Cleaning is a rewarding experience when done properly. That’s right! There’s a formula to even the most mundane things on earth. Some cleaning trends have stood the test of time, while others result from new practices.
While cleaning trends are not the most popular topic, they are important in making your home warm and welcoming. Poor cleaning practices can cost you; bad habits can wreck your appliances, furniture, and even your pipes. As someone who enjoys cleaning, I keep up with the latest trends. Although some are useful, others are not so much.
In curating this list, we listed common cleaning trends we fell out of love with and suggested new methods that will be a game changer.
The Use of Harsh Chemical Cleaners
Bleach and ammonia cleaners have been staples in our households for years. While they are praised for their great cleaning abilities, research says when overused, these powerful cleaners may contribute to respiratory problems.
What To Try Instead: Non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaners are the best options. Choose detergents that have hypochlorous acid, hydrogen peroxide, and citric acid, as they remove bacteria instantly.
Excessive Scrubbing
There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to remove a stain that won’t come out. Overly scrubbing surfaces in my home ended up ruining them and forced me to find less harsh cleaning methods.
What To Try Instead: Don’t clean only when you notice dirt around the house. Practice cleaning regularly, as this will help keep germs and dirt away. You won’t have to deal with layers of grime if you’re always keeping clean.
Cleaning the Traditional Way
Sticking to old cleaning routines may seem effective, but it can only be as effective as it gets. They say, “Old is gold,” but is it really?
What To Try Instead: We no longer live in the archaic era where a dust broom was your best cleaning companion. Times have changed, and modern technology has made cleaning easy. Invest in a good vacuum cleaner, floor scrubber, spin duster, clean mop, and other equipment that make cleaning less of a chore.
Buying Every Product in the Market
You don’t need detergents, degreasers, metal cleaners, and five different types of dishwashing soaps, all at the same time. There are cleaners you shouldn’t mix, and you’ll be overwhelmed trying to use everything.
What To Try Instead: Invest in two or three products that get the job done and save money. Do your due diligence by finding three positively reviewed products, and you’ll make your cleaning routine simple and effective.
Haphazard Cleaning
Have you ever tried cleaning your house but don’t know where to start? So you clean your toilet first, and just before moving to other areas, you change your mind and sweep the kitchen. Then you move on to dusting the living room, but you haven’t really finished anything. Haphazard cleaning is common and doesn’t give the results you desire.
What To Try Instead: Develop a cleaning routine and stick to it. You know your house best and understand the high-traffic areas — start with those. Work your way to rarely used rooms, and you’ll find yourself cleaning successfully.
Going Heavy on the Laundry Detergent
We’ve all had a couple of excessive slip-ups while using cleaning products. However, some believe using lots of laundry detergent will make your clothes cleaner. If anything, a lot of detergent causes skin irritation and residue buildup.
What To Try Instead: Laundry products are concentrated. It’s best to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how much product you should use. Not everyone is the same, so be sure to read the instructions on the back of the product.
Not Deep Cleaning
Regular cleaning removes disease-causing germs from surfaces. But it doesn’t mean you should leave hard-to-reach areas neglected.
What To Try Instead: Cleaning under your couch, through every corner, and in the ventilation systems ensures everything is clean. Set aside one day of the week for deep cleaning, and you’ll see a difference in your home.
Forgetting About High-Touch Areas
It’s common to clean every nook and cranny but forget about high-touch areas like your fridge handle, door knobs, cabinet pulls, and even light switches. These areas are part of the home and need regular cleaning.
What To Try Instead: Prioritize high-touch areas when you clean. Wipe them down after your deep cleaning is done, and thank us later.
Settling for Last-Minute Cleaning
Life can be overwhelming. Sometimes, it’s difficult to find sufficient time to clean. But we should roll with the punches and make cleaning a priority.
What To Try Instead: Apartment Therapy recommends completing small cleaning chores regularly; this will save you a lot of headaches and detergent. Just 20 minutes every day will get the job done!
Putting a Bottle of Fabuloso in Your Toilet Tank
We’ve seen this cleaning trend on all social media outlets. Popular influencers will try to convince you that putting an entire bottle of Fabuloso in your toilet tank will leave it smelling, well…fabulous! Placing foreign objects in your toilet tank is the quickest way to block it.
What To Try Instead: Cleaning your toilet regularly to eliminate bad odors. Also, a spritz of spray and toilet drops will make your toilet smell amazing. Pouring vinegar in the tank will also deodorize it and leave a neutral yet pleasant smell.
Self-Cleaning Your Oven
If you don’t need to clean your oven because of its self-cleaning feature, think again. While the high heat is meant to burn off any food particles, melted sugar can cause fumes and excessive smoke in your kitchen and even damage your oven.
What To Try Instead: Baking soda, white vinegar, water, and dish soap are the secret ingredients for a clean oven. Grab your spray bottle and a washcloth and clean away.
Washing Walls With a Lot of Water
Getting rid of dirt and cobwebs on your walls is important, but dampening them with water and a mop will only lead to mold. Even if you wipe the water down, it still absorbs in the walls and causes nasties to grow.
What To Try Instead: Architectural Digest suggests cleaning walls depending on what your wall treatment can resist. In most cases, spot touch-ups are all that’s needed.
Using Laundry Pods on Floors
No matter what influencers say, adding laundry pods to your mop bucket will not make your floors cleaner. Pods are specifically designed to wash clothes. They are not meant to clean floors or any other part of your house. Pods also have ingredients that leave a sticky film once dry.
What To Try Instead: Sweep your floors first to remove loose dirt, and use a mild detergent that acts best as a flooring solution. A baking soda scrub will remove tough stains on floors like linoleum.