Everyone thinks they know the right way to clean. But do you really? One of the advantages of editing a cleaning site is that I get a lot of email about cleaning -- and some of it is downright shocking. If you question your cleaning habits, you might not after reading this article on some of the ways people clean their homes that might just be called, well, crazy.
The toilet as a bucket. A reader wrote in and said his wife used the toilet as a bucket, putting cleaner into the toilet and then dipping a sponge and even a mop into it to soak up cleaner. Then she would proceed to "clean" the whole bathroom with this water. Now that is crazy.
Putting toothbrushes in the dishwasher. The mouth is the dirtiest site on the body. Many people have to take antibiotics before going to the dentist because teethcleaning releases a huge stream of germs into the bloodstream. Toothbrushes by their nature are especially dirty because they come in contact with germs under the gums -- something your glassware and silverware would never do.
Instead of putting in the dishwasher, run toothbrushes under water for a good five to ten seconds or give it a rinse with hydrogen peroxide or use a UV cleaner. Unless you have extremely hot water in the dishwasher, you could be spreading disease and germs around by placing toothbrushes in the dishwasher. Be sure to replace every three months; I like to do it with the change of seasons and on the first of the month, i.e., Jan. 1st, April 1st, etc.
Throw things in the closet. More than once during a tour of a house, I have opened a closet door to find everything rammed into it. Or, the cabinets in the kitchen or bathroom are completely full. Closets aren't for throwing things into. It's crazy to think that just because there's order in the house and everything is out of sight that you can call it clean or organized.
Using bleach straight. In an effort attack mold, clean clothes, or remove stains, some will resort to spraying bleach straight instead of using a diluted solution. This is dangerous and could splash into your eyes. Bleach is harmful and can irritate skin and tissues, like your respiratory tract. It can also permanently damage some surfaces and many fabrics. Avoid the temptation to use bleach straight.
Cleaning with old underwear. There's only one place good enough for old, worn-out underwear: the trash. Yet, time and again, someone will pull out an old pair of drawers to dust, wash dishes (!), or do some kind of cleaning. Never, ever use underwear to do any kind of cleaning.
Use just one sponge. There should be specific sponges just for cleaning dishes and wiping counters and a specific sponge for, say, washing the car or cleaning the bathroom. I've observed a maid from a national cleaning service use one sponge for the bathroom fixtures and toilet and then proceeded to clean woodwork and the kitchen counters with it. Yuck.
Aim for sterile. It's not only crazy, it's just impossible to make a sterile home. We have been trained to buy antibacterial soaps and sterilizing cleaners only to find that some dirt and germs is good for us. And toilet cleaner manufacturers would have you believe that you need to buy sterilized, disposable cleaners because these make your toilet and your bathroom cleaner. First of all, you can't make your toilet sterile or the kitchen perfectly clean. You can be safe, such as not slinging the toilet brush all over the bathroom. But sterile? It's impossible.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, PUBLICATION OR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Everydayclean.com Cleaning Calendar -- the calendar that puts you in control of your housekeeping by making it faster and you more efficient. It's the cleaning system that lets you have a clean house AND a life! Find out more at "Everydayclean.com"
Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter on this site and have ideas just like these delivered directly to your in-box!
Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Everydayclean.com Calender -- the calendar that helps you end the power struggle with your house. Keeping a clean home is about knowing what to clean when. Virtually everything that needs to be cleaned is on this calendar in a year-round cleaning schedule that helps you keep your house clean easier and faster. Click here for more information.
Save to Del.icio.us
