, and you need to address them right away. Do not let stains from urine or vomit to dry off. Get yourself a bottle of enzyme cleaner and don’t trust any DIY hacks. This detergent will dissolve the proteins and prevent the filth to embed in your carpet and upholstery.
  • Pet hairs are amongst the top reasons to call professional cleaning help in the home. The most common mistake our technicians see is the neglected upholstery. Pet hairs and shed skin gets embedded in the fabric of your furniture, and it is hell to remove it. That is why you have to cover your upholstery and primarily your animals’ favourite resting spots. Put on a nice blanket or an old sheet and let your furry friends sleep on the couch without damaging it.

12. Not Reading the Instructions on the Bottle

Instructions are there for a reason. You always need to read them first and then proceed to open the bottle and use the cleaner. Some detergents have to be applied in a certain way or have special requirements. Take your time and carefully check the labels at the beginning, so you won’t have to buy new furniture at the end.

house cleaning tools13. Skipping the Cleaning of Your Tools

Not washing the cleaning tools will create the perfect conditions for the spread of germs and fungus. Take a look at the grey and black sections of your clothes and mops and the unemptied vacuum bags that have been full for months. They contain thousands of microscopic organisms that can seriously harm your health. Continuing to furbish and burnish your home with dirty aids means you’ve been working hard with no results. They won’t pick up or remove the muck. Always clean the tools you use each time you tidy your home. Do regular check-ups and buy new ones every two or three months if you want to keep a nice and tidy house.

You can always reach out to your local reputable cleaners if you feel overwhelmed by all the chores. You don’t have to do everything all by yourself.

Stephanie Cooper

Stephanie is a content marketing specialist for Top Cleaners for the past several years. She has extensive experience working with cleaning companies and knows her audience. Stephanie creates engaging and useful content helping the customers of Top Cleaners with their struggles and providing them with the most accurate insight.