Have you been cleaning the same way for years without really thinking twice? Using the same cleaning methods and products over and over, without fail? While some of your methods might have withstood the test of time, here’s a few things you might be flubbing in the cleaning department (according to experts) and how to do it more effectively.


Dishes, glasses, and utensils
Experts recommend that you don’t jam your dishwasher full and place things on top of one another. When you stack items, the water spray won’t be able to reach the dishes on top, and when you jam utensils together, they won’t get an even washing.

Alternate your spoon handles up and down, and keep fork tines upright for the best cleaning. Heavily soiled items should go on the bottom rack facing the center so they’re nearest to the spray arm. And don’t toss the detergent pod directly into the dishwasher, it will dissolve too quickly! Make sure to use the dispenser.

Electronics
Tablets, iPads, cell phones, laptops and other touch-screen devices are bound to get dirty and sticky (and full of bacteria.) Experts say it’s not a good idea to spray them directly with a cleaner, but instead use a dry Swiffer cloth to dust them and remove smudges. A homemade disinfectant wipe that is wrung out and partly dry will also remove germs without damaging the screens.

Cutting Boards
When it comes to cutting boards, (particularly those made of wood) dish soap on its own doesn’t get the job done. Use a half a lemon and kosher salt to rub along the cutting board to dislodge the particles before washing with soap and water.  

Cookie Sheets
If you want to make those stained cookie sheets look like new again, mix 1/4 cup baking soda and enough hydrogen peroxide to create a paste and then rub it all over your cookie sheets and baking pans. Let it sit for a few hours and then rinse off.

Carpet and upholstery stains
Your instinct may be to spray cleaner right on a carpet stain, but that can damage the carpet or fabric and make it hard to rinse out. Instead, spray a cloth with the cleaner and gently dab the area until the stain is gone. You can also try putting the cloth over the stain and placing something heavy on top for an hour or so to soak it up. Rinse the same way with a clean cloth dipped in cool water.

Dusting
When it comes to dusting, many of the traditional dusters from the past are actually doing more harm than good, by moving dust and dirt around and not getting rid of it. Experts suggest using cleaning clothes from natural materials, or Swiffer dusters that actually trap the dirt and dust.

Microwave
Save wipes and sprays for the outside of the microwave, and use a natural solution for the interior. An easy cleaning hack for the microwave is to steam it by combining 1 cup of water, 1 cup of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in a bowl and microwaving it on high for 2 minutes. Then use a damp cloth to wipe down the inside.


Have you found any game-changing new cleaning methods lately? Tell us in the comments!

Written by: Stacey Wood