Keeping your spick and span takes a lot of effort, and, there’s nothing worse than all this hard work going in vain. Some of these cleaning myths came from the past when the cleaning supplies were not as advanced as they are today. In today’s world, where most of the people are active on social media platforms, myths about cleaning have a way of propagating themselves. Let’s take a look at myths that are causing more harm than good while you clean your home.

1. Top cleaning
myths bursted

2. Keeping your spick and span takes a lot of effort, and,
there’s nothing worse than all this hard work going in
vain. Some of these cleaning myths came from the past
when the cleaning supplies were not as advanced as
they are today. In today’s world, where most of the
people are active on social media platforms, myths
about cleaning have a way of propagating themselves.
let’s take a look at myths that are causing more harm
than good while you clean your home.

3. Myth 1: Bleach can clean everything
One of the most prevalent cleaning myths is that bleach can clean
everything. The truth is that bleach isn’t a cleaner. It kills germs,
disinfects and lightens stains – making things appear cleaner – but it
doesn’t clean dirt and grime from the surfaces. So, if used on its own, it
works well for laundry stains, bathroom mildew, and disinfecting. But if
you need to clean dirty and greasy stovetops, counter etc., it should be
used with other cleaning agents. If you need to remove dust and dirt,
the best way is to use something with a rough texture, like baking soda,
which can loosen dust particles.
Myth 2: Feather dusters are good for dusting
Contrary to their name, most of the feather dusters are not good at
dusting – they just spread the dust around. Genuine ostrich feather
dusters do attract dust, but they are expensive. Household dust majorly
comprises of tiny flakes of skin and nearly invisible fabric fibre which
settles on every surface of the home. It is better to use a microfiber
cloth as a duster as it picks up and holds on to the dust. Using a vacuum
cleaner or a wet cloth are also efficient ways of dusting.

4. Myth 3: The best way to clean glass is to use newspapers
This one is another one of the most common cleaning myths. Many
households use newspapers to clean glass. This method of cleaning has been
passed on by our grandparents. This myth used to be true when the
newspapers were made of paper and ink that cleaned the glass well. But
nowadays, the newspapers are made of different materials that make your
hands messy and leave streak marks on your glass surfaces. Using rubbing
alcohol or a glass cleaner with a microfiber cloth is best for streak-free
cleaning.
Myth 4: Vinegar is an all-purpose cleaner
Just like bleach, vinegar cannot clean everything. Being an acid, vinegar can
cut through dust and grease and also kill bacteria. It works well for cleaning
windows, removing hard water stains on fixtures and as a fabric softener.
But the acidic properties of vinegar can cause damage to natural stone and
wood surfaces. So, it should not be used to clean hardwood, marble, stone
finishes or wax floorings, as it may cause dulling.

5. Myth 5: Air-fresheners can clean air
Anything that smells fresh and clean doesn’t mean that it is
clean. Though spraying air fresheners make your room smell
fresh, you are just perfuming the space and not making it
cleaner. The air fresheners don’t even freshen up the room –
they just make the room fragrant for some time.
Myth 6: Hairsprays are good for removing ink stains
This myth, like the newspaper one, was true until the
formulation of hairsprays changed. Earlier, the hairsprays
contained alcohol in them which cut through the ink and
helped lift it off the clothing. It was later found out that alcohol
dries the hair. Since then most of the hairsprays are alcohol-
free and contain a lot of stiffeners and hardeners which would
leave residue and stiffen the fabric. Instead of hairsprays, you
could use vinegar, rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide as
stain remover.

6. Myth 7: Wood should be polished often
Wooden furniture and fixtures should be polished from time to time but
too much maintenance might wear them down. Some polishes build up
over time and darken the wood while others make the wood appear dull
and attract dust. Polishing protects the finish of your furniture and not the
wood. Polish your wooden furniture and fixtures, sparingly, to protect
them from sun, heat and other damage. If you notice dust, you can use a
microfiber cloth to clean it.
Myth 8: Wash all clothes in cold water
Most people wash all their clothes in cold water as it is hard to determine
which clothes to wash in cold water and which ones in hot water. Hot
water can damage and shrink certain clothing items, whereas cold water
saves energy and preserves the color of your clothes. But things like white
clothes, towel, man-made fibers, knits and jeans are better washed with
hot/warm water because hot water is more effective in killing germs and
removing stains. This cleaning myth does not cause much harm; it’s just a
good practice to follow.

7. Myth 9: Cleaning solutions act instantly
Cleaning solutions don’t act instantly – you need to allow the solution to
sit on the surface for at least 2-3 minutes. Some solutions, like
disinfectants, need 10 minutes to be able to kill the bacteria. Before using
any cleaning solution, check the instructions on the product’s label and
accordingly decide the waiting time. Wiping off the product too early will
result in the dirt and germs remaining on the surface.
Myth 10: Strings mops are best for cleaning
Strings mops, being very absorbent, are great for absorbing big spills, but
they are not suitable for cleaning all surfaces. Old cotton string mops
tend to be dirty, messy, and hard to wring out the water, but some newer
cotton string mops and wringing buckets make it easier. Research has
shown that the effectiveness of microfiber mops in removing dirt and
bacteria is more than that of string mops by about 20%.