7 Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid

When it comes to cleaning, we probably all want the cleanest home possible, achieved in the least amount of time possible. But there are certain common cleaning habits that could be side-tracking us on our way to a cleaner home. Avoid these common mistakes and you’ll shave precious minutes off your cleaning routine.

1. Vacuuming bare floors with a rotating brush

Not only can spinning bristles damage a wood floor, they can scatter debris, making it harder to collect. For bare floors, use a canister with a bare-floor brush or a stick vacuum. If an upright is your only option, switch off the brush.

2. Spraying polish directly on furniture

Spraying polish on your cloth is the way to go if you want to avoid a filmy buildup that attracts more dust.

3. Washing windows on a sunny day

Pick a cloudy day to do this job or start on the shady side of the house. Spraying window cleaner directly on hot windows causes it to dry too quickly before you can wipe it away, leaving hard-to-remove streaks behind.

4. Using dirty cleaning tools

Dirty, ragged cloths, mops, and scrubbers don’t work as efficiently as clean, well-kept tools do. Clean or replace your tools often, so they are up to the task.

5. Waiting too long to change the bag

Even though some vacs have “check bag” indicators, don’t rely on them. Check the bag yourself and change it when it’s three-quarters full to keep pickup at its peak. If you have a bagless model, empty the dust cup after every two to three uses.

6. Not washing or changing the filter

Dirty filters can’t do their primary job—trapping allergens. Follow your owner’s manual and change or wash the filters, usually every six months or as recommended. Your whole family will breathe easier.

7. Rewinding the cord haphazardly

Merely pressing the rewind button and letting the retractable cord snap back into place can send it off its track and you to the repair shop. Instead, hold the cord in your hand as you press the pedal to carefully wind it back into the vacuum.