One of the most common cleaning mistakes: You start cleaning at the bottom – and then spread the dust from higher surfaces back onto the floor. That’s why: Dust first, then vacuum.
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checklistYou make these 7 mistakes when spring cleaning
Are you going to do a big deep clean soon? We tell you which passages are often forgotten and what else you have to think about.
It’s spring – and for many people the time to carry out a major cleaning in the apartment or house. This has several positive effects: You can prepare your home for summer, finally get rid of the clutter that has been lying around somewhere since you put it away in autumn and do something for your psyche.
Admittedly, cleaning is not exactly a favorite task for many of us. With a few tricks, good music and the right mindset, however, it can be fulfilling work – and good for your health, because dust in particular can worsen the air quality in your home. Here are seven mistakes you make when spring cleaning.
Mistake 1: You use a dirty vacuum cleaner
Your cleaning utensils should be clean, because with your dirty vacuum cleaner you spread more dust in the apartment. Damp cleaning rags should also be really clean so you don’t just push dirt from one corner to the other.
To ensure that your vacuum cleaner is as efficient as possible, it is worth defusing the brush, freeing it from hair and cleaning any filters before the main cleaning.
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Mistake 2: You start cleaning from below
Basically, start at the top so you don’t have to clean the same place twice. So you should never start vacuuming – when cleaning up and dusting surfaces, something is guaranteed to fall on the floor again. It pays to work from the top down.
Mistake 3: You ignore hidden clutter
Spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to tidy up behind closed doors and in drawers. Think of your fridge and freezer, clear out your junk drawer and finally sort the bathroom cabinet properly. After that, it’s not just superficially cleaned, but really everywhere.
Spring cleaning is a good opportunity to clear out the drawers in your kitchen, clean them and then put them back in the right order.
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Mistake 4: You do too much at once
Even in small apartments, a thorough spring cleaning takes time. If you have a larger apartment or even a house, it can quickly become overwhelming. Better: Take time over several weekends to clean a certain room really thoroughly. This also reduces the chance that you lose motivation halfway through the cleaning work. Instead of individual rooms, you can also divide them up according to the type of cleaning: First, drawers and cupboards are sorted out, then surfaces are cleared, then the windows and mirrors are cleaned the following weekend, and so on.
Mistake 5: Not clearing out your shelves
It’s impossible to do a really thorough cleaning if you don’t clear out your drawers and shelves. When you clean around your odds and ends, a lot of dust is forgotten – and you think less about which things you actually still need on this shelf.
To get really clean, you need to empty your drawers and shelves before you wipe down or vacuum them. Cleaning around your odds and ends is not only tedious but also inefficient.
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Mistake 6: You use the wrong cleaning products
If you use the wrong cleaning products, it is bad for your furniture and surfaces: stone worktops need different cleaning products than wood, certain glass cleaners are almost better suited for mirrors than for glass and with the right cleaning product you can even get your oven clean again. If you use too aggressive means, your valuable furniture can be damaged.
Mistake 7: Not vacuuming your mattress
Thousands and thousands of mites and a lot of dust can settle in your mattress. This is especially true if you let your pet sleep in the bed with you: So regularly vacuum the mattress thoroughly from both sides.
