It is a common misconception that the foamier it gets, the more effective the clean. That’s a mistake! Too much foam inhibits the fibres movement. This means that the dirt can not be removed from surfaces efficiently.

What You Should Do: Whether washing or wiping: let’s keep the foam to its minimum – the environment will thank you for this!        

With over 10 millions germs, the sponge is generally seen as the dirtiest cleaning tool. However the mop – the real winner of dirtiest cleaning tools, moves one billion bacteria per ten square feet from room to room instead of cleaning them.

What You Should Do: After every use, wash the removable cloth at 60 degrees. A fixed fringe wiper needs to be exchanged every two months.

Even if the sunshine reveals clearly the dirty spots on the windows – that doesn’t mean you should grab the glass cleaner and squeegee right away. Through the heat from the sun, the cleaning water transpires on the glass panels much faster. This causes nasty streaks!

What You Should Do: Be patient and wait for a less sunny day. 

Photo: Benjamin Reay/Flickr Commons

Is your vacuum cleaner bag always overlooked and not changed until it’s about to explode? Well, that might be too late: sand and dust can reduce the suction power, additionally, food leftovers can decompose in the warm environment. The evolving mold can lead to a bitter smell in the vacuum cleaner.

What You Should Do: Change the bag already when it’s two thirds full, approximately every 6-8 weeks!

We like to slip on a pair of rubber gloves to protect ourselves against germs. But how well does it really protect us against germs? Sweat or water that enters the gloves while cleaning, can actually attract and multiply germs due its moist environment.

What You Should Do: Sprinkle some flour into the gloves before using it absorb any moisture. After the cleaning, turn them around and let them air-dry.      

The drum of the washing machine may look clean and fresh after each wash, but appearances are deceiving. As the moisture evaporates slowly, the drum is transformed into a germ incubator.

READ MORE: 10 Genius Washing And Drying Tips To Make Doing Laundry A Breeze

What You Should Do: To avoid spreading bacteria and smell, add 50g baking soda into the drum and fill up the detergent drawer with 50ml of vinegar. Run the machine with any clothes in it and the drum will soon smell fresh again!     

You just swiped a wet wipe over your furniture and to your horror, the dust returned immediately! This is because moisture attracts dust.

What You Should Do: A better option would be to use anti-static wipes.

Additional tip: Polish the surfaces with a mixture of water and a drop of fabric softener. This prevents the furniture from getting dusty so quickly. 

Photo: Bethany McFarland/Pinterest

You free your fridge regularly from bacteria – but what about your freezer? Did you know that germs hibernate from minus 18 degrees but will reactivate again as soon as it gets warmer.

READ MORE: 21 Storage Tips To Make Your Groceries In The Fridge Last Longer

What You Should Do: Turn off the freezer, empty it and fill it with towels, close the door and defrost it overnight. On the next morning, wipe the surface with a vinegar-based cleanser to free it from bacteria.  

Not all disinfectants and cleaning sprays can be applied directly onto surfaces, especially on electronic products like the TV and tablet. This is because the harsh chemicals might leak into your devices and cause them to malfunction.

READ MORE: Important Do’s And Don’ts When Cleaning Your Electronics

What You Should Do: Spray a small amount onto a microfibre cloth before wiping the surface clean. Use a dry cloth to get rid of any excess liquid. It’s also good practice to do the same for other surfaces like wood and stainless steel.

It’s tempting to try and rub out wine spills or other stains from your carpet because it feels like the most immediate and effective solution. But rough-cleaning will only ruin the carpet fibres and push the stain deeper into the material. 

What You Should Do: Using paper towels or a clean, absorbant cloth, blot the affected area gently until its dry, working from the outside in. You can also try soaking the stain in vinegar, then sprinkling baking soda over it before vacuuming it all up. 

READ MORE:
8 Common Home Cleaning Myths: True Or False?
30 Ways To Declutter And Spring-Clean Your Entire Home
The One Thing Missing From Your Living Room Decor

Text: Helpling / Additional Reporting: Elizabeth Liew
Photo: The Family Handyman/Pinterest

Helpling is the leading online marketplace for household services in Singapore.