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Spring has arrived, and it’s time to get your house in order for the beautiful weather in the coming months. If you’re doing an annual spring cleaning job at home, here are six common mistakes to avoid to ensure you’re optimizing your cleaning time and efforts—and also keeping safe in the process.
1. Poor prioritization of cleaning tasks. Increase your cleaning efficiency by figuring out, and sticking to, the strategy that works best for your home. Take a few moments to examine your processes and you’re bound to save yourself loads of time.
2. Using the wrong cleaning supplies and tools. It’s ineffective to clean your counters with a glass and mirror cleaner, or dust shelves with a paper towel. Make sure to assemble the proper supplies so you do an easy and efficient cleaning job with optimal results.
3. Improper cleaning methods. Let’s say you’re using a wet mop to clean your floors. Are you making sure it’s completely wrung out each time you’ve wiped the floor? Do you change the water in the bucket after every two or three dips with the mop? If you’ve answered “no” to these questions, then you might as well not mop the floor at all. Dirty water and a mop that’s not properly wrung out result in soil transfer, thus rendering it pointless to clean your floors. Pay attention to your cleaning techniques so your efforts are not in vain.
4. Forgetting to clean non-visible areas. We all try to cut corners when we clean, but if this is your major seasonal cleanup, don’t skimp on the duties! For example, remember to take care of tasks such as cleaning under the lip of the toilet bowl as well as behind it, dusting high-to-reach areas, cleaning the garbage bins themselves, and dusting or wiping down all the non-visible areas in every room of the house.
5. Unsafe storage of cleaning products. Never store household cleaners next to food. Why? Because these products contain potent and harmful chemicals which, particularly when opened, can permeate into the surrounding air. Store cleaning products in a locked cabinet away from common living areas or choose non-toxic products that work just as well, but are safer. When using the products, protect yourself by always wearing gloves and ensure there is proper ventilation at all times.
6. Incorrect disposal of cleaners. Household cleaners with caustic chemicals should not be poured down the drain. Not only is it hard on your pipes, this disposal method may potentially release toxic fumes into the air and also pollute the local water supply. Contact your municipal government to find out the appropriate facility in your area for disposing of hazardous waste such as toxic cleaning products.
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