Cleaning is an activity everyone performs to maintain the integrity of their homes and keep it free of germs and contaminants. Over the years, how people clean homes has changed tremendously due to the introduction of high-performance cleaners and modern equipment.
Additionally, a lot more information is available on the internet and in books for house cleaning. But it is essential you don’t trust everything blindly, especially if you are at the end of a tenancy and need to bond clean.
The safest option is to hire
professional end of lease cleaners in Melbourne who can deep clean your rented property. However, if you are DIY cleaning, here are nine myths you need to stop believing to get optimum results.
1. Cleaning and Disinfecting are the Same
Often these terms are used interchangeably, but both are different and should be performed in the correct order. Cleaning is crucial for removing physical contaminants like dust, dirt, and debris whereas, disinfecting is vital for killing bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other illness-causing microbes.
Cleaning should always be done before disinfecting, as it helps get rid of pollutants that can shield germs. Professional end of lease cleaners in Melbourne get the best results because they always clean and then disinfect surfaces or objects.
2. Vinegar is Suitable for Cleaning Everything
Although vinegar is a versatile cleaning product, using it for sanitising every household surface is not wise. Vinegar is an excellent cleaner for stainless steel, chrome, glass, tiles, ceramics and various other materials, but it should not be used on natural stones like granite, marble, sandstone etc.
These stones are porous, and vinegar can erode them, causing permanent damage. Therefore, avoid using white vinegar directly or as an ingredient for DIY cleaning recipes while sanitising stone surfaces.
3. Vacuuming Often can Damage Carpets
Vacuuming modern carpets every few days is good for the fibres of the fixtures as the activity helps avoid the accumulation of dust, dirt, and debris. Carpets that are vacuumed regularly have a better appearance and shelf life than ones that are vacuumed once a month.
Additionally, to prevent carpets from getting heavily soiled and
get your bond back in full, you can seek the assistance of professional end of lease cleaners in Melbourne for carpet cleaning.
Note: Wool and non-synthetic carpets don’t need regular vacuuming, and you should read the user manual to determine when to clean them.
4. Newspapers are the Best for Cleaning Windows
Using newspapers for wiping and cleaning windows without streaks is an old-school trick that many home cleaners swore by, but it is a cleaning myth you need to stop believing. Cleaning with any non-matte paper can get the same results, meaning you can even use gift wrap for cleaning windows if it’s coarse and not glossy.
However, use microfiber cloths rather than paper as they are excellent for wet and dry cleaning windows without causing streaks or swirls.
5. Lemon can Disinfect
Lemon is a natural cleaner that can
remove greasy stains from almost any household surface or object. However, it is a myth that it can disinfect because the citric acid in lemon cannot effectively kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other illness-causing microbes. You can add the ingredient to DIY house cleaners as it will work on grime and deodorise but don’t depend on it to disinfect.
6. Baking Soda is Good for Regular Glass/Mirror Cleaning
Organic and natural ingredients like sodium bicarbonate are often used by the green end of lease cleaners in Melbourne to clean glass surface and mirrors. However, even while
using non-toxic products, you need to be careful as regular usage can cause long-term damage.
Baking soda is mildly abrasive, which makes it an excellent cleaner, but if used for mirror/glass cleaning regularly, it can cause scratches, swirls, and muddiness. Thus, use it only when these surfaces are heavily soiled and need deep cleaning.
7. Dishwashers are Self-cleaning
Understandably, many people believe dishwashers are self-cleaning because they wash and sanitise dishes. However, these fixtures require cleaning every few months as they can accumulate grime, grease, and gunk. It is essential you take out removable parts and deep clean the machine to maintain optimum functionality and increase its shelf-life.
8. Using More Product Gives Better Results
People often use extra products for cleaning surface and objects, thinking it would be effective but has the opposite effect. Always use cleaners in the specified amount mentioned on the label to get optimum result.
Most cleaners require dwell time to work effectively and efficiently. When you use more product than necessary, it’s harder to wash and leaves behind a milky film that attracts dust, dirt, and grime faster.
9. A Capfull of Mouthwash can SanitiseYour Washing Machine
Mouthwash does have the ability to disinfect some bacteria, but a capful will not be enough to sanitise your washing machine. To clean the equipment, you would need soap, warm water and a brush to scrub and wash effectively.
For disinfecting, use a mild and multipurpose disinfectant and spray the inside of the machine, letting the solution saturate the surfaces at least 5-10 minutes before rinsing with water.
The Bottom Line
Since everyone is bombarded with house cleaning tips, tricks and hacks in the modern-day, it is essential you are aware that not every one of them works. Believing and implementing false information can do more harm than good and if you are a tenant, avoiding risks is vital as else you can lose your bond money.
Thus, follow this guide to learn nine cleaning myths you need to stop believing and make your home sparkle without any hassle.
