Avoid These Mistakes to Keep Yourself Safe While You Clean

We all have good intentions when we clean. But there are some cleaning habits than can do more harm than good! So, here are some common cleaning mistakes to avoid, to keep yourself safe, while you keep your house clean.

Never: Mix Cleaning Products

It can be tempting to mix cleaning products—because, after all, two are better than one, right? Not always! Mixing the wrong cleaning products can lessen their potency and can even pose a serious health risk. For example, mixing hydrogen peroxide and vinegar can create a toxic gas that causes respiratory irritation. Likewise, mixing bleach and ammonia creates hydrochloric acid, a corrosive substance that can cause chest pain when inhaled—yikes!

While you’re unlikely to mix these chemicals in their raw form, you might unknowingly mix them while using branded, household products. Many products contain these chemicals, which are fine when used alone, but certainly not when mixed. So, keep yourself safe, and use your cleaning products by themselves. If there’s a chance that products might mix (e.g., if you’ve given your shower glass a scrub with creamy cleanser, and you’re finishing off with window cleaner), make sure to rinse thoroughly between applications.

Never: Use a Dirty Sponge

We’ve all done it—you want to give your kitchen a quick clean, so you grab a water-logged sponge from the sink and wipe down your dirty bench, stove top, and the inside of your microwave, then call it a day. But the thing is, while your kitchen might look clean after a once-over with a wet sponge, all you’ve done is spread nasty bacteria across your bench and appliances.

Instead, start by cleaning away any spills or chunks of leftover food. Now, opt for a high-quality disinfectant spray and a clean sponge or cloth. Give everything a once-over, rinse out your sponge, and leave it somewhere to dry (not in the bottom of your sink!). To keep your kitchen clean and bacteria-free, it’s very important to replace your kitchen sponge at least once a week. This may seem excessive, but to avoid E. coli contamination, trust me—it’s worth it!

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