Unveiling Common Cleaning Misconceptions That Waste Your Time
Debunking Seven Common Cleaning Misconceptions and their Alternative Strategies
In our quest for a clean, tidy home, we often fall prey to inefficient cleaning routines and myths. These misconceptions not only waste our precious time but can also be harmful to our health and well-being. Here are eight common cleaning myths that need a good debunking and the more efficient alternatives you should be incorporating into your cleaning routine.
Joy Mangano, Cleaning Expert and Founder of Clean Boss, and Mónica Taher, Chief Operating Officer of Avanti Green Eco Cleaning, share their insights on busting these cleaning myths.
Chemical Cleaners Are More Effective
Many people believe that cleaning products with strong chemicals provide faster, more effective results. However, this isn't always the case, and inhaling these chemicals while cleaning can be harmful to your health. Joy Mangano, a cleaning expert and founder of Clean Boss, recalls her experience with traditional cleaners, which left her constantly taking breaks due to the fumes.
Instead, consider swapping out your chemical cleaners for natural alternatives like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils. These eco-friendly options are powerful and effective, while also being healthier for you and your home.
Bleach Cleans and Disinfects Everything
Most people turn to bleach when they want to clean and disinfect their surfaces, but it's important to remember that it's not effective at removing dirt or grime. Mónica Taher, the chief operating officer of Avanti Green Eco Cleaning, emphasizes that bleach doesn't have the power to break down dirt or grime.
Save bleach for your laundry room and for disinfecting surfaces, but skip it for everyday cleaning. Instead, opt for natural alternatives like vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or a homemade disinfectant spray made with essential oils.
Feather Dusters Are the Best Dusting Tool
Feather dusters have been a staple of cleaning supplies for years, but they're not as effective as they're made out to be. According to Taher, feather dusters only spread dust around instead of removing it.
Instead, consider using a microfiber cloth for more efficient dusting. These cloths have a static charge that attracts dust and easily traps it, leaving your surfaces cleaner and reducing the spread of dust particles.
Vinegar is the Best Produce Cleaner
While vinegar is a powerful cleaning agent, it's not the best option for cleaning fruits and vegetables before eating. According to Mangano, produce is often coated in wax that traps bacteria, dirt, and pesticides. Using vinegar to clean produce can remove the wax, but it can also leave a lingering vinegar taste.
If you want to clean your produce effectively, consider using a natural produce wash made with ingredients like fruit and vegetable juice, vinegar, and salt. These washes are gentle on the produce and help remove bacteria, dirt, and pesticides without leaving a vinegar taste.
Sunday Resets Are the Only Way to Keep Your Home Clean
The #sundayreset trend on TikTok is popular, but it's not the most efficient way to keep your home clean. Mangano advises focusing on one room at a time, spreading out the cleaning tasks across the week if necessary.
By tackling one room at a time, you can see visible progress and stay motivated. Plus, you'll save time on the weekends for hobbies, loved ones, and less overwhelming tasks.
Cleaning Is the Responsibility of One Person
Unless you live alone, cleaning should be a shared responsibility. Mangano advises getting your family members involved in keeping the home clean, whether that means assigning specific chores or pitching in to help with cleaning projects.
By sharing the cleaning responsibilities, you can save time and energy, and everyone in the household will benefit from a cleaner, more organized home.
Cleaning Without Organizing First is More Efficient
Taher advises that one of the biggest time-wasters in cleaning is cleaning without organizing first. Instead of rushing through a cleaning project and missing spots, take a few extra minutes to declutter and organize before you start cleaning.
By putting things away and tidying up surfaces, you'll create a more efficient cleaning environment. Plus, you'll have less to clean in the long run, saving you time and energy in the future.
By busting these common cleaning myths and adopting more efficient alternatives, you can save time, save money, and create a cleaner, healthier home for you and your family.
In their efforts to debunk common cleaning misconceptions, Joy Mangano from Clean Boss suggests swapping out chemical cleaners for natural alternatives like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils when cleaning at home. Moónica Taher, Chief Operating Officer of Avanti Green Eco Cleaning, encourages people to use microfiber cloths for efficient dusting instead of feather dusters that only spread dust around.
