It might surprise you that the average person spends about 60% of their time at home. And thanks to technology and remote working practices, that number is on the rise!

So you’ll want to ensure you have a beautiful, clean environment whether working, relaxing, or sleeping.

To help you do that, we’ve put together an up-to-date guide debunking some of the biggest myths about housekeeping.

You Should Throw Away Old Bedding to Prevent Dust Mites

Have you ever woken to sneezes and itchy eyes? If the answer is yes, then you probably understand the trouble of dust mites.

What most of us do in this situation is throw out our bedsheets and duvet and hope the problem goes away once we have new, anti-allergy bedding.

Unfortunately, it’s one of the most common housekeeping myths that it’s your bed to blame for dust mite problems in your house. So if you find your allergies persist, that’s probably why!

The truth is that dust mites can live in many areas of the home, including some places you might not expect. That includes all soft furnishings, including your sofa, chairs, and cushions. It also includes curtains, mattresses, and carpets.

So when planning your cleaning schedule or using maid services, make sure you include regular cleaning and vacuuming of all high-risk areas for dust mites. And replace old carpets, curtains, and mattresses if you suspect you have a dust mite problem.

Feather Dusters Are a Must-Have Cleaning Item

Sticking to the subject of dust, you may be under the impression that your cleaning cupboard needs to include the famous feather duster.

Unfortunately, this is a myth that’s persisted from many centuries ago when feather was the best choice of material for cleaning!

In modern times, feather dusters aren’t effective at lifting dust and getting dirty quickly. So you can drop that item from your cleaning shopping list.

Instead of a feather duster, invest in a modern microfiber cloth (or ensure your house cleaning services use the correct equipment). When you’ve dusted, clean each surface with a spray and damp cloth to ensure you rid the surface of germs or micro dust particles.

Hairspray Removes Furniture Stains

A typical emergency remedy for marks and stains on furniture is to reach for everyday items. If your child has marked your expensive sofa with some ink drawings, you might see recommendations to spray the affected area with hairspray!

Unfortunately, this is a remedy that used to work but doesn’t anymore, as most hairspray manufacturers use a different formula in their hair products. All you will do is add a layer of hairspray to the existing ink stain!

Instead of hairspray, try alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soak the area in warm water and baking soda. Or buy a stain remover at home for use in an emergency, like ink stains or red wine spills.

White Vinegar is the Ultimate All-Purpose Cleaner

The acid in white vinegar has long made it a popular option for cleaning household surfaces. However, this myth has reached the point where many people believe it is a better option than investing in any branded cleaning problems.

The issue here is that vinegar isn’t an all-purpose cleaner. While it’s excellent at removing grease and grime, it’s not as effective on certain materials. The high acidic level might even damage some types of furniture, including wood and stone.

Moreover, you must always dilute vinegar before using it. Neat vinegar will be too harsh and harmful to your home.

It’s always better to buy proper cleaning products designed for specific materials rather than teaching for items in your food cupboard.

And doing this may even save you money, as not all cleaning products come with a premium price, and some of the cheapest ranges will still do an excellent job.

Bleach is the Ultimate All-Purpose Cleaner

Perhaps you haven’t seen the recommendation to use vinegar for all your cleaning jobs.

But if that’s the case, you’ll almost certainly have read about the miracle power of cheap household bleach as a go-to item for all your cleaning needs. But sadly, this is another myth we will need to debunk.

If you have a white carpet or light table top with a dark stain, bleach might be a helpful item to have around. And it’s unbeatable for cleaning toilets and those difficult-to-reach shower parts.

However, bleach isn’t as good as you might think as a surface cleaner.

Most surfaces, particularly kitchen surfaces, tend to have layers of grease. And bleach isn’t the best item for removing it. You’re better off buying a cheaper surface spray and wiping it with a damp cloth.

Use Lots of Air Freshener to Remove Nasty Smells

There is a vast market out there for air fresheners and scented candles.

You have hundreds of different scents from which to choose, varying from forest greenery to summer meadows. But is air freshener the best way to deal with smells?

The answer is no. Air freshener does nothing but mask the smell and doesn’t deal with the underlying problem. You’ll get vanilla, citrus, or rose mixed with whatever unpleasant odors already linger!

Use bleach to clean your bathroom units thoroughly if the smell comes from the bathroom. And if the smell is from your kitchen, open the windows to ensure you’ve got plenty of fresh air circulating.

Bins are another common problem area for smells. You can avoid this by getting a separate food bin for waste and keeping the food bin in a secure container outside instead.

Debunking Common Housekeeping Myths

Now that you know the top housekeeping myths, you might wonder what other up-to-date tricks and techniques you need to know to ensure a clean, polished, dust-free home.

Fortunately, there’s an easier alternative: hiring experts to do the job for you! Why not see how affordable our cleaning services are by requesting a quote here?