ARTICLE
6 Cleaning Mistakes That Are Making Your Home Dirtier
May 4, 2023-3 min read
From old wives’ tales to internet hacks and myths to the homemade concoction your aunt swears will banish any stain, there’s plenty to learn (and unlearn) about cleaning. Want to know what really works? We have the low-down on the most common cleaning mistakes, plus trusted house-cleaning hacks and tips to help clean up your act.
Brush up on your knowledge with cleaning tips to keep your vacuum running smoothly. You can bench that bleach too; we’ve got the final word on mould removal. And with every squeaky clean house must come a peachy keen team of cleaning appliances – think carpet cleaners, self-cleaning ovens, next-gen robot vacuums, smart washing machines and more, all designed to lighten your cleaning load.
Ready to revolutionise your home-cleaning routine? It starts now!
Get Smart With Your Appliances
Gather the troops – it’s cleaning day! And we don’t mean the kids (although it’s easy to task them too), but the essential cleaning appliances you need to get the job done well.
“With smart sensors, self-cleaning tech and Wi-Fi connectivity, the latest cleaners are all about giving you back precious time in your day. Imagine catching up on your favourite shows as a robot vacuum whizzes around the couch,” says Nick Trajkovski, The Good Guys Buyer – Floorcare.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, a pyrolytic oven takes the elbow grease out of post-roast clean-ups: its self-cleaning program will keep your oven in tip-top condition.
For a laundry that does the heavy lifting for you, choose an auto-sensing, auto-dosing washing machine that knows the perfect cycle type, duration and detergent dose for every load. Now that’s smart!
“With smart sensors, self-cleaning tech and Wi-Fi connectivity, the latest cleaners are all about giving you back time in your day. Imagine catching up on your favourite shows as a robot vacuum whizzes around the couch.”
6 Common Cleaning Mistakes
From mould-busting to washing machine cleaning, how do your habits hold up against these common cleaning fails?
Mistake #1: Pre-Rinsing Dishes
Pre-rinsed dishes can throw off your dishwasher’s sensors, which detect how dirty a dish is based on food residue (yes, the leftover pesto and pasta sauce smears have a purpose). Thus, pre-rinsed dishes might only get a light rinse instead of the jet wash that’s needed to leave them sparkling clean. The solution? Just scrape any solid food into the bin before loading.
Mistake #2: Rubbing Carpet Stains
When the wine spills, the coffee mug tips or the dog treks dirt across the living-room floor, blotting is your best friend. Instead of rubbing, blot stains with a cloth dipped in a cold-water-and-vinegar mix. Or, turn to the stain-busting expertise of a carpet cleaner.
“Effective stain removal is all about acting quickly, so having a household carpet cleaner is super handy,” says Nick Trajkovski.
Shop Carpet Cleaners
Bissell SpotClean Carpet Cleaner >
Mistake #3: Using Bleach To Clean Mould
While bleach can disguise mould, it takes a hit of vinegar to completely remove the moisture-loving fungus. In the laundry, stem the cause of mould by swapping to a heat pump dryer. With no venting required, these energy efficient appliance wizards continuously reheat and recycle air back into the drum, leaving your laundry area fresh, dry and mould free.
Shop Heat Pump Dryers
Mistake #4: Cleaning With A Full Vacuum
Keep your vacuum primed to pick up dirt by regularly emptying dust canisters and filters. Clean once a month, or more if you’ve got a pet around. Upgrade to a self-cleaning stick vacuum if you’re keen on making maintenance easy.
“Some stick vacs reduce your workload by compacting debris storage, so you don’t have to empty the canister as often. Other robot vacuums go one step further, automatically emptying debris into a docking station dustbin,” says Nick Trajkovski.
Shop Easy-To-Clean Vacuums
LG A9 Kompressor Auto Handstick Vacuum
Samsung Jet 90 Complete Vacuum
iRobot Roomba J7+ Robot Vacuum >
Mistake #5: Overdoing The Laundry Detergent
A surplus of suds prevents garments from rubbing together (which is needed to get them clean), so resist the temptation to dump extra detergent on extra-dirty clothes. Or, nail the perfect dose with an auto-dosing machine – its sensors detect a load’s size and contents to precisely dispense detergent for a crisp and clean result.
Shop Auto-Dosing Washing Machines
Solt 8kg Front Load WasherHaier 8kg Front Load Washer
Fisher & Paykel 10kg Front Load Washer >
Mistake #6: Cooking Food In A Dirty Oven
Maintain grease- and odour-free operations by wiping your oven’s interior after every use (once it’s cooled down). Want to clean an oven without scrubbing? Set a pyrolytic oven to self-cleaning mode.
“A pyrolytic oven hits very high temperatures to turn built-up grease and cooking residue into ash you can simply wipe out,” says Tania Grillinzoni, The Good Guys Buyer – Cooking and Dishwashers.
Shop Pyrolytic Ovens
Westinghouse 60cm Pyrolytic Oven – Dark Stainless
Smeg 60cm Classic Pyrolytic Oven Matt Black
Bosch 60cm Pyrolytic Oven Series 4 >
Now that we’ve busted the myths, it’s time to bust out the cleaning kit. Visit The Good Guys in-store and online for the best carpet cleaners, self-cleaning ovens and smart washing machines that’ll have you keen to clean!
