How To Clean The House Properly: 6 Life Hacks For Perfect Order

If the situation is such that you have to spend weeks working and relaxing in the same space, it is much more comfortable to do it clean and tidy. After all, the more time we are in the room, the faster dust and debris collects in it, but so far we cannot count on the help of cleaners. Together with blogger Yulia Grishanova, we understand the most useful tips on how to properly take care of the house and keep it clean on our own.

1. Vacuum regularly

A banal but very important point. According to a study by the Harvard T. Chan School of Public Health, a person "eats" about 50 micrograms of dust per day. Of course, not in a special way: dust accumulates on our hands, food, dishes. Plus, we're literally surrounded by a dust cloud! The dust settles on the floor and other surfaces - like a sofa - and is lifted into the air every time we walk or sit down. As soon as the dust particles return to the air, we breathe them in.

Household dust consists of many components: allergens, dust mite particles, chemical residues, bacteria. And all this can get into our body. Not very nice, right? Modern vacuum cleaners are powerful, cordless and lightweight, so cleaning with them won't take more than 10-15 minutes.

Pay attention to the models with a highly efficient particle filtration system - HEPA filter. It traps dust, preventing it from getting back into the air. Vacuum not only the floor, but also other hard-to-reach surfaces. Special attachments will help you with this.

2. Pay special attention to cleaning upholstered furniture

Studies carried out in the Dyson Microbiology Laboratory have shown that upholstered furniture (especially mattresses) is an ideal habitat for dust mites (an average of 100-500 mites per gram of dust). And the more time we (or pets) spend on the bed / armchair / sofa, the more favorable the environment becomes for increasing the amount of allergens and dust. Therefore, it is very important to pay special attention to the cleaning of upholstered furniture and mattresses. The most effective cleaning method is to use vacuum cleaners with good suction power and special attachments or brushes.

3. Thorough cleaning in the bathroom

After taking a shower or bath, moisture builds up on walls and surfaces, damaging floors and joints, and creating ideal conditions for mold to grow. Install an active hood, leave the door open, let the room ventilate. Change the curtain regularly and keep the joints sealed to prevent mold. Do not allow water to accumulate - wipe down surfaces where moisture stagnates.

4. Choose the right detergent

Remember - everything that we put on the surface of the house can eventually get inside our body. For example, limonene, which is added to cleaning products as a citrus flavor, can react with natural ozone in the home to form formaldehyde.

Using natural cleaning products can help reduce the amount of VOCs in the air in your apartment. Look for greener alternatives that are certified by relevant organizations and marked on the packaging, such as ECOLOGO. Choose harsher disinfectants only when you really need them, and avoid aerosol cans - they are especially polluting (read also: "Dirtiest Foods in the House").

5. Take proactive action

We have already talked about what dust is made of and how easily it gets into the air we breathe. In addition, when we are at home, we pollute the air even more with our usual activities - for example, preparing food. Take care of the hood in the kitchen - it will help to eliminate not only the smell, but also prevent the spread of greasy dust and other substances that appear during the cooking process.

Another option is air purifiers, quiet assistants in the struggle for a clean home. With them, dust on surfaces will be noticeably less. When paired with a humidifier, this device is especially useful in the bedroom: we breathe in about 11,000 liters of air every day and a third of this figure falls on sleep. Take care of your climate systems to make your sleep more comfortable.

6. Choose special cleaning cloths

One of the most common mistakes is using old T-shirts, gauze, outdated towels and other cotton fabrics as napkins for cleaning and wiping the surfaces. It is not right. Rags made from such fabrics leave behind fibers, roll and dry slowly. Walking with a cotton cloth over the dusty surface, you will see that there is no less dust - it is simply replaced by fine lint. Choose microfiber cloths. They are durable, dust-collecting and moisture-wicking. And yes, they are washable.

About the expert:

Yulia Grishanova

Photo: Getty Images

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