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Cleaning Mistakes That You Should Avoid
These are good to know! Do you know of any other common cleaning pitfalls?
D.G. Sciortino
06.30.17

We all put so much effort into cleaning, but what if that effort was all for naught? What if youโ€™re actually making your house dirtier and the act of cleaning more difficult for yourself?

You could be making the huge cleaning mistakes without even knowing. But donโ€™t worry! Weโ€™ll tell you how to fix that.

Here are some of the biggest cleaning mistakes that you could be making and how to correct them.

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Not Using An Attachment to Vacuum Pet Fur

Vacuuming without an attachment just blows pet hair around. Use your wand attachment to pick up visible fur first and use a dry mop or Swiffer after you vacuum.

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ignaziogenealogy.com
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ignaziogenealogy.com

Not Cleaning Your Water-Filtering Pitch

Just because itโ€™s water and is in the fridge doesnโ€™t mean your water-filtering pitcher wonโ€™t grow bacteria. Wash each part of the filter separately with warm soapy water at least once a week. If yours is washing machine friendly, toss it in!

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Wonder How To
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Wonder How To
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Not Cleaning Your Sponge

Your sponge can be a breeding ground for bacteria that hides in its little holes. Make sure you put your sponge in the top rack of your dishwasher and run it through a cycle at least twice a week. If you donโ€™t have a dishwasher you can put your wet sponge in the microwave for two minutes.

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Cleaning Your Floors First

If youโ€™re washing your floors before you dust, youโ€™re basically dumping dust onto your clean floors. Itโ€™s best to dust first, do your countertops, vacuum, then wipe down with a dry mop.

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DK - House Works, 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited
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DK - House Works, 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited
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Thinking Your Cleaner is a Disinfectant

Not all cleaners were created equal. Make sure youโ€™re reading the label because not all of your cleaning products will disinfect and kill germs. Also, make sure youโ€™re letting the disinfectant sit on your surface for the correct amount of time. Spraying and immediately wiping it up might not be effective.

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Chella's Common Cents
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Chella's Common Cents

Placing Your Utensils in the Same Direction

You can place your forks in the same direction in the dishwater but doing this with spoons and knives prevents them from getting a full clean. Place some up and others down to get them as cleans as possibly.

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Sears.com
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Not Cleaning the Inside of Your Dishwasher

Your dishwasher can get seriously nasty with yeast, fungus, and other gross stuff. While it probably wonโ€™t make you sick, itโ€™s still pretty gross. Use a spray cleaner and a small brush to really scrub your dishwasher door and inside the grooves of your rubber.

To clean your entire dishwasher, put one part of white vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle and layer this solution on the inside of the walls and rungs of the machine. Run your machine on empty in the hottest wash. You can also try this method.

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Consumer Reports
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Consumer Reports
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Using Furniture Polish Everytime You Dust

Only use furniture polish occasionally as not to create an oily gummy build up on your furniture. Instead, just dampen a cloth with a few drops of water and dust along with the grain.

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DIY Network
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DIY Network
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Washing Windows When Itโ€™s Sunny

Washing your windows on a sunny day will cause your windows to streak since the glass cleaner dries faster. Itโ€™s best to clean your windows when itโ€™s overcast or in the afternoon or evening with a squeegee.

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Stay at Home Mum
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Stay at Home Mum

Putting Your Toilet Brush Back in The Holder Still Wet

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Your brush should be dried completely before you put it back in the holder to avoid bacteria build up. Sandwich the hand between the toilet seat and the base while it drip-dries for 10 minutes.

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The Sweethome
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The Sweethome

Spraying Cleaner Directly Onto a Surface

You should only spray directly onto a surface when youโ€™re cleaning an extra dirty surface. However, doing this on a daily business will leave behind a residue. Itโ€™s best to spray onto a microfiber cloth, then wipe your surface down.

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How to Clean Stuff
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How to Clean Stuff
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Scrubbing Carpet Stains

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Eastside Extended Services
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Eastside Extended Services
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Scrubbing a carpet stain could make the stain seep in further and untwist the fibers in your carpet. Instead, scrape up the stain and any liquid with a spoon. Next, blot the area with a clean white cloth or white paper towel. Blot until it is dry.

You can also lay a towel down and place some heavy books on top changing them out frequently until it is dry. Then you can use your stain remover.

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