Now more than ever, keeping a clean home is so important. I strongly believe that good health begins at home, and a clean home is the first line of defense. That’s why cleaning mistakes are such a big deal, especially right now.
Most of us were probably taught how to clean by our moms, and while I think we do a good job overall, if you’re making cleaning mistakes, it could mean the difference between germ-free and potentially causing illness.
That’s why today I’m sharing 5 cleaning mistakes you might be making at home, and ways to be sure you’re getting rid of those nasty germs to keep your family happy and healthy. And, if you read all the way to the end of this blog post, you’ll find a FREEBIE printable cleaning checklist!
5 Cleaning Mistakes You Might Be Making at Home
1. Using germy sponges
If the sponge you’re using at your kitchen sink or to clean your bathroom is filled with germs and bacteria, you’re wasting your time when you use it. And in fact, you might just be making things worse.
I change out my sponges every couple of weeks, but in the meantime, it’s easy to kill the germs. Simply put the sponge in the microwave for a minute or so every day to kill all those pesky little germs, and be sure to let it dry out completely before putting it away.
2. Mixing different cleaners
When I was a teenager, one of my weekly chores was to clean the bathroom. Because bleach and vinegar are both great household cleaners, I (mistakenly) thought that mixing them would be an amazing way of cleaning the toilet. It wasn’t; it caused a terrible chemical reaction that left me gasping for breath, eyes watering, and wishing I’d paid more attention in Chemistry class.
Never, ever mix bleach, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, ammonia, or peroxide. If you’re going to use these products to clean your home, always make sure that you use them separately.
3. Not giving disinfectants time to work
When we’re cleaning, we typically spray our disinfectant onto our counters (or on the toilet, bathtub, etc.), and immediately wipe. DON’T do that! The disinfectant doesn’t have a chance to kill bacteria on the surface if you wipe it up too quickly.
Typically, I’ll spray disinfectant on my kitchen counters and leave it for 2-3 minutes. Then I’ll go back with a clean cloth and start wiping away the spray. I wipe in a left to right to left motion, careful not to wipe the same area more than once.
4. Forgetting door knobs, drawer pulls, and remotes
Think about all the things in your home that your family touches repeatedly. Door knobs, drawer pulls, and remotes are just a few of the surfaces that are often neglected. These spots can harbor disease-causing bacteria, so it’s important to remember to clean them often. Right now, I’m cleaning them daily with Chlorox wipes.
5. Wearing shoes in your home
This isn’t a cleaning mistake, but it’s something that can result in increased exposure to harmful bacteria and germs.
Wearing shoes into your home after you’ve been out to the grocery store, for a run, or whatever you’ve been doing, carries unwanted germs into your home. These germs get on the floors and carpets and can easily be picked up by pets or crawling babies.
The best rule of thumb is to leave all outdoor shoes at the door and slip into a cute and comfy pair of house slippers. Also, try to wipe off your dogs feet with a towel when she comes inside.
What are some common cleaning mistakes?
I’d love to hear about your experience in keeping your home fresh and clean and germ-free. Leave a comment below or stop by my private Facebook group for dog moms and join in the conversation there.
How about a freebie?
I know that keeping track of household chores can be tricky, and that’s why I created this super helpful printable cleaning checklist!
You’ll find this free printable in my FREE Resource Library! Just enter your password to download this freebie, as well as so many other helpful tools and resources for dog moms.
Forgot your password? No problem! I put the password at the bottom of all of my emails. But if you can’t find one of my emails to you, you can either fill out this form again or email me at hello@everydaydogmom.com.
Don’t have a password? No problem! Click here to get your password and learn more about my FREE Resource Library!
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Christina, Khareem Sudlow
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