7 Chores You May Be Doing Wrong
Find out the best way to clean glass and change a duvet cover – and why you should remember to look up
Keeping our homes clean is no easy feat and it can be tedious and repetitive. However, it’s a necessary task for most of us. So, for the sake of getting the most value out of your cleaning time, here are some of the basic mistakes that even the cleanest of us can make – and how to avoid them.
2. Changing bed covers the hard way
If you find yourself in a wrestling match every time you go to change your duvet cover, there may be an easier way. Rather than simply shoving your duvet into the cover and wrestling with a mountainous landscape, try flipping the duvet cover inside out first.
Push your hands inside the cover right to the top two corners, then, pinching the fabric, grasp the corresponding corners of the duvet and draw your hands upwards until the cover falls down over the duvet, turning itself back the right way round again and encasing the duvet. Then simply give it a good shake.
If you find yourself in a wrestling match every time you go to change your duvet cover, there may be an easier way. Rather than simply shoving your duvet into the cover and wrestling with a mountainous landscape, try flipping the duvet cover inside out first.
Push your hands inside the cover right to the top two corners, then, pinching the fabric, grasp the corresponding corners of the duvet and draw your hands upwards until the cover falls down over the duvet, turning itself back the right way round again and encasing the duvet. Then simply give it a good shake.
3. Overloading the washing machine
It’s a temptation we all give in to, because, let’s face it, no one wants to spend an entire day doing laundry. That said, it’s important to resist the urge, since overloading the washing machine will cost you both time and money in the end.
Load capacities vary, but always leave enough space in your machine for your laundry to move around. This will help with the soaking and rinsing process, so your clothes actually get clean and don’t need to be washed all over again.
It’s a temptation we all give in to, because, let’s face it, no one wants to spend an entire day doing laundry. That said, it’s important to resist the urge, since overloading the washing machine will cost you both time and money in the end.
Load capacities vary, but always leave enough space in your machine for your laundry to move around. This will help with the soaking and rinsing process, so your clothes actually get clean and don’t need to be washed all over again.
4. Not emptying your vacuum cleaner often enough
Most of us rely on vacuum cleaners when it comes to cleaning our homes, so it’s only fair to look after this hardworking machine. Don’t just empty out the bag when it’s ready to explode; an overload of dust, dirt, hair and other particles can reduce suction power. Instead, change the bag when it’s about two-thirds full.
Tip: Tangled hair and threads can burn out the motor of your vacuum cleaner. To prevent this, unwind or snip them. After all, a brush roll that doesn’t turn doesn’t clean.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
Most of us rely on vacuum cleaners when it comes to cleaning our homes, so it’s only fair to look after this hardworking machine. Don’t just empty out the bag when it’s ready to explode; an overload of dust, dirt, hair and other particles can reduce suction power. Instead, change the bag when it’s about two-thirds full.
Tip: Tangled hair and threads can burn out the motor of your vacuum cleaner. To prevent this, unwind or snip them. After all, a brush roll that doesn’t turn doesn’t clean.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
5. Forgetting to look up
Often the most-neglected surfaces in our homes are the places that are hardest to reach. After all, if you can’t see it, it’s not there, right? Wrong.
For example, pendant lights and the tops of cupboards quickly collect dust. If you have a ceiling fan, that’s also likely to collect dust over the winter, so, come summer, if it’s left unattended, you’ll be fanning built-up dust all over the place.
In other words, don’t forget to look up when cleaning. Grab a stepladder and wipe down all overhead surfaces from time to time.
Often the most-neglected surfaces in our homes are the places that are hardest to reach. After all, if you can’t see it, it’s not there, right? Wrong.
For example, pendant lights and the tops of cupboards quickly collect dust. If you have a ceiling fan, that’s also likely to collect dust over the winter, so, come summer, if it’s left unattended, you’ll be fanning built-up dust all over the place.
In other words, don’t forget to look up when cleaning. Grab a stepladder and wipe down all overhead surfaces from time to time.
6. Washing knives in the dishwasher
It seems like a no-brainer to put everything in the dishwasher, but, fun fact: chefs don’t put their expensive knives in the dishwasher. Dishwasher detergent, which contains highly alkaline compounds, can dull the edges.
So if you’d like your knives to stay sharp, handwash them with warm, soapy water instead.
More: 6 Expert Tips for Reducing Clutter in Your Kitchen
It seems like a no-brainer to put everything in the dishwasher, but, fun fact: chefs don’t put their expensive knives in the dishwasher. Dishwasher detergent, which contains highly alkaline compounds, can dull the edges.
So if you’d like your knives to stay sharp, handwash them with warm, soapy water instead.
More: 6 Expert Tips for Reducing Clutter in Your Kitchen
7. Cleaning glass shower screens with multiple chemicals
You take a shower to get clean, but, in the process, your shower screen becomes quite the opposite. Over time, soap scum can remain stubbornly streaked across the glass, despite your best attempts to make it clean and shiny.
People often use particular store-bought cleaning products. However, if you prefer to use something with fewer chemicals, white vinegar is an excellent alternative.
Tip: It’s best to clean your shower surround while it’s wet, so do it after a shower or run some water on the surround first.
Tell us…
Do you have any tips on what not to do while cleaning? Share them in the Comments.
You take a shower to get clean, but, in the process, your shower screen becomes quite the opposite. Over time, soap scum can remain stubbornly streaked across the glass, despite your best attempts to make it clean and shiny.
People often use particular store-bought cleaning products. However, if you prefer to use something with fewer chemicals, white vinegar is an excellent alternative.
Tip: It’s best to clean your shower surround while it’s wet, so do it after a shower or run some water on the surround first.
Tell us…
Do you have any tips on what not to do while cleaning? Share them in the Comments.
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It may seem like a great idea to clean your windows on a sunny day when there’s extra light to expose all the dirt. However, doing so causes the heat from the sun to dry the window too quickly, leaving streaks along the way. Instead, opt for a cloudy day to tackle this task.
Tip: To get your windows extra sparkly, add a tablespoon of cornflour to a litre of lukewarm water in a spray bottle. Spray on the glass, then wipe your windows with newspaper, cloth or a squeegee, as you would with commercial glass cleaner.
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