If you’re a homeowner (or happen to live in a house or apartment of any type, really), you’ll have to deal with home cleaning every day. And it’s very probable you’ve heard several do’s and don’ts during your life… that may not be true.
As experts in the topic, we’ve decided to clear up the doubts and debunk all those myths you keep hearing from your parents and grandparents (and friends, too!). Buckle up and get ready to discover what you never expected. Also, in case you don’t have much free time, consider hiring house cleaning services.
Some common home cleaning myths
Feather dusters are the best choice
Whether in movies, series, or your grandmother’s house, chances are you’ve seen an ostrich feather duster (or artificial, we’re not picky here). It was believed that feathers caught the dust, helping in this way to dust all your house quickly and almost effortlessly.
Sadly, this is false. These dusters only move dust back and forth, making it worse than a brush, which would at least have a logical direction when the dust particles move. So forget about dusters, either real or synthetic, unless you want to sweep and mop the floor afterwards.
We recommend you use a vacuum cleaner instead. If you use an appropriate nozzle, you’ll remove dust from any type of surface, and pick it up instead of moving it around. An ideal solution to avoid working twice!
VEREDICT: False!
Clean windows with newspapers
If you ever saw a relative cleaning their windows with newspaper, you’ve already encountered this myth. Curiously, though, it isn’t true anymore. Even though the paper and inks used years ago were useful for achieving shining glass, today’s formulation isn’t effective.
If you want to avoid leaving streaks and ink on your windows and mirrors, you’ll have to forget about the past and move to the future with microfiber cloths. A simple product such as vinegar or rubbing alcohol is all you’ll need to make your surfaces gleam.
VEREDICT: Used to be true, but now it’s false.
Silver and dishwashers don’t go together
Yes, sure. We can’t just throw everything in the dishwasher and forget about using our sink, even if cleaning the dishes isn’t our favorite task. However, is silver in the list of ‘forbidden’ when it comes to using the dishwasher?
We’ve great news for you, though. Even if the ideal solution would be washing silver by hand (since it’s gentler), they won’t get duller if you put them in the machine. Just throw them in your dishwasher, and polish them after several washes if it’s required.
VEREDICT: False!
Plants will purify air in your house
Plants are usually recommended to purify the air because of their photosynthetic process. However, is this true, or its effect is too small to actually be perceived? This question is especially important in small spaces, since it can affect our actions towards improving the air quality.
Luckily, the answer is yes, this is true! The effect will depend on the amount of plants and the species (we recommend varieties like Boston ferns, peace lilies or English ivy), but it’ll cause a positive impact in your living environment.
VEREDICT: True!
Use specific products for specific tasks
You can probably guess what we’re going to say before you read it, don’t you?
There are plenty of options when it comes to cleaning products, and you can find specialized products for almost any chore. But are they really needed or more effective when it comes to keeping your house clean?
Unless you’ve a cleaning company or are specialized in doing said specific task, you probably don’t need more than general household cleaning essentials: a generic cleaner, a toilet cleaner, a disinfectant and little more.
These are great news for the environment as well, since it means you’ll produce less toxic waste or use less plastic. Ideally, change to natural cleaning products to make a full green clean transition!
VEREDICT: False!
Covid-19 related home cleaning myths
Ever since quarantine started (and even a bit before), we’ve been reading and listening nonstop about the appropriate home cleaning protocols. We’ve decided to bring light to them and specify a very common misconceptions related to this so you can protect your family. Also, all cleaning companies are aware of the protocols when their maid service staff goes to your home.
We hope you already know you have to clean before disinfecting. However, if you didn’t, now you do! Make sure to remove all dirt, grime and dust before starting to disinfect, and let soap (even regular dish soap) become your best friend.
Disinfectants work immediately
If your idea of disinfecting is wiping a surface, you’re risking your health. To properly disinfect, you’ll need to leave the product on the surface for a few minutes (can vary depending on the product, make sure to read the instruction label). This is the only way to actually kill germs!
VEREDICT: False!
So, now you are aware of the most common myths, you’re ready to go and make your house squeaky clean– or so we hope! If you find you don’t have the energy, though, consider hiring a cleaning company. They already know these myths, don’t worry! Marianna’s cleaning offers residential cleaning services.
