A clean home not only offers a healthy environment for our families, it reduces stress and helps homeowners truly enjoy their most prized possession.
That said, most people don’t really enjoy cleaning. What’s more, some of our cleaning habits might actually be making our homes dirtier. Be sure to avoid the following common missteps, curated by Better Homes & Gardens:
Wearing your shoes in the house. In addition to tracking dirt from outside, wearing your outside shoes inside also spreads germs and bacteria through your home. Your dwelling will stay markedly cleaner if you institute a no-shoe rule in your home. Make this an easy task by adding a bench or chair close to the front door, along with a shoe mat or rack. If you’ve got a shoe-wearing family member, keep their slippers or other ‘inside shoes’ by the front door to make the transition easier.
Using dirty cleaning tools. Be sure to clean rags and floor mops after every use. Continuing to use the same dirty tools will simply spread dirt and germs around, making your home even less clean than when you started. Be sure to also keep appliances like the dishwasher, vacuum and washing machine clean as well. Otherwise, they are not working to their optimal capacity and can also make things dirtier not cleaner.
Not changing out kitchen towels. Odds are, you’re not washing your dish towels enough. While you may think they’re pretty clean, keep in mind just how often you use them to dry your hands, wipe off a dish or take care of smudges here and there. If you don’t have enough on hand, invest in some more dish cloths and change them out more often. Keep your old ones in a separate spot and use them to take care of messy jobs, such as wiping up a spill on the floor.
Not reading instructions. All cleaning products work differently so take a few seconds to carefully review the directions before you put it to use. No cleaner provides an instant fix, and if you’re not using it properly, you may be in for additional scrubbing and tinkering. Some cleaners, for example, need to sit for a certain time period once they’re applied, and most are only suitable/effective for certain surfaces. Be sure to follow the instructions to a T to ensure optimal cleanliness.
Letting things go. Of course nothing inhibits cleanliness more than not taking care of things on a regular basis. Once dirt, grime, mildew, etc. build up, you’ve got an hours-long cleaning project on your hands or, worse yet, you may have reached the point of no return. Be sure to clean regularly, which will not only keep your home cleaner but reduce the amount of time you need to devote to cleaning.
Keep in mind that cleaning your home regularly will help preserve its fixtures and appliances, as well as keep it feeling new and fresh. This will save you time, money and energy over the long-run and help maintain your home’s optimal value.
