Cleaning mistakes are common, but they’re easy to avoid once you have some info. To help you achieve a spick and span apartment, we’ve rounded up some of the most common cleaning mistakes to avoid while sprucing up your space.
Starting from the Bottom
Let’s go back to the basics. To deep-clean your apartment, begin by cleaning counters, shelves, and other heightened spots. If you start with your floors, debris or dust from furniture and elevated surfaces will make a mess. Starting from the top will save you a lot of time since you won’t have to clean anything twice.
Using Dirty Tools to Clean Your Apartment
For a spotless apartment, your tools need to be clean. A dirty mop or broom will only spread more dirt around your home. Also, don’t forget to empty the bin once you’re done vacuuming, or you may end up spreading debris the next time you use it. Similarly, it’s important to clean appliances, like your dishwasher, if you want your home and everything in it to be squeaky clean.
Not Soaking Your Dishes
Whether you’re washing them by hand or with a machine dishwasher, your dirty dishes need to soak in soapy water first. Only then will you be able to properly scrub them clean. Otherwise, little bits of leftover food can get caked onto your dishes, which makes them a lot harder to clean.
Loading the Dishwasher Wrong
If you’re lucky enough to have a dishwasher, you need to load it correctly after giving your dishes a good soak. Failing to arrange your items properly may lead to subpar cleaning results; if you don’t stack your dishwasher correctly, certain items won’t be cleaned. A common cleaning mistake is stacking your spoons in the same direction. If you do this, many of them will be shielded and won’t get clean. You can easily avoid this by making sure your utensils are staggered.
Using Window Cleaner on Everything in Your Apartment
There’s a reason it’s called window cleaner and not all-purpose cleaner. Window cleaner does its job best when used on glass. When it comes to things like your laptop, wood, or granite countertops, you should opt for cleaning solutions made for those surfaces to avoid damage. And while we’re on the topic of window cleaning, save this task for cloudy days. Direct sunlight causes window cleaner to dry quickly, leaving unsightly streaks on the glass.
Using a Dirty Rag
If you’re using the same rag to clean everything in your home, you aren’t actually cleaning anything. Once a rag becomes dirty, it’s no use cleaning with it, as you’ll only be spreading dirt and germs. Instead, have a few clean rags you can use for different surfaces or rooms during your cleaning sessions. The same thing goes for a dirty dish sponge — if it’s dirty, your dishes will be, too.
