Chicago Home and Lifestyles – 6 cleaning mistakes you might not be aware you’re making (and how to solve them)

Most of us learned how to clean from our parents or some other person we looked up to. As we got older, we might have picked up some new tricks, but ultimately feel like there isn’t much else to know about cleaning. But there’s always room for improvement, trust me!

Here are some common mistakes to avoid, facts to remember, and tips to make our jobs a little easier:

Cleaning products have an expiration date. I must admit it’s something I never thought of in the past. An expired cleaning product can lose its disinfecting properties, leaving behind the bacteria and germs it was supposed to eliminate. Check all your products for their expiration dates. 

Your kitchen sponge is a hotel for germs. They can hold more than 10 million bacteria per square inch—that’s more than your toilet seat! And they will spread these bacteria everywhere you use them. Replace them monthly, and disinfect every few days by dousing them in boiling water and microwaving them for one minute. 

(Pro tip: make sure the sponge is saturated and has no metal components before microwaving!)

Cleaning chronology matters! Disorganized cleaning wastes time and creates more work. First, clear the clutter before you get down to cleaning. Then, start with the small, hard-to-reach and hidden spaces like behind furniture or under and around appliances. They invite the dust and dirt you’ve cleaned off the larger spaces. 

Also, you should always dust before vacuuming. Vacuums are great for cleaning, but can give hard to reach dust a free ticket to settle everywhere. Dust first, then vacuum, and it will keep your room dust free longer. 

Being organized like this will make cleaning go more quickly. 

Cleaning windows on a sunny day is a no-no. The heat from the sun on the windows makes your cleaning solution dry too quickly, leaving spots and streaks. So, wait for a cloudy day to clean those windows for the best result. 

Don’t mix cleaning products, ever. It can be very dangerous and downright deadly. The most dangerous thing is mixing bleach and ammonia which produces deadly gas. Regular soap like dish soap is usually safe, but it’s still best to avoid mixing. Always follow label directions when using any cleaning product. 

Change your air and furnace filters regularly. This will keep your air fresher and reduce dust. Overlooking these filters will cause a buildup of contaminants and circulate pollutants around the home, encouraging allergies and reducing air quality. Replace your filter every 60 days, more often in winter when the house is closed up. 

Do you have any cleaning tips for better organized cleaning?

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago