The four cleaning rules you need to follow for longer-lasting and more hygienic results
By Rachael Gavin|
?You can try all the cleaning tips, tricks and hacks you like, but if you don't follow some basic ground rules you're not going to get the best results.
There are four guidelines to follow with any cleaning task that will ensure your cleaning product works as well as it should and the surface stays dust and germ-free for longer.
Like any rule, there are times these can be broken, like if you're giving a surface a quick once over before a guest arrives.? However, you'll find more often than not that cleaning with these rules in mind makes things so much easier.
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S?tart at the top and work your way down
While it's easier to clean spaces within arm's reach, the most effective and efficient way to clean is by starting at the top.
That means dusting from the top shelf down, for example, because any dust you clean off is going to fall onto lower shelves and the ground.
And the last thing any of us want is having to re-clean an area we've just wiped.
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Clear surfaces first
This is the one cleaning rule it's OK to break sometimes to make life easier for those daily touch-ups.
But if you're doing a weekly clean, like the bathroom, vacuuming or dusting, you'll be able to do the task faster, easier and more thoroughly ?if you remove all items from surfaces first.
This includes products on shower shelves and ?baskets on floors.
Dust before disinfecting
This is important for two reasons. The first is that when you spray product without dusting you'll find all those annoying dust particles just get wiped around and around the surface, making it harder to clean.
Most importantly, the second reason is that not dusting a surface before disinfecting it creates a kind of barrier between the solution and the surface. This means it's not going to be cleaning that surface effectively if it can't reach the entire space. Dusting first means the product will be able to kill germs more easily.
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Let cleaning products sit before removing
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This rule could also be 'read the instructions on your cleaning products before using' because that's where you'll find out how long you need to leave a product on a surface before wiping off.
Some sprays and solutions can be cleaned and scrubbed straight away, but disinfectants typically take five to 10 minutes to do their germ-killing so removing it sooner means your surface won't be as clean.
Hard to clean stains and grime will also need the product on them longer ?to help break down the mess and make it easier to clean.