The Pine-Sol Lady says that many people make these cleaning mistakes. Do you?
Diane Amos, also known as the Pine-Sol Lady, is a TV film and stand-up comedian, who was hired as the Pine-Sol Lady in 1993. Even a few decades later, her face is still associated with the brand’s cleaning products.
During an interview, she said that her mother taught her how to properly clean a home. They were always tidying up the house and she’s now a pro. Whether you like Pine-Sol products or not, one thing’s for sure: you want your home to be dust- and bacteria-free, smell fresh, and look put together.
We asked the Pine-Sol Lady about the spots people tend to miss when they tidy up their homes and we’ll share everything with you. If you want to make your place sparkle, here are the cleaning mistakes you should avoid:
1. Garbage cans
You take out the trash regularly, and you clean your garbage disposal, but how much attention do you pay to your garbage cans? Stuck-on grime and dirt will linger in your home and will release a terrible odor.
If you notice anything stuck at the bottom, or you sense a weird smell coming from the can, it’s time to give it a good scrub. Grab a brush and some cleaning products and clean your can. Rinse with warm water, repeat if necessary, then let it air dry or wipe it with a cloth.
Don’t forget to wipe the outside of the trash can. This will make it look cleaner and will release a good smell. It might not seem a big deal, but it’s one simple cleaning mistake that should be avoided to make a big difference.
2. Range hood
Clean floors, shiny countertops, and a grime-free stove might give off the impression that your kitchen is tidy, right? Think again. You probably forget to clean your range hood, which makes a huge difference. You might have a fabulous stovetop and a great-looking hood, but don’t forget you can see a ton of great on top of your hood.
The Pine-Sol Lady recommends you clean the oven hood above it every other week, so you won’t allow dirt and grease to form and take an eternity to remove. To simplify things, wipe the greasy areas each time you see them. That’s going to prevent buildup and ensure your home always looks tidy.
And since we’re talking about grease and cleaning mistakes, don’t forget to open your microwave door and show it some love. It will be much appreciated, and it will remove any old and weird odors.
3. Light switches
A common cleaning mistake is not wiping light switches. They’re small items, and it’s easy to forget about them, but just think of how many times you switch on the lights during the day. It doesn’t matter how clean your hands are; each time you touch the switch, you leave bacteria and germs behind.
You can quickly wipe them with a damp cloth and your favorite cleaner. It will make them sparkly, and it will change the overall look and smell of your room.
4. Pillows
You might be on top of your game when it comes to changing your bedding, especially your pillowcases, but do you show the same love to your pillows? Probably not. Just as your pillowcases get filled with bacteria, grease, dead skin cells, and dirt from all that usage, the same happens to your pillows.
And our experts, in this case, our dear Pine-Sol Lady, recommend you clean your pillows at least every three to four months. You can toss them in the washing machine on a gentle cycle with hot water to get rid of sweat and dead skin cells. If you’re concerned about your pillow filling clumping, add a few clean tennis balls to help the filling dry faster and prevent clumping.
5. Door knobs and jambs
Another cleaning mistake people make is not wiping the door knobs and jambs. Every door has a knob, and you touch it several times a day. But when was the last time you cleaned them? Grab an alcohol-based product to get rid of any lingering bacteria and make sure you don’t get any on your trim and wood doors, so you won’t damage the finish.
And now for the second part of our fifth cleaning mistake: the door jambs. You don’t see the top, but there’s lots of dust there, believe me. Grab a cloth or a Swiffer, such as this one, and start dusting them. Start from the top and move your way to the bottom, and your doors will look brand new when you’re done.
6. Oven
A kitchen isn’t tidy unless your oven is spill-free. These cleaning mistakes are all about items you actually don’t clean enough, and sometimes people say that if their countertops are clean, the kitchen looks incredible.
At first sight, yes, but imagine you want to cook a delicious banana bread, and just before you pop it in the oven, you notice spills and remnants of old food and liquids everywhere. Besides making your appliance look awful, these can trigger smell and smoke problems.
Make sure you don’t make these cleaning mistakes, and wipe your oven after you’re done using it. Moreover, don’t forget to put it through its cleaning cycle regularly. This will also prolong the life of your appliance, so roll up your sleeves and let’s get rid of these cleaning mistakes for good!
7. Dishwasher
Another cleaning mistake people make is assuming their dishwashers are self-cleaning. Well, it’s not. The Pine-Sol Lady told us that grime and food bits are small enough to find room in all the crannies and nooks of your appliance, which can lead to bad odors and eventually, your dishes not getting clean. Take a few moments and give your dishwasher a good scrub. It will make a huge difference.
8. Washer
This cleaning mistake is identical to the one we’ve previously talked about. Just because you put clothes in your washer and they end up being clean and smelling nice doesn’t mean your appliance is self-cleaning.
Run an empty load using just hot water and bleach once a month. Keep in mind that front-load washers can often emit weird odors and develop mold if they’re not cleaned frequently.
9. Toothbrush holder
Do you make this cleaning mistake? Some people get a new toothbrush holder but forget to clean it. Unfortunately, your trusted toothbrush doesn’t keep its germs and bacteria to itself. According to a study, 64% of toothbrush holders contained yeast and mold, compared to just 27% of toilet seats.
The majority of holders are dishwasher-safe, so you can run yours through once a week or once a month to get rid of any gross residue and bacteria that might be growing on them. It will also improve your dental hygiene too, so don’t forget it!
10. Shower caddies
You probably have a shower caddy in your bathroom; it’s a handy place to store your shower essentials. However, these items frequently have shampoo and soap splatter all over them, and they’re not clean. All you need to do is give the caddy a quick rinse in the shower.
If your item has more difficult-to-remove mold or soap suds, let it soak in hot water with a small amount of bleach. After you’re done with this task, hang it up to completely dry before putting your items back in the caddy.
Do you know of any other cleaning mistakes people make? It’s easy to avoid them once you’re informed, so make sure to check out our website to find the best tips from experts! If you want to try the Pine-Sole products, click here! They’re affordable, work wonders, and smell incredible!
If you find this article helpful and you’d like to read something else from The Home Team, here’s a fantastic post for you: 5 Popular Reasons Why Your Shower Drain Smells Like Rotten Eggs
