5 Common Cleaning Mistakes That Actually Ruin Your Home

We know you enjoy having a spotless home just as much as the next person. But the actual process of dusting, mopping, and vacuuming to achieve the desired result is something you would probably skip if you could. To make matters worse, many of the things you're doing to achieve a cleaner home may actually create more work and problems for you in the long run. (Sorry, we hate to be the bearer of bad news!) From cleaning habits that can mess up your furniture to ones that can damage your appliances, these are the cleaning mistakes you need to ditch now, according to the experts.

Rubbing Stains Out of the Carpet

Do you have a carpet riddled with stains? is so, you may think the only thing you need is a carpet cleaning solution a little elbow grease. Unfortunately, scrubbing those stains might make things worse in the long run. Rubbing a stain may cause it to spread or soak deeper into the carpet fibers or fabric, inadvertently making it more difficult to clean. Instead, try blotting the stain, which removes the excess liquid rather than pushing it down into the carpet.

Using a Spraying Mop on Floors

A spraying mop…quick and convenient! The perfect solution…right?! Not quite, many cleaning professionals see it differently. According to Émie Boies Bastien of Adele House Cleaning, popular floor cleaners like Swiffer Wet Jets can "leave a sticky coat on floors," which can cause more dirt to stick to it, as well as making messes harder to remove.

Using Microfiber Dusting Pads

Those single-use dusting cloths may be convenient, but they're also making more work for you in the long run. Microfiber pads use static to attract dust, creating static-build that "stays on your surfaces and attracts more dust," causing you to dust more frequently over time.

Vacuuming Rugs Without a Carpet Attachment

Is a carpet attachment for a vacuum really necessary…yes! Using the wrong type of vacuum head on your carpet or rug could lead to threadbare sections before you know it. Without using the carpet attachment, you will probably damage your carpet or rug.

Spraying Wood Polish Directly on to Furniture

Wood polish may get your furniture shining, but spraying it directly onto those prized pieces will cause you bigger problems down the line. Spraying the polish onto the furniture soaks a particular area in the cleaning solution, which could eventually lead to staining. Instead, try spraying your polish onto a clean cloth and wiping the furniture for an even application.