By MARY MARLOWE LEVERETTE – Thespruce
Do you want to make cleaning easier and dream of the day someone or something will solve all of your messy problems? Of course, you do. Today’s products and cleaning tools are so much better than they used to be with new innovations hitting the market nearly daily to make life easier.
And the internet is brimming with hacks and tips that entice us with visions of better and easier cleaning. Who comes up with these ideas, and why haven’t we seen them before? Some are based on science, but the majority are not.
Here are eight cleaning hacks that are ineffective and will waste your time and money. Some are even downright dangerous! Skip ’em in favor of sound advice that will result in a much cleaner and safer outcome.
Sanitize Sponges in the Microwave
Like many hacks, this one is based on a bit of science. Yes, high heat can kill some bacteria, but recent research shows that the remaining bacteria will recolonize the sponge and can potentially become even stronger.1
WARNING
The length of time needed in a microwave to reach the desired temperature to kill all the bacteria lurking in the center of a sponge will result in a flaming, incinerated sponge. New studies show that nuked sponges still harbor about 40% of their bacteria, some of which can be life-threatening. A better choice is to use disposable wipes, cotton, or microfiber cloths that can be tossed in the washer after every use.
Add Salt to Washer to Prevent Dye Bleeding
Save the salt for your fries and skip putting it in the washer. By the time clothes get into stores for you to buy, it’s too late to stop dye bleeding. That process has to be done while the fabric is being manufactured. Fortunately, if all of your underwear is now pink, there are some useful hacks that might just save the day.
Use Hairspray to Remove Ink
This is an oldie but a goodie hack that used to work when hairspray was nearly 100% alcohol. But times have changed. Today’s hairsprays contain less alcohol (which is the magic ink remover) and more conditioners, oils, and emollients. Save the hairspray for your updo and grab the isopropyl alcohol instead.
Place a Magic Eraser in Toilet Tank to Remove Stains
Yes, those little white erasers are magic at removing soap scum on bathtubs and crayon marks on walls. But they do nothing in your toilet tank to clean your toilet and may even screw up the flushing mechanisms. The scrubbers are made of melamine foam and need your elbow action to work. They don’t dissolve and contain no bacteria-killing or dirt-lifting components.
Coat a Cooktop With Car Wax for Easy Cleaning
Grease and food spatter can be hard to remove from cooktops; especially if they are crusty from weeks of high heat. If you have a boil-over, stick with prompt cleaning and a product that cuts through grease.
WARNING
Some sites suggest coating a cooktop with a layer of care wax. And while this wax can make messes easier to wipe away, it can also potentially cause a fire.
Hot Water Kills All Germs
Hot water can kill some bacteria, but it has to be really hot (212 degrees F) and the contaminated surface must be exposed for several minutes. Since most home hot water heaters are set at 120 degrees F, you’re fooling yourself about expecting hot water alone to kill germs. After the flu sweeps through your home or you prepare raw meats in the kitchen, add a disinfectant like chlorine bleach, pine oil, or phenolic solutions (Lysol) to your cleaning routine.
Coca Cola Is the Best Toilet Cleaner
Can you clean a toilet with Coca-Cola (or any carbonated soda)? Yes. Should you? No. Most carbonated sodas contain small quantities of citric and phosphoric acids that are effective in slowly removing rust and some stains. However, a liter of soda will do nothing to kill bacteria and leave a sticky residue that might just provide food for bacteria growth in the toilet. Stick with disinfecting toilet cleaners; they’re better and cheaper.
Extra Detergent Will Produce Cleaner Laundry
More is not always better when it comes to cleaning laundry or dirty floors. Adding extra detergent and cleaners makes it harder to rinse away and remove all the sticky residue. If that residue is left in fabrics or on the surface of your carpet or kitchen floor, it works as a dirt magnet. Fabrics turn dull, and floors attract soil more quickly. Instead of adding more, choose the best quality cleaner for the job, read the directions, and measure appropriately. As an extra bonus, you’ll save money and make fewer trips to the store.
