Are you looking to cut costs while still having a clean and inviting home? If so, you’re probably familiar with the various DIY home cleaning tips and tricks out there. But beware – not all of these tips are created equal! In fact, some may do more harm than good for your home. To help you stay safe and efficient in your cleaning routine, we’re debunking common home cleaning myths today. Let’s get started!
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Baking soda can remove all stains
Using baking soda as a cleaning agent is not as effective as you may think. It is often seen as a catch-all cleaning solution that can be used to remove all stains and odors, but this is unfortunately not the case. While it can be used to get stuck-on food off of dishes or for deodorizing your refrigerator, it isn’t strong enough to clean most messes, especially those that involve oil or grease. For more stubborn stains, like tough red wine spills, you may need to hire a professional cleaning company or use a harsher chemical cleaner.
Additionally, using too much baking soda can leave behind residue on surfaces and fabrics which will cause unwanted discoloration. Baking soda should be used sparingly and in combination with other solutions rather than on its own.
Using hot water to clean is always better
When it comes to cleaning your home, it’s easy to assume that using hot water is always better. After all, hot water helps to break down dirt and grime faster, right? Not necessarily. Too much heat can actually damage some surfaces and fabrics, as well as reduce their lifespan over time.
Cleaning products are designed for specific surfaces and fabrics and designed in such a way that they will work optimally at different temperatures. For example, washing glass with a solution of mild detergent in hot or boiling water can cause the glass to crack and shatter. Many cleaning products are formulated so that they will be effective when used with warm or cold water. In fact, hot water should only be used when recommended by the manufacturer on the product label.
Using a higher temperature than necessary to clean can also cause materials to wear out faster due to repeated exposure to high temperatures. Excessive exposure might also cause fading of some materials and fabrics over time, such as shower curtains or drapes made from delicate materials such as velvet or silk chiffon; not only making them duller but often ruining them entirely.
So while using hot water may indeed help loosen dirt quickly in certain circumstances – the fact is it may not always be better for your fabrics or surfaces in general or even necessary depending on what you’re trying to clean. It’s important then – for both safety and efficacy reasons – that you follow the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning instructions carefully when attempting DIY home cleaning jobs!
Using more cleaning products means a cleaner result
The idea that using more of a cleaning product will give you an improved result is one of the biggest myths in the DIY home cleaning space. It’s a classic scenario: you’ve got a stain on your carpet or furniture, and turn to the nearest detergent bottle to try and remove it. While more detergent might seem like the best solution for tougher jobs, this could cause more issues than it solves.
Using too much cleaning product can lead to residue build-up on surfaces, which can be difficult to remove even after rinsing or wiping down with water. This sticky residue may also attract dirt in future cleaning sessions, making it even harder to clean surfaces next time round. Overuse of detergents could also leave surfaces dull, as well as create sticky patches which are difficult to remove. Further issues posed by the overuse of cleaning products include discoloring and warping of carpets and furnishings due to prolonged exposure to chemical cleaners.
In contrast, using just enough cleaning products provides great results without any lasting damage. If you do have tough stains that need tackling, start with a small amount first, then work upif necessary; if not necessary then use water-based solvent cleaners instead as they are usually safer than non-water-based alternatives for fabrics or carpets
All natural cleaning solutions are safe and effective
There is a lot of misinformation circulating around natural cleaning solutions. Unfortunately, going the DIY route isn’t always the safest, most effective solution. When it comes to natural cleaning solutions, if you want to ensure your space is germs-free and sparkling clean, then it’s best to use chemical-based cleaning products that have been tested and proven safe.
Using just one ingredient may not be enough to effectively clean your home or kill harmful bacteria or viruses. Natural ingredients may not always be strong enough to tackle tougher stains like ink or grime. Further, they often need additional ingredients or even specialized tools such as steam cleaners or pressure washers in order to achieve their desired results. Therefore it’s often more time and cost-efficient to use chemical-based cleansers in these cases.
Moreover, many natural cleaning products can have adverse qualities such as being highly corrosive and acidic which can damage surfaces if left on too long. For instance, vinegar and baking soda can create harsh chemical reactions which could leave permanent damage on surfaces like counters or tile floors if used incorrectly.
Therefore it is important to read labels and make sure that when using any type of product you fully understand its properties before use—natural or otherwise. Similarly, some natural products contain allergens such as pollen spores which could cause respiratory infections in those exposed. Finally, some oils such as citronella are great insect repellants but unfortunately highly toxic for animals so extra caution should be taken when using them with pets around or even plants outside that can attract wildlife like birds which could inadvertently consume them too.
White vinegar can clean everything
White vinegar is considered one of the most versatile cleaning ingredients. The acidic nature of the vinegar makes it an effective tool against stains and it is often used as a natural option to household cleaning products. While white vinegar can be handy to have on hand, it should not necessarily be your go-to for all cleaning tasks.
In certain cases, using white vinegar as your only cleaning solution can actually do more harm than good. White vinegar has a PH level that is too acidic for some surfaces, like hardwood and stone countertops, leading to discoloration and etching. White vinegar also lacks the microbes necessary to thoroughly clean certain surfaces like windows and kitchen countertops, which could leave them vulnerable to bacteria growth if not cleaned correctly.
Moreover, white vinegar lacks effective grease-cutting power, which is essential for deep kitchen cleans like oven hoods or range tops. Additionally, despite its reputation as an excellent deodorizer, white vinegar has been proven in some cases to actually attract dirt and moisture instead of repelling it – meaning that any odors will still linger underneath the surface even after wiping down with a solution containing white vinegar.
When used responsibly and in appropriate settings though – such as tackling stains in carpets or rugs – white vinegar can play an important role in your DIY home cleaning approach. That being said, before reaching for a bottle of white vinegar it’s important to consider all of your options because there are plenty of eco-friendly alternatives available that could be more efficient long-term investments for keeping our homes clean naturally!
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to do your research and take the time to consider all you have learned before starting a home cleaning project. There are many myths about DIY home cleaning that should be avoided. DIY cleaning can be very rewarding when done correctly. Before you start any project, make sure to read up on the latest products, treatments and technologies that are out there and don’t forget to use good common sense along with any advice you find online.
Learning from experienced professionals can often keep you from making costly mistakes and ensure that the job is done properly. Keep these seven myths in mind when making your DIY home cleaning decisions and never assume something is true until you have verified it yourself or with an expert.