We’re all looking for ways to make cleaning more efficient and less time-consuming. Believe it or not, choosing certain “shortcuts” can make things more difficult for you in the long run. You and your family may have even acquired some poor habits that are impeding your capacity to complete tasks more efficiently (and may even be causing damage to your property!)
It’s time to break these behaviors so you can have a cleaner home sooner. Here’s a simple way to get started: Choose one or two bad cleaning habits to eliminate each week. You’ll soon have a cleaner home and more free time to do the things you enjoy!
Allowing Paper Clutter to Accumulate
Even with online bills and banking, we still have a mound of paper in our homes. Magazines, newspapers, school papers, and projects have a habit of piling up. Don’t allow that to happen.
Set aside a spot at the entryway for any mail, magazines, and paper forms, and keep a shredder or recycle container nearby. Sort through and execute the necessary action or toss at least once a week.
Keep important documents, such as tax receipts, in a safe place. Take digital photos of your child’s special artwork or frame it for display. Distribute magazines to nursing homes and schools, or simply read the contents online.
Bunching Up Wet Towels and Shower Curtains
Do you want to spend less time doing laundry and wiping mildew from bathroom surfaces? Wet shower curtains and wet towels should not be left bunched up on the floor.
This is one of the most straightforward bad habits to break. Closing the shower curtain after each usage allows it to dry faster and discourages mildew formation.
Using Too Much Cleaning Product
If a small number of cleaners works, will a large amount of cleaner work better and faster? Right? That is not the case.
Using too much cleaner or laundry detergent can do more harm than good. If an excess of cleaning agent is not entirely washed away, the residue acts as a dirt magnet, trapping soil. That is why you should always read the guidelines and use the recommended amount, if not a bit less. You’re wasting time and money on the extra product as well as the water needed to rinse it away.
Cleaning With Dirty Tools
How can you expect clean results when you are using dirty cleaning tools? If your washer has an odor from built-up bacteria in detergent residue, your clothes are going to stink. If your vacuum bag or filter is filled with dust, it won’t do a good job sucking up anymore. A dirty mop or sponge simply pushes around more soil and bacteria.
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.
Using One Disinfectant Wipe to Clean Entire Bathroom
Disposable disinfectant wipes are great for a quick wipe down of a bathroom sink. But that little square hardly contains enough disinfectant to clean an entire bathroom. By the time you reach the toilet seat and handles, the disinfectant qualities are gone and you are simply spreading bacteria from one surface to another.
To be effective, the wipe should contain enough disinfectant moisture so the surface remains wet for at least four minutes. For thorough cleaning, use multiple wipes or a clean cloth and sufficient disinfectant and water solution.
Leaving Dirty Dishes in the Sink
How much longer would it take to put that dirty glass in the dishwasher instead of the sink? Leaving dirty dishes in the sink is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and a jackpot for hungry insects.
Train everyone in the household to either put the dishes in the dishwasher or wash them immediately.
Wearing Outside Shoes in the House
Taking just a few seconds to remove your shoes each time you come in from the outside will save you hours of vacuuming. Not to mention the bacteria and germs that will stay out of living areas.
Whether the 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.
Storing Cleaning Products Incorrectly
o you spend half your designated cleaning time trying to find the proper cleaners and tools? This is a bad habit that’s easy to change.
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.
Hoarding Food in the Refrigerator
If you know that your family hates leftovers, then why bother to stash them in the refrigerator? If you are not going to use food promptly, just go ahead and toss it. Improperly stored food promotes mold and bacteria growth and makes cleaning out the refrigerator a much bigger task than it needs to be.
Leaving Bed Unmade
Even if the rest of the bedroom is neat and clean, an unmade bed makes it look messy. Just making the bed each morning is a habit that will promote keeping the rest of the room (and maybe the entire house) organized.
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.
Not Reading Directions
Have you ever had to redo a task like cleaning soap scum from tile because the cleaner didn’t work? Maybe you didn’t read the directions.
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
Dusting Last When Cleaning
Save yourself some effort by dusting before you vacuum. A room should be cleaned from the top down so the dust lands on the floor to be swept or vacuumed 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.
Not Completing Tasks
We all get interrupted, but try to complete a task once you’ve started it. If you bring out the ironing board, don’t stop for a social media break until all of the ironing is done.
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.
