We all have better—and far more enjoyable—things to do than cleaning the kitchen counter or a sink full of dirty pots and pans. But a few critical mistakes in your cleaning routine can elongate your chore list, taking up time that could be spent on more pleasurable pursuits.
Fortunately, by keeping a few magical cleaning rules in mind, you can ensure that every second counts when doing the dishes—so you can get back to the things you truly enjoy, faster.
Most of these common cleaning mistakes stem from sheer laziness. The tips below will help you work smarter, not harder.
Time-Wasting Cleaning Habits
Cleaning in the Wrong Order
Indeed, there is a specific sequence to cleaning a house to prevent re-cleaning freshly polished surfaces. In most rooms, a top-to-bottom approach is best – letting dust fall to the floor as you dust and wipe surfaces, with the floor being the last thing you tackle in each room. However, it’s easy to forget a few spots, requiring you to redo certain tasks. What are the most commonly missed areas? It could be cleaning the stovetop before tackling the microwave sitting on top, or scrubbing the bathtub before wiping down the surrounding tiles.
Overusing Products
When it comes to cleaning products, more is not always better. Too much detergent can dull finishes, take longer to rinse away, and even attract dirt, making your floors and other surfaces look dirtier, faster. Be sure to follow the dilution instructions on the bottle—and only spray or wipe on enough cleaner to get the job done.
Spray and Wipe Immediately
This could be one of the most common mistakes in cleaning—especially since almost every cleaning video or advertisement shows people spraying a product and wiping it clean immediately. But this doesn’t give the product time to work. This approach only creates more work for you, especially if you’re dealing with stubborn stains.
What’s the best approach? Spray the cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes (you can switch to another room or task while you wait). When you return, wiping away the grime will be much easier.
Not Letting Dust Settle
Dust doesn’t immediately settle on the floor after you’ve dusted—it lingers in the air for a while. So, moving directly from dusting to mopping the floor may not be the best idea, as more dust will settle after you’ve declared the job done. It’s advisable to wait at least 20 minutes for the dust to settle before mopping the floor.
Ensure you use a small-fiber cloth – or slightly dampen your dusting cloth – to help reduce the amount of dust kicked into the air in the first place.
Not Soaking Tough-to-Clean Items
Burned or dried-on food can be challenging to scrub off – but soaking them in hot, soapy water can do much of the dirty work for you. For truly burnt pots, pour in some water and a little soap, then boil it for a few minutes to loosen the burnt-on food.
Using Incorrect Tools and Cleaning Products
Using the wrong cleaning products won’t effectively clean your house (and can actually be detrimental—for instance, using vinegar on granite countertops). Using less efficient tools for dusting, such as feather dusters, can simply spread dust onto more surfaces, requiring more time to clean those surfaces.
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