I’m a cleaning whizz and you’re scrubbing your home too much – it’s totally overboard, you’re wasting your time
EVERYONE wants a clean and tidy home, which is why so many of us spend hours buffing and scrubbing every surface possible.
This is especially the case if we’ve got small children or pets at home.
But now experts are warning that there is such a thing as a house being “too clean”.
Most people will be shocked to learn that excessive cleaning can actually do more harm than good.
Experts have said that we may be going “overboard” in our quest to have a spotless home.
And, depending on what items we have in our home, it could even be lessening the lifespan of our belongings.
Luckily, cleaning experts at Home Spritz have revealed the items we don’t need to scrub down so often.
And they’ve also told us how often we should be doing it instead.
Disinfecting every surface
Ever since the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve all gotten into the habit of constantly wiping down surfaces to get rid of germs.
Everything from worktops to door handles to TV remotes gets a quick wipe-down every other day.
But the experts have said that disinfecting everything in sight might actually be doing more harm than good.
They say: “Going overboard with disinfectant sprays might actually help germs become more resistant, and this could make the usual cleaning products less effective in the long run.
“So, while these sprays are brilliant for certain jobs, it’s best to use them wisely and not too often.
“If you need to tackle a mess, consider a multi-purpose spray or a good degreaser instead”.
Mirrors
We all love having a crystal-clear, super-clean mirror in our home – right?
And as a result, we can become obsessed with cleaning them almost daily. But cleaning it excessively can backfire.
Home Spritz explain: “Going overboard with glass cleaner can ruin the reflective bit at the back.
“This shows up as black patches around the edges or even in the middle.
“So, instead of cleaning too often, give your mirrors a weekly wipe and be gentle with the spray.”
Tea towels
Tea towels can be a Godsend in any home – they are brilliant for mopping spills, drying the dishes, and even cleaning surfaces.
As a result, they can often end up in the washing machine every other day.
But it turns out that they don’t need to be washed even nearly as often as your bath towels.
Experts recommend: “They’re designed to dry quickly, which means mould and mildew struggle to take hold.
“A good wash every fortnight or so should do the trick.
“Remember to hang them up after each use to help them dry out fast and stay fresh for longer.”
Carpet
We all have moments when we get paranoid about the dust and dirt that clings to our carpets and rugs – especially if you have young kids and pets.
This is why it can be so easy just to pull out the vacuum and give it a quick once-over every day.
But experts have revealed that you don’t need to do this nearly as often as you might want to.
They say: “Carpets are built to last ages, but they do need a bit of looking after to see them through the years.
“While vacuuming your rough once a week is a good thing, using a steam cleaner could cause some problems.
“Steam cleaning too much can cause your rug to fade, making it patchy and even snag the fibres. You should steam clean a maximum of only twice a year.
“When it comes to vacuuming, using a medium setting on the head will actually be better for your rug.”
Fridge
Since all your food is sitting in the fridge, it’s understandable why many of us like to make sure it’s squeaky clean.
But experts have said it’s better to keep it organised and clean than to scrub it down.
And it doesn’t need to be wiped down as often as other kitchen units, either.
Home Spritz explain: “You’ll need to give your fridge a proper deep clean about once a month, but if there are any accidental spills, deal with those straight away”.
Hob
After cooking a meal, it’s very tempting to want to go full throttle in your kitchen and get it back to its spotless state.
However, there is no need to give your hob a full scrub every time you cook – unless there’s a massive spill.
Experts recommend: “A quick wipe after each use and a proper clean once a month will do the trick.
“The food doesn’t touch the hub directly, and the heat does a great job of keeping any germs at bay, so it doesn’t need too much attention from you”.
Dusting daily
Most of us hate the sight of dust in our homes – but there’s no need to go overboard in our pursuit to keep it dust-free.
The experts advise: “It’s true, dust can be an eyesore to look at and can hold bacteria, but when you dust every day, there’s not much to pick up in the first place.
“Instead, dusting once a week should be enough, as it lets a bit of build-up without becoming too excessive.
“This will save you some time, energy, and money on cleaning products.
“If dust triggers your allergies, an air purifier could be a good idea in the meantime.”
'STAY CLEAR'
IF you're looking to move house or renovate any time soon, then you may just want to take note.
That’s because a professional cleaner has revealed six things she’d urge everyone to avoid having in their home – because you’ll spend a lifetime trying to keep them dust or streak-free.
In a clip shared to TikTok (@glitzy.cleans.3), the cleaning whizz revealed the worst offending items that she dreads coming across on her daily job
- Silicone toilet brushes – while she understands they’re more hygienic, she notes that you can’t clean with them.
- Black taps – “builds a ridiculous amount of limescale, marks easily – just a no from me,” she warns.
- Black cupboards – it’s best to avoid them “unless you want to spend the rest of your life wiping them 24/7”.
- Waterfall taps – she also says waterfall taps are a nightmare when it comes to limescale, especially if you live in a hard water area.
- Glass tables – she brands them an “absolute dust and fingerprint magnet” and are “nearly impossible to keep clean”.
- White flooring – she warns it’ll show the smallest of marks and “will stay clean for no longer than one minute before going back to normal again”.
Oven
Since this is where most of our food will sit when it’s cooking, it’s understandable that we want to keep it clean.
But experts have revealed that we actually only need to give it a deep clean a few times a year.
They say: “There’s no need to clean the oven every week, or even monthly.
“A good deep clean three or four times a year will keep it ship-shaped.
“Food doesn’t directly touch the oven insides, so it doesn’t need to be spotless.
“Plus, the oven’s heat helps kill any unwelcome guests between deep cleans.
“Of course, if it has a self-cleaning mode, make the most of it.
“Just remember to tackle spills as they happen to avoid a bigger headache later”.
Windows
Like our mirrors, we all love having super clean windows in our homes.
But they actually don’t need cleaning quite as often as we might think.
Experts explain: “Most windows only need a proper clean inside and out once or twice a year.
“Of course, you can adjust this depending on the weather, dust levels, or how much pollen is about.”