I’m a cleaning expert, there’s a pricey mistake loads of people make, it’s actually harmful to your health too
WE all want a clean home – but it’s easy to fall into the trap of doing too much.
There are so many so-called hacks online that it’s sometimes hard to know which ones to follow and which ones to ignore.
But one cleaning expert reckons people often make sanitising the home too complicated.
Joshua Houston, a pro from Household Quotes, has debunked five cleaning ’facts’ that are actually myths.
And one could save you cash – and stop you from harming your health.
Joshua said: “It’s common on TikTok for cleaning creators to clean one area of their home with multiple cleaning products.
“But this can be dangerous as the mix in chemicals could create something that is toxic to breathe in.
“Not only this, there’s often little benefit of using multiple chemicals on one surface, as one product should be able to do the job.
“Instead, use multi-surface cleaners which are versatile and are created safe to use.”
Another common myth that Joshua said people often fall foul to is thinking that bleach kills everything.
He said: “It’s widely believed that bleach will eliminate all germs, however this isn’t true.
“Bleach is an extremely strong disinfectant, but some germs are resistant to it.
“This means germs will build up again, so regular cleaning is required.
“Using it continuously can damage areas of your home, particularly metals, and if not used correctly it can irritate your skin.”
The cleaning expert says many people believe that dishwashers clean themsleves, since they’re constantly running with detergent. But it’s one appliance that needs attention.
Joshua explained: “Over time bacteria will build which will cause your dishwasher to smell, and any grime left will harden and prove difficult to remove.
“Instead, run a regular cycle with dishwasher cleaner, this will remove build-ups and odours.”
There are always stories online about how vinegar is a cheap, miracle cleaner. And while the household staple is great for some tasks, it’s not a cure all, Joshua insists.
He said: “Vinegar can be useful but it can also damage surfaces and furniture in your home due to its strong acidity.
“Our suggestion is to use specialised cleaners for countertops and furniture that are made of wood, iron, granite, marble and stainless steel.”
Finally the cleaning guru says feather dusters are not the useful tool many reckon they are.
He says: “Feather dusters are seen as one of the best ways to get rid of dust from your home. But actually all they do is move the dust problem to somewhere else instead of capturing and removing it.
“Electrostatic dusters are a better alternative, they use static electricity to attract the dust particles as the dust and the duster have opposite charges.
“It’s a very efficient way to ensure dust is removed from your home, it also is inexpensive with them being available for just a couple of pounds.”