Home Cleaning Myths Debunked

There are many popular beliefs when it comes to home cleaning, but which ones are actually true and which are simply myths?

Bleach gets rid of everything.

Not necessarily. Bleach is great for disinfecting, but it doesn’t clean everything. If you are cleaning countertops, floors or other surfaces, first use a cleanser then disinfect with bleach.

Your carpet can shrink.

Is it possible that your carpet will shrink when you get it cleaned? Not likely. No matter the method used, steam or shampooing, as long as the carpet is properly wet and dried, there shouldn’t be a problem. Don’t use this myth to justify not steam cleaning your carpet. Steam cleaning is vital to get rid of dust mites and keep other allergens out of the home. Make sure to do so every six to 12 months!

Any wood items should consistently be polished.

A shiny wood surface is great, but over-polishing surfaces can lead to dulling the finish and attracting excess dust. Not exactly the best look.

Vinegar is the perfect natural cleaner.

This one is half true. Vinegar is great as a cleaner and deodorizer on surfaces like ceramic, plastic and glass. However, it can be harmful on porous surfaces like stone and grout. It can also damage hardwood finish.

Windows and glass should be cleaned with newspaper.

Like vinegar, this myth does have some truth to it. Newspaper is great for eliminating lint found on glass surfaces, but can also leave ink stains. Keep that glass cleaner as a backup!

Bed bugs are only found in beds.

Not true! Bed bugs only need a warm spot to live and breed, making practically any household crevice fair game. These household pests travel in luggage and clothing, and can quickly crawl within a house to a new space to live. Be vigilant of these pests, and if an infestation occurs, get rid of it by steam cleaning the area. A bed bug heat treatment kills the live bugs and their eggs.