16 Cleaning Hacks That Are Secretly Destroying Your Home
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It’s no surprise that we all rely on hacks that promise to clean the house faster and more easily. But some shortcuts are not as harmless as they seem. Some of these so-called ‘cleaning hacks’ may do more harm than good, destroying surfaces and even prematurely shortening the life of your household items.
Here are 16 popular cleaning tricks you may want to reconsider using.
Vinegar on Stone Surfaces
While vinegar is a wonderful natural cleaner, it’s very acidic and can damage something like stone (granite, marble, etc.). In time, the acid will wear away the sealant so that the stone will look dull and prone to staining. With such delicate surfaces, stick to a pH neutral cleaner instead.
Boiling Water Down the Drain
Boiling water can break some clogs, but it can also soften PVC pipes. Repeated use of this hack can cause leaks or cracks in your plumbing system. Warm water or a gentle enzyme cleaner can safely dissolve clogs if you don’t opt for boiling water.
Use Baking Soda on Glass and Stainless Steel
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Baking soda is abrasive and good for scrubbing, but can scratch glass and stainless steel if used too often or with too much strength. Over time these tiny scratches dull surfaces, and tend to tarnish and cloud. For regular maintenance, instead use a soft cloth and a gentle cleaner.
Cleaning Hardwood Floors With Vinegar and Water
Mixing vinegar with water to mop hardwood floors sounds smart, and eco friendly, but it’s actually toxic. It can strip the finish, for instance, stripping the floor and leaving them looking worn and susceptible to further scratching. A hardwood-specific cleaner is a much safer choice for your floors.
Using Bleach on Everything
According to Corechem Inc, bleach is a very strong disinfectant, but it is too harsh for use on many materials including fabrics and some metals. Repeated use can cause discoloring of the fibers, weakening of the fibers themselves, and even corrosion of surfaces. Use reserve bleach for bathroom tile only, and use milder cleaners elsewhere.
Spraying Cleaner Straight on Surfaces
You may be fooled into thinking you can save time by spraying cleaner directly onto the surface, but it will only build up over time. Cleaners can be sticky or dull, mostly on electronics or wood furniture. Instead, spray cleaner on a cloth and wipe.
Too Much Soap in the Dishwasher
More soap doesn’t equate to more clean dishes; it can contribute to buildup inside your dishwasher, damaging parts or even causing clogs. Excess suds may reduce your machine’s efficiency and reduce its life over time. Did you know that you should only use the recommended amount of soap?
Hard bristled Brushes to Scrub Carpets
A hard-bristled brush may seem like an easy solution for carpet stains, but it can pull at fibers and cause fuzzing. It can also weaken the carpet’s integrity and allow stains to look worse over time. Instead, choose a soft cloth or a carpet-specific brush.
Lemon Juice for Countertops
Lemon juice is another acidic cleaner that can harm countertop materials, including granite, marble, and even some laminates. As time passes, it wears down the protective sealants, causing staining and dull spots. To properly clean the countertops, use a mild detergent.
Overusing Disinfecting Wipes on Wood
Convenient but harsh wipes for wood surfaces are disinfecting wipes, which often contain alcohol to dry out and damage the wood finish, which can cause cracks and fade over time. Always wear a dedicated wood cleaner and a soft cloth when you have wood surfaces.
Mixing Cleaning Products
It’s true that you may be tempted to lather on some cleaning products to wash away dirt, but combining them may seem like a way to double down on dirt. However, it’s actually dangerous and can release toxic fumes. For example, mixing bleach with ammonia can create poisonous gas that you don’t want to breathe. Try to use one cleaner at a time to keep your home safe.
Hydrogen Peroxide on Carpets
While the stain fighting property of hydrogen peroxide is well known, it acts as a bleaching agent on colored carpets. This makes faded or discolored patches are difficult to repair. Test it on an inconspicuous area first to make sure you won’t screw up somewhere you won’t like. If you are unsure, you may want to use a carpet cleaner made for colored fabrics.
Sprinkling Baking Soda on Carpets and Not Vacuuming Them Properly
While baking soda can freshen up carpet odors, if not vacuumed thoroughly, it will settle deep into the fibers, clog vacuums, and cause the carpet to become dull over time. To avoid problems, it is better to vacuum carefully and again and again until no powder remains.
Leaving Wet Damp Mops and Sponges on Surfaces
Wet cleaning tools left on countertops or floors tend to leave water marks, which can result in water damage, warping, or even mold growth. This is particularly harmful for wood and laminate surfaces. Rinse well after using mops or sponges, and be sure they dry completely.
Using Paper Towels on Screens
It’s fast and convenient, but paper towels aren’t the best for wiping down TV or computer screens. They leave tiny scratches behind, which build up over time, making the screen unclear. For safe, streak-free screen cleaning, use a microfiber cloth.
Vacuuming Hardwood With a Standard Vacuum Head
If you use a regular vacuum head with rotating bristles on hardwood floors, you can leave behind scratches, and if debris gets trapped in the bristles. This can help to make your floors appear dull and scuffed over time. So use a vacuum attachment made specifically for hardwood floors to keep them looking new.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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