13 Things It’s Better to Not Use While Cleaning. Check to See If You Have Them at Home

Cleaning is not the most pleasant thing to do and it makes a lot of people stressed. Just yesterday you cleaned the furniture and today it’s already covered in dust. You’ve just cleaned the carpet and it’s already dirty. Or maybe you even bought special cubes for the toilet that end up breaking it!

We at Bright Side decided to find out more about cleaning and the mistakes we often make. Here are 13 things a lot of people often use when cleaning that are actually bad.

1. Toilet tank cleaners

These sanitizing blocks that are supposed to be attached to the toilet only seem harmless. Because they are usually pretty light, they often get flushed together with the water. They get stuck in the pipes and clog them which might cause all the contents of the toilet to go the other way.

Cubes for toilet tanks are also dangerous: many of them contain bleach that can destroy the rubber parts in the toilet and corrode the metal parts.

2. Magic erasers

Recently, “magic erasers” made a splash in the market. But the problem is, the melamine foam the sponges are made of work like sandpaper. Yes, it can remove some bad spots but at the same time, it scratches all sorts of surfaces.

Here’s a list of surfaces you shouldn’t use these sponges on:

• non-stick dishes

• stone countertops

• stainless steel

• car surfaces

• glass and shiny surfaces (they’ll get dull).

3. Using polish

Very often, modern furniture doesn’t need to be polished because it already has a special surface on it. If you use polish on your wardrobe or desk, you only create a sticky layer that collects dust. All you really need to do is clean regularly.

4. Bleach

Many people think that bleach is a universal product that can be used against all sorts of spots, including corrosion and mold. But this is not true. Bleach oxidizes surfaces starting the corrosion process. So, after you use bleach, you will only have more rust. And the mold — bleach will just fade the color of the mold, but not remove it.

Besides, bleach is really toxic. According to studies, in families where bleach is often used, children get sick with infections more often.

5. Vinegar

Vinegar removes grease and mineral sediment but can ruin some surfaces, like metal or wood. It’s better to not use vinegar to clean kitchen knives, doorknobs, irons, and taps.

Despite a popular misconception, vinegar is not a disinfectant, so there’s no point cleaning everything with vinegar.

6. Universal vacuum attachment

In order to clean a carpet, you need special brushes that won’t damage the fabric you are vacuuming. But an ordinary vacuum cleaner can leave unwanted marks on your favorite carpet. To avoid that, you need a special attachment for carpet.

7. Steam cleaners

The way steam cleaners work is simple: water boils inside and hot steam is supposed to clean spots. But it doesn’t always work that way.

For example, you can’t really clean a carpet because the steam itself won’t remove dirt or hair. And the high humidity might lead to the appearance of mold. Experts don’t recommend using steam cleaners to clean large rooms with carpet. To clean wooden floors, bricks, or laminate, you should use a different method.

8. The same cloth for the entire apartment

When you use the same cloth, you spread dirt and germs around the entire apartment. It is better to use a specific cloth for a specific room. Professional cleaners have color-codes: red for toilets, yellow for sinks, blue for furniture and windows, green for places where people eat.

9. Mixing detergents

Detergents often contain very aggressive elements that can react with each other in very unpredictable ways. Only chemists can predict the reaction. It’s better to not do any experiments and avoid mixing different detergents.

10. Air fresheners

We often want to fill our rooms with the smell of flowers or the sea. But we have to be really careful with air fresheners because some of them are classified as potentially toxic.

You can make a safe and eco-friendly mix to remove all bad smells. Mix 4 teaspoons of baking soda with 4 glasses of water and put the mix into a spray bottle.

11. Vacuum cleaners with dirty filters

If you don’t clean the vacuum cleaner, it might start to blow the dirty air back into your home. If you turn on the device and you can smell something unpleasant, it’s time to check the filters.

It’s better to empty the vacuum cleaner after every use and the filters should be replaced at least once every 3 months.

12. The more, the better

Many people think that the more detergent they put on the mop, the cleaner their apartment will be. But instead, they get a sticky film that makes everything look even worse than before. Besides, detergents can cause allergic reactions and if you use them a lot, they will only make the problem worse.

Follow the instructions on the package.

13. Newspapers

In the past, people used to try and polish their windows with newspaper. But it’s better to not do this today. The thing is, in the ’70s and ’80s, oil ink was used to print newspapers. The ink was similar to window polish. But then, manufacturers switched to newer and more eco-friendly ink that can’t polish anything now.

Besides, modern newspapers become soft very fast and they leave fiber and ink spots on the glass. It’s better to use microfiber cloths instead.

Do you think it’s necessary to do the cleaning yourself nowadays? Or maybe it’s better to hire a cleaning company to do the job well?