Cleaning isn’t most people’s idea of fun.. but when done properly, it can speed up the process and make everything that little bit easier. To help improve your cleaning technique we’ve come up with a few common cleaning mistakes we’re all guilty of doing but want to avoid at all costs!

USING DIRTY CLEANING TOOLS

This one is relatively simple to understand, using dirty cleaning tools simply means you’re spreading dirt, dust and bacteria around your home rather than cleaning. Tools like cleaning cloths, toilets brush and mops should always be cleaned and washed after each use.

USING THE SAME CLOTH FOR THE WHOLE HOUSE

When on a cleaning blitz many of us forget to switch out our cloths when moving room to room and end up using the same one on the entire house. This is a no no because do you really want bacteria from your bathroom ending up on your bedside cabinets or kitchen work surfaces? Therefore, designate a cloth to each different room of the house.

STARTING WITH THE FLOORS

Many of us seem to have this habit of starting with the flooring when it comes to blitzing the house. However, this should always be one of the last things on your list. As many professionals will tell you, you should always start high and work your way down. Otherwise dust, webs and crumbs can fall onto your nice clean floors, undoing all your hard work!

MIXING CLEANING PRODUCTS

Whether using branded cleaning products or natural cleaning ingredients or au natural like what wine vinegar and bicarb of soda, you should always stick to just the one. Mixing cleaning products together, especially when you’re unsure what’s in them can cause dangerous chemical reactions.

USING VINEGAR ON GRANITE OR MARBLE

If you’re lucky enough to have granite or marble countertops PLEASE make sure you keep them well away from vinegar and any cleaning product that may contain it. As great of a cleaning agent as it is, it is highly acidic and can discolour or even strip away the shiny surface off the natural stone causing it to look dull.

RUBBING STAINS

Stains should always be blotted with a clean cloth rather than rubbed or scrubbed! When you’re frantically trying to clean a stain this can be a hard note to remember, but trust us it’s important! If you rub the stains it can actually push the mess deeper into the material, or even cause damage to it…

SPRAYING POLISH DIRECTLY ONTO FURNITURE

It’s ALWAYS better to spray furniture polish onto a clean cloth rather than your furniture, especially when cleaning unsealed wood. This not only will make sure you apply the polish to the furniture evenly, it will also help avoid the polish soaking into the wood causing the surface to either discolour and even sometimes warp.

NOT LEAVING DISINFECTANT TO WORK ITS MAGIC

We’ve all see the adverts… 9 times out of 10 they claim their product can kill 99.9% of germs but actually, you really need to read the small print. Most of these products have directions on the back telling you how long you should be waiting between applying the solution and wiping it down. Meaning, you’re probably wiping it off to quick and not getting the 99.5% benefits. Make sure you leave it long enough to work it’s magic!

IGNORING TOUCH AREAS

Studies have shown touching points like door handles, remote and switches are some of the most dirtiest surfaces in your home, carrying a whole manner of germs. But, and I think we can all agree, more often than not these get forgotten about when it comes to cleaning. Make sure just to give them a good wipe down with an antibacterial product and clean cloth.

DUSTING WITH A DRY RAG

Many people think dusting with a dry cloth will prevent any polish residue one furniture. However, when you dust with a dry cloth you’re not dusting, you’re really just moving the dust and dirt around, which in some extreme cases can even scratch the surface. The best way to pick up the dust is honestly with a damp cloth, preferably a microfibre which attracts dirt even more and will pick up all of those pesky fine particles.