Now that we’re making an extra effort to keep our homes clean, there are some cleaning habits that could cause more harm than good. Let’s look at some of these below.

1. Using water on a wooden floor

Water and wood are mortal enemies. Water can make wood rot leaving your floors unsightly and exposing you to foul, sometimes harmful smells. If you must mop your wooden floor, ensure you’ve squeezed out as much water from your rug or mop as possible. Otherwise, avoid putting any moisture on your wooden floor.

2. Dusting with a dry cloth

All your surfaces are bound to collect dust. When dusting, a dry cloth or feather duster might help to remove dust from say a table onto the floor which you have to clean up later. In the process, this dust floats around the room settling on other surfaces, getting into hidden spaces while you inhale some. When you get to cleaning up, you might not be able to get rid of all the dust.

To ensure that you don’t spread dust all over the place, use a damp cloth when dusting.

3. Neglecting bulbs

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I’m guilty of this. The energy-saving bulbs that we use nowadays last so long that it’s easy to completely forget about them until it’s time to replace them. But, just as the other surfaces in your home accumulate dust, bulbs also collect dust and grime.

Clean your bulbs once in a while using a damp cloth. Ensure that the bulb hasn’t been in use before attempting to clean it.

4. Not washing your pillows

Just as you wash your pillowcases often, you should also make a point of washing your pillows at least twice a year. Pillows accumulate dust mites, oils, bacteria, sweat, etc. making them the perfect breeding ground for illness-causing bacteria. Follow the cleaning instructions on the care label attached to the pillow when laundering it.

5. Failing to clean your washing machine

If you’ve noticed that your clothes smell of mildew after you’ve put them in the washing machine, then you might need to clean it out. Your washing machine, just like your other cleaning tools need to be cleaned to enable them to fulfill their jobs properly.

To clean your washing machine, run a hot water cycle when it is empty and add some vinegar for extra freshness.