Facebook is a brilliant place for likeminded people to come together, create a group and exchange ideas. There are dozens of groups created for people in Australia to help each other cook, clean, organise and do just about any other task they may wish. It’s great to draw inspiration off others stories and successes, but its best to exercise some caution to protect your belongings as well as your health.
1. Must Have Mops
These days a mop isn’t just a mop. There are electric vacuum & mop combos, spin mops, steam mops, spray mops, and the list goes on. It’s important to know what’s best for your home, as using the wrong one can damage your flooring, costing you a bundle.
If you’ve got timber floors, you want to be avoiding anything that puts excess water or heat on the floor. This rules out your electric vacuum/mop combos and steam mops. The tip when using wooden floors is to ensure you’re not depositing too much water on the floor.
Tiled floors can be exposed to more heat and water, however, don’t overdo it! Excess water sitting in your grout will only create a dirtier environment which will require cleaning more often.
Similar to timber floors, vinyl should be treated with caution. You want something that has some level of moisture control to avoid water pooling at any stage of the mopping process. A soft, microfibre mop is the best option.
2. DIY Cleaning Solutions
Everywhere you turn there is a make it yourself cleaning solution suggested in place of store-bought chemicals. Whilst yes, you can create some useful solutions with pantry ingredients, some science knowledge is required to ensure you’re being safe and cleaning appropriately.
As a general rule, never mix bleach with anything other than water, and always do so to the appropriate ratios indicated on the bottle. Mixing bleach with the wrong chemical ingredient can cause skin burns and toxic gasses, which when inhaled can severely damage your lungs and nervous system.
Mixing vinegar and bi-carb soda is often hailed as a hero cleaning combo. Sadly they neutralise the cleaning power of both ingredients, leaving you with a solution about as potent as tap water.
Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are two powerhouse cleaning solutions on their own, however mixing them together can be incredibly dangerous. Together they form a highly corrosive peracetic acid which can permanently scar your skin and irritate your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.
3. Washing Machine Cleaning
This ‘hack’ went viral on Facebook and TikTok, but do the experts recommend it? The premise is simple, throw 4 dishwashing tablets in your machine and run it on a hot cycle to flush out any nasties in the drum and hoses. But before you rush off, consider that this cleaning method has not been extensively tested by washing machine manufacturers and may cause your machine and clothes damage over time.
The other popular recommendation to clean your washing machine is to use vinegar on a drum clean cycle. Experts say it’s best to avoid this as vinegar can harm the rubber part inside a washing machine, eventually leading to leaks. Best to stick to the products approved by the manufacturer we think.
We get it, you’re doing your best and want to get the most out of your cleaning efforts. There’s a lot of cleaning information out there, and it is SO easy to get confused and make an error. The team from Jim’s Cleaning are here to help. Reach out to us and we can have your place sparkling in no time.
