It doesn't matter how many hours you put into cleaning your house on a Sunday, they'll be a new pile of dirty dishes and clothes to sort on Monday. But cleaning expert Caroline Soloman, from New York, claims we've been making a huge mistake when tidying up which is making us work overtime.
In a recent TikTok video, Caroline said: "This is one of the biggest cleaning mistakes - and how to fix it. Whenever we clean a surface, we're tempted to immediately wipe it down but products need to sit for it to break down grime." She recommends spraying down your dirty surface and leaving it for "a couple of minutes" before wiping it clean. In this time, she says you could be getting on with other jobs like hoovering or mopping up.
Caroline added: "I will return to the surface and it's nice and clean - let the product do the work for you." Commenting on her video, one user said: "I use rubbing alcohol to clean my mirrors.. it would be gone by the time I get back."
Another user added: "With my ADHD, I would remember to get back there next day, and the streaks would be way worse." A third user said: "If I do this I'll totally forget I sprayed my mirrors in the first place."
It comes after Caroline shared the "five things that you might be forgetting to clean", with the toothbrush holder coming in at number one. She says there's a simple solution to avoid grime building up in it - and it all starts with switching to a dishwasher-safe toothbrush holder.
In the clip, which has been viewed almost 28,000 times, she said: "Clean in the dishwasher once a week if it's dishwasher-safe." Backing her tip, a Reddit user said: "Toothbrush holders get nasty at the bottom so throw them into the dishwasher every week or so.
"The residual water clinging to the toothbrush after using it slides down and collects in the bottom of the toothbrush holder, where it sits and grows bacteria and becomes a disgusting grey sludge. Rinse it out in the sink and then sanitize it in the dishwasher every week or so."
Sharing the other "forgotten" places that need cleaning, Caroline says people often forget to clean their yoga mats and their clothes hampers. "Spray down both sides [of the yoga mat] with a half water and half vinegar. Wipe with a rag and then hang dry," she said.
"Dust and dirt can build up easily at the base [of your hampers]. Wipe the base clean with a microfiber cleaning cloth and all-purpose spray." Caroline says people should rinse their reusable grocery bags and reusable water bottles with warm soapy water on a regular basis to prevent dirt from building up.
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