Heres how to adjust your habits for a more effective clean.
Although it can feel like second nature, some common cleaning habits could actually do more harm than good.
Using Dirty Cleaning Tools
Your cleaning routine is only as good as the supplies you use.
Credit: Cameron Sadeghpour
While cleaning can physically remove germs from a surface, disinfecting uses chemicals to actually kill the germs.
Disinfectants take time to work, so patience is key.
In some cases, the surface needs to be visibly wet for several minutes to effectively eliminate germs.
Credit: Steven McDonald
Always read the product’s label to determine the recommended contact time for sanitizing or disinfecting.
Cleaning Surfaces with Sponges
Think twice before you reach for the sponge to wipe down your countertops.
Kitchen sponges are notorious for harboring bacteria, which can transfer to other surfaces as you clean.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
You definitely don’t want bacteria from your bathroom ending up on your kitchen counters, for example.
Designate various cloths to use in different rooms and launder them often.
If you’re using disposable wipes, use one per cleaning job.
Not Providing Proper Ventilation
When using cleaners containing ingredients like ammonia orbleach,good ventilation is vital.
As you clean, the fumes from these products can release into the room and irritate your airways.
As soon as you’re done cleaning, leave the room.
Cleaning Floors First
If you begin with the floors, you’re not cleaning efficiently.
Skipping Daily Bathroom Maintenance
To state the obvious: bathrooms can get really dirty.
Wash that toothpaste blob down the sink right away.
Wipe splatters off the mirror as soon as they happen.
Deal with a developingtoilet bowl ringright away.
Train everybody who uses the bathroom to do the same and those weekly cleans will go faster.
