12 mistakes that stop you cleaning

Mopping, vacuuming, scrubbing, polishing... Honestly, who wants to spend a long time doing housework? Don't fall into one of these cleaning traps. Because time is free time!

1. simply use vinegar cleaner for everything

Vinegar is great against limescale. However, some surfaces do not tolerate the product. The acid attacks natural stone such as marble. It can also dissolve silicone joints.

2. disinfecting too often

Rubbing surfaces with disinfectant not only takes time - the substances can even trigger allergies. Exception: if a family member has the flu.

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3. cleaning in the wrong direction

Whatever you clean - work from top to bottom. Then falling dust won't get clean surfaces dirty. So dust the top shelves first, then clean the lower surfaces and tables. Finally, vacuum and mop the floor.

4. cleaning windows in the sunshine

Aaah, who doesn't dread dirty windows? The problem: we often scrub like crazy and end up with nothing but streaks. Annoying! Therefore: never clean in the sunshine. The water dries too quickly and leaves a film behind. And very important: always use a squeegee.

5. using the wrong vacuum cleaner attachment

Most people don't use the repertoire of nozzles at all. The right one is much quicker: the narrow crevice brush cleans corners well, for example, and the upholstery brush cleans the sofa.

6 Mix several cleaning agents together

Above all, do not mix acidic (e.g. vinegar cleaner) and alkaline (e.g. soaps or degreasers) together. They cancel each other out. Very important: do not mix organic toilet cleaners with products containing active chlorine. Toxic chlorine gas can form.

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7. change the kitchen sponge too rarely

If you leave it too long, a lot of germs will accumulate. If you then use it to clean dishes or surfaces, you'll end up with a muck alarm. So put it in the washing machine every two days at 60 degrees.

8. do not wipe taps dry

If you dry the tap and shower head after showering, limescale will not build up in the first place. You can then save yourself the weekly bathroom cleaning. It is also best to wipe the tiles dry.

9. not washing out the mop properly

Sometimes people forget that cleaning utensils also need to be cleaned. For example, if the mop is not rinsed out properly, it leaves streaks of dirt behind the next time you mop and spreads wet dust everywhere.

10. removing lint incorrectly

You automatically reach for the lint brush first. However, hair and fluff on the sofa will come off better if you run a damp rubber glove over it.

11. mopping without vacuuming

If you mop straight away, you have to rinse it much more often because dust, crumbs and hair cling to it. Vacuuming or sweeping beforehand saves nerves and time.

12. do not let the cleaner soak in

When cleaning bathroom or kitchen surfaces, spray on the cleaner and wait a few minutes. This makes it much easier to remove the dirt.