10 Major Spring Cleaning Mistakes You’re Making

Spraying a product directly onto a delicate surface can stain or damage the very thing we’re trying to clean (we’re looking at you, electronics). Before aiming and spraying your computer screen, stainless-steel appliances or wood credenzas, turn your product towards an ultra-absorbent paper towel such as paper towels, and spray a small amount onto that instead. Over time, you’ll use less product (which saves you money) and still get everything spic and span this spring.

When you look in your mirror, what do you see? Besides your pretty face, you’ll probably spy thousands of specks of dust, dirt and fibres. Before you even think about spraying the glass cleaner this spring, take a dry, clean cloth and dust it down. Removing all the surface bits first means you’ll avoid creating those murky streaks of smudged grime – plus, the glass cleaner gets to the mirrored surface much quicker for a more dazzling shine.

Yep, we’re getting to the gross stuff right off the hop because chances are you’re not taking care of your toilet (or toilet brush) properly. It’s a medical fact that moisture breeds bacteria, so you can imagine what sort of microbial ecosystem is being created every time you place a wet toilet brush into its holder. We’d rather not, so this spring start a new habit of letting your brush drip dry between the toilet seat and the base before popping it back.

If having a cup of joe every morning is a must in your household, then giving the coffee machine a good clean this spring also needs to be a must-do. Rinsing out the pot should not be your first and last stop when getting out the daily coffee grime. Thanks to the combo of heat, water and moving parts, coffee makers are hotbeds for bacteria and built-up residue. Wash every removable part in soapy water, rinse and dry – for those bits that can’t be taken off, get in there with a damp cloth or cotton bud. Not only will the machine gleam, but it will also make your java taste that much better.

Before you even turn on the vacuum for your deep, springtime clean, make sure the canister is empty or that there’s a fresh bag. A vacuum needs airflow to do its job properly, and a backed-up bag or canisters hinders it from creating effective suction. The last thing you want is a vacuum spewing dust and horrid odours back into your beautifully cleaned home. Tip: Always wipe down and dust surfaces before vacuuming. If you vacuum first, you’ll liking have to do it again after all the crumbs, bits and dust herds have fallen to the floor post wipe-down.

When it’s time for the annual spring clean, one of the most daunting jobs is washing all the windows inside and out, so don’t add more time to this task by picking a sunny cleaning day. The heat from direct sunlight dries out the window-cleaning product before you have a chance to wipe it away cleanly, leaving streaks and soapy residue on the glass. So, get to work on a cloudy day, but then kick back and admire your handy work when the sun comes out.

One of the biggest rookie mistakes you can make in your spring-cleaning wiping technique is to go from side to side. This back and forth action simply moves the dirt from one point to another without effectively picking up the grime along the way – this goes for any surface you’re cleaning, be it the counters, the floor or bathroom tiles. To get the most out of your moves, swipe in an “S”- or “Z”-like motion to maximize the amount of muck being wiped away.

One of the messiest (and most time-consuming) mistakes people make with their spring cleaning is not following this logical order of operations. While it might be tempting to get the big appliances or grimiest places (hello, under-sink cupboard!) over with, the most effective way to clean is from the highest points to the lowest. Think about it, if you’ve fastidiously wiped the countertops then move to dust the ceiling fans, you’ll drop a whole bunch of dirt on an already-cleaned area. This spring, implement a top-to-bottom plan of attack and save yourself a lot of frustration and repeat housework.

When thinking through which areas of the house need the most attention this spring, look no further than your hands. That is, look at all the points of contact throughout the house – door knobs, handles, remote controls and faucets – that you touch with your digital germ spreaders every day. These little, germ gathering points are often overlooked or not given as much disinfecting care as they need. Create your own disinfecting wipes using paper towel and rubbing alcohol, which kills micro bugs on contact (and restores shine to chrome hardware).

One of the reasons we have so much to do when spring-cleaning time comes around is that we’re paying for past mistakes. The key to a clean house is tackling a mess head-on when it happens. So, when that glass of milk is spilled, reach for super-absorbent paper towels or a cloth.