Many of us learned our cleaning habits while growing up from parents or older relatives. Like other home remedies, for every truth there are myths! Here are some of the most common cleaning myths and mistakes that many of us make:
The Surface Cleaning Myths
• Carpets: Carpet cleaning does more harm than good. Some homeowners have become so petrified of these dangers that they neglect any form of carpet cleaning. Most of these dangers—mold, odors,shrinkage—arise from carpet that is left too wet for too long. If you hire a reputable company or invest in solid carpet cleaning equipment, your carpet will be fine and have better durability.
• Wood Cabinets and Furniture: The biggest myth about maintaining wood is that consistently applying wood polish is not necessarily the best thing for wood. The interaction between the polish’s chemical composition and the wood can attract excess dust or even dull the finish. Consistent dusting may be enough to keep your wood looking good. Otherwise, stick to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Tile Grout: The myth here is the degree of difficulty in cleaning tile grout. After removing as much dirt as you can with water, you can use baking soda with a little bit of vinegar to clean your grout or a pH-balanced cleaning solution. Be cautioned that with any proper cleaning the process is tedious, time-consuming, and homemade solutions won’t come close to the clean provided by professional, high-powered water vapor systems.
• Flooring, Countertops, and Fixtures: The notion that bleach effectively cleans these surfaces is myth. You must first clean, then disinfect with bleach or a similar product. Without first removing the dirt and food particles, germs can linger even with a bleach application. Likewise, without using a disinfectant, germs can linger.
The Home Maintenance Myths
• Gutter Cleaning: Most homes in San Diego don’t have gutters, but if your home does, you can’t just throw the leaves out of your gutter and call it a day. Good gutter cleaning involves identifying leaks, seams, flushing downspouts to prevent clogging, and ensuring they’re properly draining, along with comprehensive gutter channel cleaning.
• Painting, Staining, and Sealing: Rather than myths, mistakes with these projects generally involve bad habits or practices. The work may not be the most technically demanding, but knowing which type of paint works best for your climate can save you dozens of labor hours and extend the lifetime of the paint job. “A poor paint job can last as little 3 years before it needs attention,” says home improvement expert Matt Goering, “A good one can last for upwards of 20.” If you’re choosing to hire a professional, take 4-5 bids – you’ll be glad you did. When I had my cabin’s paint redone, only one of the 5 pros I talked to recommended I not powerwash due to the age of the structure. Getting these different viewpoints will help you select the obvious perfect choice.
• Professional vs. Do-It-Yourself Maintenance: Perhaps the most pervasive myth is doing your own maintenance won’t be as thorough or precise. If you’re choosing to save money by doing it yourself, do yourself another favor by making a commitment to doing it right.
The Biggest Mistake of All
Not keeping your priorities straight is the overarching mistake most homeowners make. Specifically, they often care more about things appearing clean than actually being clean. From reducing the risk of infection and other health hazards to increasing the life expectancy of your home furnishings, it’s easy to see why you should spend the time giving your home the deep cleaning it deserves.