If you watched the show Friends, you probably remember what a clean freak Monica Gellar is. She knows which stains club soda would remove, she has 11 categories of towels and owns car cleaning products even though she does not own a car. However, the vast majority of us are not that cleaning savvy; we’re lucky if we even find the time or motivation to clean. Here are some cleaning products that you probably own and use, but may not be using correctly. Article courtesy of House Beautiful.
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| Photo courtesy Brittney Bush Bollay |
1.Vinegar: Using vinegar on hardwood floors, natural tiles, and granite countertops can damage the finish causing them to appear dull.
2.Soap/detergent: Using soaps and detergents can be harsh and damage rugs and leather—it can also leave behind residue.
3.Bleach: The chlorine in bleach is aggressive, perfect for cleaning the bathroom but extremely damaging to stainless steel appliances and cookware. Beware—mixing bleach with other bathroom cleaners can create a toxic gas!
4.Ammonia: A common go-to for its stain fighting power, ammonia can be quite damaging and should never be used to clean upholstery—it can leave upholstered furniture discolored.
5.Steel Wool: Because of its strength, steel wool is great for getting off dried-on gunk and grime, but it's equally as damaging when used on surfaces softer than it, like stainless steel appliances and cast iron cookware.
6.Hot Water: Cleaning metals like brass and silver with hot water can remove the tarnish but can cause the surface to discolor again quickly. It leaves nothing to protect the raw metal. To keep this from happening a polish should be used.
7.Straw Broom: A household staple, this type of broom could be causing more damage than good. A straw broom should never be used when sweeping tile—the straw will cause tiny scratches. Instead, use a dust mop or vacuum.
This article originally appeared on Elle Decor.
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