There are a few mistakes we tend to make when the spring cleaning fever hits us, and, there are some myths that may or may not be quite true. One of the biggest may be that everything needs to be done all at once. Many years ago, spring cleaning was a two or three week marathon of dawn to dusk cleaning. Every drawer, cupboard, and corner was torn apart and put back together. Even now, some people try to complete a year’s worth of cleaning in a couple of weeks, when it could be spaced out throughout the year.
Of course, you want to make sure that every nook and cranny has been scrubbed, dusted, or polished, but it’s important to pace yourself a little. First, don’t tear apart the entire house at once. Take one room at a time, or, begin with the closets and drawers, and clean them first. Having the entire house destroyed at once will give anyone a feeling of hopelessness. Instead, declutter and tidy in sections my post decluttering the dining should help you get started.
Do not start cleaning at a time when you can’t open some windows. Even if you are using natural cleaners, the smell can be overpowering. Do not combine cleaning products. Combinations of different chemicals can not only smell bad, they can be deadly.
Do not think that your hands are invincible. After a few days of scrubbing and cleaning, they will show some wear and tear if you don’t wear gloves.
Some of the biggest myths, and mistakes, are made in cleaning various articles. Don’t automatically assume that all draperies and rugs are machine washable, but don’t overlook the fact that most soft furnishings can actually be either washed or dry cleaned at home. There is a myth that it is actually bad to vacuum and shampoo the carpet too often. The truth is that dirt is your carpet‘s worst enemy. If you have heavy traffic and pets, vacuum daily, and, shampoo about once a month. Just make sure that you don’t leave the carpets soaked. Allow plenty of air flow to dry them completely and quickly. Carpets today, by and large, will not shrink from being steam cleaned. They are made of synthetic materials. This is undoubtedly a myth that began with the wool carpets in the past.
Not too long ago, people believed that when you once you begin to have your carpets cleaned, or do it yourself, it will get dirty faster. This is true, only if you leave a lot of soapy residue in the fibers to attract dirt.
If you don’t intend to completely refinish your woodwork, cupboards, or any other wood in your home, be very careful what product you use on it. Use a cleaner/polisher specifically designed for wood. These will clean and polish without disturbing the original finish.
One myth is that you need to polish the furniture and woodwork weekly. This will in fact lead to a buildup, and, is not necessary.
Not everything in the house should automatically be cleaned with bleach. Bleach kills germs, but It is not an all purpose cleaner that should necessarily be used on a regular basis for every cleaning job. When it comes to cleaning equipment, newspapers, while capable of cleaning glass and windows, are not altogether the best to use. They do leave a residue, and, the ink comes off, on your hands, and, on the white vinyl or painted wood around the window.
You can get the best results when you opt for good quality cleaning tools. For a reasonable price, professional cleaning tools go a long way which makes cleaning a whole lot easier.
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be the arduous task that we imagine. It can be a lot easier if it is simply taken one step at a time. And if it comes to, it use my cheat, fake a clean house in half an hour or less
