Common Things We Do Every Day That Make Cleaning Harder

Tammy Emineth
Jul 10, 2017 · 4 min read

There are very few people out there who find cleaning their homes to be a fun activity, something they look forward to doing. Because of this we look for ways to make cleaning easier. We want to get our house cleaning done so that we can move on to things we feel are more important or just more fun.

There are some things that many people do in their homes that are actually making their cleaning efforts more difficult. Here are some of those common things that make household cleaning more of a chore.

1. Using a Feather Duster

This one is probably not news to many people, but for some reason feather dusters are still being made and sold. The feather duster is just not a great cleaning tool. It does not pick up all of the dust on a surface it merely spreads it around or relocates it.

-Instead try a microfiber cloth, these guys are dusting powerhouses. They trap in dust and get it off the surfaces of your home.

2. Washing Windows in the Sun

It seems like the best or most fun time to get windows sparkling new, but the heat from the sun can cause cleaner to dry on the window before it is wiped away. Cleaner left on windows creates more grime instead of crystal clear windows.

-It is best to wash windows at dusk or on a cloudy day.

3. Wearing Shoes in the House

Most of the dirt and grime on the floors of your home is tracked in on the bottoms of your shoes. You can drastically reduce the dirt on your floors and extend the life of your carpet and other flooring materials by simply removing shoes at the door.

-Have a basket or shoe storage set up next to the door to remind everyone to remove their shoes and you will remove a large percentage of dirt from your floors and home.

4. Not Cleaning the Vacuum

A properly used vacuum is going to carry quit a bit of dirt. Ideally you should be vacuuming your home about twice a week (more in high traffic homes). If a vacuum isn’t cleaned it becomes like a feather duster, a useless tool that just pushes dirt around.

Replace the bag when one third full, or empty the canister after every use. Take the removable parts off the vacuum every 3 to 6 months and wash in warm soapy water.

Related: How to Clean a Pool on a Budget

5. Not Letting Tile Cleaner Soak in

The gunk that builds up in grout lines can get pretty tough and caked in. Grout and tile cleaner does a better job when it is left to sit and dissolve grime.

- Let grout cleaner sit for a few minutes and break down grime to save you some scrubbing.

6. Turning Off the Bathroom Fan too Early

The exhaust fan in the bathroom can work wonders to cut down on mold and mildew and cleaning time. Most people only turn it on during a shower and flip it right back off when they are done.

Leave the fan running 20–30 minutes after you turn off the water to remove a significant amount of moisture and cut down on scrubbing mildew.

Related Post: Selling a House? Here’s what to do when schools out and it’s time to sell.

7. Spraying a Surface with Cleaner

Spraying cleaner directly on the surface of what needs to be cleaned instead of on the cleaning cloth creates a build up on the surface that attracts more dirt.

-For cleaner surfaces spray the cleaning cloth then wipe away dirt and grime.

8. Not Having a Cleaning Routine

The longer you go between cleaning jobs the more dirt builds up and the harder the job becomes when you do get to it. This is also true of large jobs that don’t seem needed like a yearly professional carpet cleaning.

Don’t let dirt and grime build up. Be proactive with cleaning tasks so they don’t become larger jobs later.

Additional Resources:

How to Stage and Photograph Your Home — Joe Hayden

10 Things to check when Buying a Home with a Basement — Peggy Wester

6 of the Best Tips to Get a House Sold — Beth Atalay

Tammy Emineth
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