Cleaning trends are not typically considered an exciting topic, but they are critical in creating a healthy and inviting foundation for your home. Some cleaning trends gain popularity as a result of viral TikTok videos, while others emerge as a result of long-standing practices, but their effectiveness can be difficult to assess.
Because of modern attitudes toward sustainability and the creation of safe environments, more efficient, environmentally friendly, and health-conscious cleaning techniques have replaced these outdated or trendy cleaning fads. Embracing these changes will enable you to live in a clean, healthy, and sustainable world.
Outdated Cleaning Trends
Certain cleaning methods become outdated as new products and ideas emerge. Moving away from these outmoded ideas allows us to adopt more efficient, sustainable, and health-conscious cleaning practices.
Using Harsh Chemical Cleaners
Traditional cleaning agents like bleach, ammonia, and ammonia compounds have long been staples in common cleaning products. They are prized for their potent disinfectant and cleaning abilities. However, these harsh chemicals can be hazardous to your and other household members’ health, acting as a respiratory and skin irritants. They can also cause significant environmental damage.
Alternative: As people become more aware of these negative side effects, they are turning to natural cleaning products that claim to be nontoxic and environmentally friendly. As expected, not all natural cleaners are equal. Some are shown to be effective, while others are not. Look for products with the EPA Safer Choice label to ensure they are safe for you, your family, and the environment. Look for specific ingredients like citric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and hypochlorous acid, which have been shown to kill bacteria like salmonella while not harming your health.
Excessive Water Use
Older cleaning methods frequently relied on a large amount of water to rinse and wash away dirt and debris. Today, using excessive amounts of water for cleaning feels wasteful and unnecessary, especially in areas where water conservation is vital.
Alternative: Look for ways to conserve water and clean using less water. Turning off the tap while washing dishes will help you save water. Use cleaning tools that help you minimize water use, like micro-fiber mops and cloths that are highly absorbent and require less water than conventional options. If you dislike micro-fiber because of the micro-plastics, there are alternatives made of cotton, bamboo, or cellulose.
Spot clean spills and stains right away to reduce the amount of water that needs to be used for deep cleaning. Use dry cleaning methods such as vacuuming and sweeping whenever possible.
Single-Use Cleaning Products
Single-use cleaning products such as cleaners in plastic bottles, as well as paper products such as disinfectant wipes and paper towels, are widely available and convenient for everyday use. However, they have a significant environmental impact, contributing to landfill use and non-sustainable resource depletion.
Alternative: Many companies are working to make single-use cleaning products obsolete. These companies make cleaning products that you can buy in bulk, allowing you to replace single-use plastic containers with metal, composite, heavy plastic, or glass alternatives. When you have finished using the contents of your container, simply refill it from the larger supply. Also, choose cleaning cloths that you can reuse after washing.
Abrasive Scrubbing
Traditional cleaning frequently involves heavy scrubbing with harsh, abrasive sponges and chemicals. These can scratch delicate surfaces, wear them down, and shorten their lifespan.
Alternative: Cleaning on a regular basis is preferable to cleaning only when your house is extremely dirty and you need to use heavy-duty materials. You can also use natural cleaning solutions with acidity, such as vinegar or lemon juice, or other proven cleaning ingredients, such as hydrogen peroxide, to dislodge dirt and grime with vigorous scrubbing. Stream cleaners are also effective for delicate, deep cleaning. Always research the material you are cleaning to ensure that the cleaning products you use are safe for its surface.
Ignoring Tech Advances
Many traditional cleaning methods fail to take advantage of advances in technology that make cleaning easier and more efficient.
Alternative: Look for cleaning technology that is effective and leaves you with more time to do other things. There are smart vacuums and mops that use sensors and algorithms to map and clean your floor efficiently. Air purifiers clean the air, so less dirt and debris will settle on your floors and furniture. Smart trash cans and washing machines make these mundane tasks more efficient and convenient. Make sure to research the products you want to make sure they work well and are not just a gimmick.
Using Too Many Different Products
Cleaning product companies thrive because they sell many different products for each task in our home. Specialty cleaners for windows and stainless steel are being sold more for their benefit than for ours.
Alternative: You can make your own cleaners with household products like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and dish soap to clean multiple elements around your house, including windows, the fridge, counters, upholstery, and other surfaces. This strategy will not only save you money, but it will also reduce the waste produced when you purchase so many single-use plastic-containered cleaning products.
A Cleaning Routine Without Customization
Sticking to a rigid cleaning routine without customizing it for your specific location and circumstances will result in overlooking the requirements of different surfaces, materials, and levels of dirt. This approach can be ineffective and potentially harmful to your home’s finishes and furniture.
Alternative: It is a better long-term strategy to consider your home and its specific materials and tailor your cleaning methods and products to them. You can also concentrate on high-traffic areas in your home and spend less time in rooms that are rarely used. This will allow you to clean more efficiently while also preserving the integrity of the surfaces and materials in your home.
Overusing Laundry Detergent
Most people overuse laundry detergent because they do not measure the amount carefully, or they might mistakenly believe that more laundry detergent equals cleaner clothes. Yet, excessive laundry detergent can actually result in many negative consequences. It can result in residue that builds up in clothes, cause skin irritations, and contribute to environmental pollution, which can damage aquatic life.
Alternative: Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for measuring the appropriate amount of laundry detergent. Many products are concentrated, so you will often require less than you think. Pretreat stains before washing to avoid having to wash them multiple times. Choose eco-friendly detergents that have a lower environmental impact.
Ignoring Air Quality
There is a growing awareness of how the air quality in our homes affects both our health and the cleanliness of our homes. Dust, pet dander, mold spores, bacteria, and pollen are common in the home. These float in the air we breathe into our bodies and accumulate on surfaces, necessitating more frequent cleaning.
Alternative: Air purifiers and other air purification methods reduce dust and allergens, VOCs, and odors while also preventing the spread of mold and bacteria. Other air purification methods include keeping your home well-ventilated, using non-hazardous cleaning products, keeping the HVAC unit in good working order, cleaning on a regular basis, and avoiding indoor smoking.
Overusing Antibacterial Products
Antibacterial products are intended to eliminate harmful bacteria. However, overuse of these products can promote the development of resistant bacteria while also eliminating beneficial bacteria, disrupting the delicate balance of microbial communities.
Alternative: Instead of using antibacterial products every time you clean something, most cleaning tasks can be completed with regular soap and water. Reserve the antibacterial products for specific, high risk surfaces.
Skipping Deep Cleaning
Regular surface cleaning is important, but it often neglects hidden dirt, grime, and allergens that accumulate in less obvious places, such as in the carpet, underneath furniture cushions, and in ventilation systems. Neglecting hidden areas can lead to an increase in allergens in the air and on surfaces, necessitating harsh cleaning methods to remove dirt and grime that accumulate over time.
Alternative: A better cleaning strategy would be to include regular deep-cleaning sessions to thoroughly address these areas. You do not need to add all of the areas every week, but it is critical that you create a plan to include these out-of-sight areas in your cleaning routine on a consistent basis.
