13 Items we should avoid using when cleaning

Cleaning the house is not the most pleasant task and, at times, it can even cause stress. Only yesterday you polished the furniture, but today the shelves are already covered with dust. The rug was carefully vacuumed, but not only did hair remain on it, but scratches appeared. You bought the best toilet blocks and, for some reason, the flushing water stopped coming down.

We, from awesome.club, we decided to delve deeper into these issues and realized that, when trying to put our house in order, we regularly make some mistakes. Here are 13 things that many people are used to using when cleaning at home, although it is recommended not to use them.

Toilet blocks, which are fitted to the edge of the toilet, seem harmless at first glance. Due to their fragile structure, they often fall into the toilet and can be washed away with water, getting stuck in the pipe and even clogging the sewer system. The basket with detergent can obstruct the drainage of the vase, causing the water to overflow.

Dissolving stones for coupled boxes are also treacherous: many of them contain bleach, which corrodes rubber seals and metal parts.

It wasn’t long ago that “magic sponges” started to hit the household goods market. The problem is that the melamine foam, which sponges are made of, works like sandpaper. Yes, it is capable of removing heavy dirt, but at the same time it leaves scratches on the surfaces. Here is a list of materials that are incompatible with melamine sponges:

non-stick dinnerware; stone countertops; stainless steel; automotive paints; mirrored and shiny surfaces (in seconds they become opaque).

Modern furniture often does not need to be polished because it already has a special coating on the surface. By constantly scrubbing a cupboard or table using a mobile polish, you’re just creating a sticky film on which to collect dust. It is best to do a wet cleaning or apply the product to a cloth, and not directly to the furniture itself.

Bleach is considered by many to be a universal product that fights all types of dirt, including rust and mildew. In fact, it’s not like that. The application of this substance leads to the oxidation of surfaces, activating the corrosion process. That is, cleaning with bleach causes even more rust. As far as mold is concerned, this product will discolor stains on the walls, but the fungus itself will not go anywhere.

At the same time, he is very toxic. According to a study, in families where bleach is used a lot, children contract infectious diseases more often.

Vinegar removes grease and mineral deposits, but it can damage some surfaces, such as wood and metal. It is best not to use it to clean kitchen knives, door handles, metal faucets and irons.

Contrary to popular belief, vinegar is not a disinfectant and is only effective against certain microbes. Therefore, it is useless to use it at all.

There are specific models of vacuum cleaners for cleaning carpets, which are equipped with specific brushes that do not damage the fibers of the fabric. However, a regular vacuum cleaner can leave your favorite rug with unwanted scratches. To prevent this from happening, look in the accessory set, which comes with the equipment itself, for a carpet nozzle or buy it separately.

The principle of operation of this device is extremely simple: the water heats up, turning into steam, which escapes from the nozzle, cleaning the surfaces. However, not all.

You will not be able to clean your rug properly, for example, because steam alone will not remove ingrained dirt, hair or any other impurities. In addition, high humidity can lead to mold in the fabric. Experts do not recommend using a steam cleaner to clean large rugs. For wood, laminate, brick and stucco floors it is also advisable to look for another cleaning method.

By using the same cloth to clean more than one room, you transfer dirt and bacteria from one room to another. To avoid this, it’s best to separate a cloth for each area. Cleaning companies even use color coding: red rags for bathrooms, yellows for sinks, blues for furniture and windows, and greens for eating areas.

Cleaning products contain aggressive agents that can interact in unpredictable ways. Only chemists can predict how liquids from different products will behave if mixed together. For laymen, it is better not to experiment and use them separately. This also applies to pipe cleaners, which often cause unexpected chemical reactions.

Sometimes, when we’re cleaning our house, we want to grab a room freshener and fill the rooms with the scent of sea breeze or Japanese cherry blossom. But flavorings should be used with caution, as a quarter of their components are classified as potentially toxic.

A safe and environmentally friendly product that will eliminate unpleasant odors can be made at home. Simply add 4 teaspoons of baking soda to 4 cups of water and pour the mixture into a jar. spray.

It is necessary to clean the vacuum cleaner bag and change the filters, otherwise it will blow out dirty air. We can see that the device is clogged because of dust due to the poor quality of cleaning done by it, and because of an unpleasant smell that it can release when turned on.

It is better to throw out accumulated dust and dirt after each use of the device. The collection bag needs to be removed and washed at least once a month. And it is recommended to change disposable filters and clean reusable filters at least once every 3 months.

Many of us think that the more products we put on a mop or cloth, the more effective the cleaning process will be. In reality, this causes a sticky film to form on the surface, which makes it even dirtier. In addition, household chemicals can cause allergies, and too much of them can make them worse.

It is very important to follow the package directions. If it says “dilute one capful of the product in 5 liters of water”, then that concentration will be more effective and safer that way.

Our mothers and grandmothers left the windows sparkling by using newspaper to clean the windows and glass, but you better not do the same thing. It turns out that in the 70s and 80s, to print newspapers, an oil ink was used, the composition of which was similar to that of products for cleaning glass. However, manufacturers have switched to cheaper and more environmentally friendly paints, which are no longer suitable for cleaning.

Also, modern newspapers quickly get wet, leaving bits and smudges of ink on windows. It is best to use microfiber cloths or craft paper.

In your opinion, nowadays, do we need to clean our house ourselves? Or maybe it’s better to hire a professional cleaner who is sure to clean everything right? Comment!