Leave it as it is, or Why a thorough cleaning can only hurt
Many people spend hours scrubbing their homes so that they are immaculately clean. But is it worth trying so hard? Experts say that excessive striving for perfect order can make furniture and appliances unusable. Frequent cleaning with the use of aggressive cleaning agents only spoils the surfaces and leads to their rapid wear. Find out which items cannot be polished to a shine from our material.
Tired of the constant cleaning? We have good news for you: you do not need to spend too much time and effort on restoring order. Experts advise not to clean some things too thoroughly, so as not to spoil them.
Here are items that don't need to be scrubbed to shine if you want them to last longer.
Some people wash mirrors every day, thereby spoiling them. The glass washing liquid penetrates the surface of the mirror, destroying it. Over time, the mirror can simply turn into ordinary glass. To avoid this, you often need to ventilate the rooms where the mirrors are located, and instead of aggressive means, use a microfiber cloth to cope with moisture and stains.
Use the liquid to wash the glasses no more than once a week. To clean the bathroom mirror, first remove the stains with medical alcohol and a soft cloth. Then spray the glass cleaner onto the mirror surface and wipe it with a microfiber cloth. Fingerprints can be removed with vinegar and paper towels. After that, your mirrors will sparkle like new.
Wooden furniture needs special care. Scratches often appear on it due to too diligent cleaning. This is most often due to the abundant use of cleaning sprays, which discolor the wood and leave visible traces.
The polish should be applied only from time to time so that dust does not accumulate on the surfaces and there are no stains left. Do not use hard sponges and rub wooden furniture with circular movements. Cleaning agents should be applied without pressure and very carefully. To eliminate dust, it is enough to use a microfiber cloth.
A mixture of dishwashing liquid and water will help remove stubborn dirt from furniture. First, try to remove the old dirt with this mixture, and only then, if the stains are not cleaned, apply more aggressive means.
Black tea, which contains tannins, will help to cope with fatty accumulations of dirt. Brew two tea bags in boiling water, let it brew and cool, and then soak a soft cloth in the tea so that it becomes a little wet, and wipe the surface.
Traces of water remain much more often, and they need to be removed as quickly as possible. Rub a little olive oil or mayonnaise into the stain, leave for an hour, and then remove.
Ink stains can be eliminated with baking soda. Pour a little powder on a damp cloth, and gently rub the dirt until it disappears.
Stickers or traces of glue should be carefully scraped off with the edge of a credit card or a plastic scraper, and then add a little olive oil to a rag and walk through the dirt.
Carpets should serve for many years, but they will not withstand long operation without proper care. Vacuuming carpets every week is a good habit, but deeper cleaning methods, such as steam cleaning, should be used no more than twice a year. Some people treat the carpet with a steam cleaner after each contamination. This leads to a loss of color, the appearance of spots and hooks.
When vacuuming, make sure to use the highest position of the vacuum cleaner nozzle to avoid damaging the ends of the carpet fibers. When cleaning carpets, never choose a high temperature — this way the carpet will fall into disrepair faster.
Dents on the carpet from the furniture standing on it can be easily eliminated by filling them with water and giving the pile the right direction.
If you use a dishwasher, do not rinse the plates before placing them inside. Rinsing can confuse the built-in touch sensor of contamination. As a result, the dishes will be washed in a more gentle mode than necessary, and the leftovers may not be washed. It's best to just peel the leftovers off the plates and put the dishes in the car. This way you will save time, money and effort.
If you wash the dishes by hand, add the detergent to the sink or to a bowl of water, and not directly to the plate or sponge. First, remove the leftovers with a kitchen spatula or paper towel. Soak the dishes with dried traces of food in a hot solution of baking soda and water for 15 to 30 minutes. Do not rinse the fat in the sink, as it can clog the drain. First, wash not very dirty dishes, and then switch to heavily soiled pots and pans.
Most people don't pay attention to the labels on bedspreads and blankets and wash them almost every month. This leads to the fact that they wear out quickly, and lumps appear inside.
Bedspreads are enough to wash 2-3 times a year, and blankets - only 1-2 times.
Many people wash their clothes after wearing them only once. In fact, this should only be done with socks and underwear. Most other things can be washed after three socks if they are not visually contaminated.
Do not wash jeans, sweaters and jackets too often — the fabric will wear out quickly. To get rid of the unpleasant smell, hang clothes on a hanger and leave them overnight in the fresh air. If a stain appears, try to clean it immediately, without waiting for it to dry.
Dark clothes should be washed inside out to avoid fading. Do not overload the washing machine and check before washing whether there are any metal elements in the clothes that can damage the drum. Do not use air conditioners for laundry when washing towels: over time, they will become worse at absorbing moisture.
It is equally important to monitor the cleanliness of the machine itself in order to avoid an unpleasant smell of laundry. Put some clean kitchen towels in the drum and wash them on the highest mode.
Meanwhile, a designer from the UK told about ten simple life hacks to prolong the life of her favorite clothes. To do this, it is not necessary to spend money on expensive laundry and stain removal products.