7 HOUSEHOLD ITEMS YOU ARE CLEANING TOO MUCH

Every day, there is something that people clean. Whether it is the countertops, toilets or even the shower, cleanliness is an important aspect of life. This cleanliness can also be beneficial for one’s health because clean surfaces are less likely to breed bacteria which can lead to illness.

However, when it comes to cleanliness, there needs to be a boundary between cleaning thoroughly and and cleaning too much. While everyone wants their home to look great and feel clean, cleaning every single thing in sight may not be what you need.

This article will provide several examples of household items that people clean too much. Hopefully by knowing what these items are, people can clean them when they actually need to be cleaned instead of constantly cleaning these items.

7 HOUSEHOLD ITEMS YOU ARE CLEANING TOO MUCH

WOODEN FURNITURE

The first household item on our list is wooden furniture. It must be said that cleaning wooden items, even furniture, requires a special spray or agent. It is a cleaning product made especially for wood. An example here is a wax-based spray.

People think that because they use their wooden furniture all the time that they need to clean it quite often. However, doing so can actually introduce more dirt and germs.

Using the wax-based spray too much will leave an oily buildup that can attract and keep more dust and bacteria. Consider using the wax-spray sparingly. Once a month is a good target. For other occasions, simply use a dry cloth for your wooden furniture instead.

CABINETS

Cleaning cabinets is often an arduous task because of how full they are of items that must be clean (spices, pots, and pans). Due to the crowded space inside these cabinets, it’s difficult to clean every part frequently.

So while some people clean their cabinets every time they clean the rest of their countertops, this isn’t necessary. Just like cleaning a toilet paper holder, regularly wiping your cabinets down should suffice for keeping them clean and germ-free.

LAUNDRY MACHINE

Do you clean your laundry machine after every use? If yes then you may need to re-evaluate what actually needs to be clean.

It may seem that a clean laundry machine is a happy laundry machine, but this is simply not the case.

For example, there are no health benefits gained from cleaning the lid of your washing machine with bleach every single time you use it. Even though people clean their coffee maker with water and soap after every use, they clean their laundry machines as if it needs to be scrubbed clean after each load. In reality, doing this is both unnecessary and counter-productive (for your clothes).

BATHTUB

The bathroom also contains multiple household items that people clean too often. It doesn’t matter how clean someone’s shower looks, it simply isn’t necessary for them to clean it regularly.

For instance, cleaning your bathtub with bleach and water after every use is definitely a clean practice. However, the cleanliness that comes from scrubbing it down means nothing. The irony of this fact is that by cleaning your bathtub on a regular basis (with chemical cleaners), you are making it significantly more likely to get skin irritations or boils around the tub.

MOPPING YOUR FLOORS

If you clean your floors with a mop every week, then chances are you’re not only wasting your time but also needlessly using chemicals in the process.

Many people clean their floors once a week with either a wet mop or steam cleaner leaving behind streaks of dirt that were missed during their clean.

Floors are a tricky thing as the deciding when to clean them really depends on the level of usage and activity on them. If plenty of people are passing through each and every day, cleaning once a week is your go-to. Otherwise, clean sparingly.

TOOTHBRUSH

Apparently people clean their toothbrushes too much for them to be clean themselves. However, it must be stated though that the cleanliness of your toothbrush depends on your specific dental hygiene.

For instance, if you can clean your teeth in three minutes then cleaning your toothbrush after every single use isn’t necessary. In contrast, if you have trouble keeping up with plaque then it may be helpful to clean your toothbrush once a day because not doing so will result in mold growth and a deteriorating brush head.

PILLOWS

Pillows also fall under the category of household items that people clean too much.

People clean their pillows with strength detergents thinking that cleanliness results from clean looking products. However, this isn’t the case because clean doesn’t equal cleanly smelling or cleanly feeling. So while it may not be necessary to wash your pillows after every use, doing so is helpful if you suffer from allergies or other chronic diseases.

For example, washing your pillows once a week and changing your sheets once a week will keep them clean and allergy-free for most people who sleep on them every night.

CLEAN WHEN NECESSARY

When it comes to cleaning, people are often guilty of over-cleaning. This leads to wasted time and money as well as unnecessary wear on your home’s fixtures. The truth is that every household item does not need daily attention for optimal hygiene.

While it’s important to keep things clean in your household, cleaning everything constantly takes time and energy away from more pressing matters (like work).

Avoid wasting time and energy on cleanliness that doesn’t matter. Clean when it’s necessary and clean when you have time.