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On the JJ Barnes Blog, I discover the concept of overcleaning, and get advice from experts at Cleaning Pros for the top six things you should clean less often.
Overcleaning
I hate housework. Loathe it. I do it all the time but it never looks done. As fast as I tidy, my children have caused mess. As soon as I get one room pristine, another room has turned into a bomb site. I feel like I spend all my time either working, or cleaning up other people’s messes, washing other people’s clothes, and cooking other people’s food. There is no let up and I am tired.
When I heard the term “overcleaning” I was filled with hope. Perhaps… just maybe… I have an excuse to do less housework? Could this truly be?!
To help me learn more, cleaning experts at Cleaning Pros send over their advice for why there is such a thing as “too clean”, and the items that could be suffering from overzealous cleaning habits. Excessive cleaning can sometimes do more harm than good and, depending on what items you have in your home, you could actually be lessening the lifespan of some of your belongings.
Top Six Things You Should Clean Less Often
Don’t Damage Mirrors
Having a clean mirror makes the room feel brighter and lighter, plus it makes it easier to do your make up or style your hair if the surface is nice and shiny, so many of us get into the habit of cleaning our mirrors almost daily, thinking it will be the path to a sparkling reflection.
However, excessive mirror cleaning can backfire. The moisture from humidity and glass cleaners can seep behind the mirror, damaging the backing over time and leaving your mirror as just glass.
Avoid this by ensuring the proper ventilation in your bathroom and reserve your glass cleaner for a once-a-week clean.
-experts at Cleaning Pros
Polish Wood Less Often
Finishing off our cleans with a bit of polish should make sure your furniture is looking its best, but actually, too much wax or polish can lead to cloudy or dark surfaces on your furniture.
To fix waxy build-ups on furniture, wood especially, black tea is a helpful option. Brew two tea bags and allow the liquid to cool down, then dip a soft cloth into it, squeezing it until it’s slightly damp. This helps to gently lift grease, grime or dirt buildup without damaging surfaces.
For pesky watermarks, applying a solution of olive oil or mayonnaise can help. Let the mixture sit on the mark for an hour, then gently buff it away.
Clean Wooden Furniture Gently
Wooden furniture like tables and seating areas can be a tricky item to clean, especially when overzealous cleaning methods are applied, and wood spray polishes can trap dust and create stains.
The experts recommend avoiding harsh sponges and circular motions in favour of gentle wipe motions, or by dabbing the affected area. Rough cleaning is just as bad as over-cleaning!
Be Careful With Carpet
Carpets are designed to last for years, but they require proper care to stand the test of time. While weekly vacuuming is beneficial for your rugs, anyone excessively steam cleaning could find themselves with a problem.
Steam cleaning too much can lead to discolouration, patches and even snags in your rug. Limit steam cleaning to twice a year at the most. When you’re vacuuming, use the highest setting on the vacuum head to avoid damaging the carpet fibres’ ends.
-experts at Cleaning Pros
Don’t Rince Dishes
When you’re loading the dishwasher, there’s no need to pre-rinse dishes before loading them. Pre-rinsing not only wastes water, because your dishes about to be washed anyway, but it can also confuse the built-in soil sensors in the machine, resulting in lighter washes and leftover food bits.
Scrape off any leftovers from your plates into the bin, but do less work and avoid rinsing to let your dishwasher do what it was intended for.
Don’t Overwash Bedding
Don’t stop washing your bed linen, but things like comforters, weighted blankets and comforters don’t need to be cleaned as regularly as sheets. Overwashing bedding can make it lumpy and even lead them to lose their life earlier.
Bedspreads should be washed two to three times a year, comforters every one to two years, and quilts only when necessary. This also goes for our clothes too, preserve your denim by washing it less! Avoid washing items like jeans, sweaters, and jackets too often, as this can wear out the fabric.
-experts at Cleaning Pros
Conclusion
If I can get better results from my cleaning while putting less effort in, I am absolutely here for it!!!
What about you? What do you recommend cleaning less to get the same or better results?
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