Some of us enjoy cleaning our homes; some of us dread it like an end of the year math exam. Whichever your approach may be, there are some common mistakes we all are capable of making when cleaning our homes.

1. Cleaning multiple rooms and/or items with the same cloth or rag. When we clean with cloths or rags, dust/dirt/grime collects on the material. While you’ve removed it from one surface, the filth will spread to different surfaces. For example, let’s say you used a rag to clean the kitchen countertop. You’re now using it to clean the bathroom. Although the kitchen countertop is now clean, its germs are still attached to the rag and are now on a surface (or multiple ones) in the bathroom. To fix this issue, you can clean with paper towels or with microfiber cloths, which can be cleaned in the washing machine.
2. Cleaning with a feather duster. So many companies claim to have dusters that trap and lock dust… However, this is all too often false advertising. Dusters spread dust around the surface and can also push dust onto the floor or carpeting. Not exactly trapping it or removing it completely, is it? Microfiber cloths and paper towels, along with the right cleaning solution, are the best way to get the dust off of surfaces.
3. Not emptying your vacuum cleaner. Vacuum filters need to be changed often, as full filters can cause the vacuum to blow dirt back into the air and carpet. Change the filters once they have become full. Wipe down the attachments, the hose, and the vent with a damp microfiber cloth or a damp paper towel. Do this, of course, with the vacuum unplugged.
4. Putting the wrong kitchen utensils/tools in the dishwasher. Items such as garlic presses, zesters, and cheese graters shouldn’t go in the dishwater due to the tiny spaces in them that trap food that many dishwashers can’t clean. When food is left in them, mold has the ability to grow. Wash these items by hand with dish soap and hot water, focusing on the smaller areas in them.
5. Putting the toilet brush back into its holder after use. The moisture from the toilet water, mixed with the germs from the toilet, can become trapped in the brush and its holder. This causes bacteria to form and multiply. When left on the brush, these same germs can be put back into your toilet the next time you use it for cleaning. Instead, let the brush dry after each cleaning, and then put it back in its holder.