Expert warns of the spring cleaning hacks you need to avoid
Giving your house the head-to-toe spring clean it deserves is something that some home-owners try to put off for as looooong as possible.
So much so, that many attempt to cut cleaning corners by any means possible.
And with TikTok 'experts' dishing 'life-changing' home transformation advice left, right, and centre - including on why you should ditch your trustee scrubbing sponge, and how to remove notorious pink bathroom mould - it can sometimes feel impossible to determine the myth from the magic.
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Despite social media advice, however, one cleaning expert has this week warned against the use of supposedly 'helpful' scrubbing shortcuts, however, alleging these 'neat' tips and tricks do much more harm than good.
That's right, according to Alison MacLean (yes, that really is her name), relying on hacks can create bad habits in home-owners that can be difficult to shake off.
Here, she shuts down some of the most hotly-debated trends doing the rounds at the moment...
Creating a bubbling cauldron in your toilet
"We have all seen those satisfying videos on TikTok whereby somebody uses 100 cleaning products in one single toilet bowl," she jibed to press this week.
"Creating a rainbow fizzing display that Lush would be proud of."
She says, however, that this particular trick can actually be very dangerous - not only to the surface in which this plethora of chemicals touches, but to the person doing the cleaning.
"Mixing these cleaners can result in the creation of toxic gasses which could be harmful if breathed in, so it’s safer to stick to one specific product per clean," she warns us.
Mopping your walls
Whilst this common TikTok hack might make dusting quicker, Alison warns that it could also create hotbeds of mould and damp in the home, with the left-over moisture soaking into the walls.
"This can be especially prevalent in new-build homes where the walls are more porous, or on wallpapered surfaces," she explains.
"So, if you are looking to cut down your dusting time, it’s best to use a dry mop base rather than one loaded with moisture and products – or simply invest in an old-school feather duster!"
Using lemon juice on bathroom surfaces
Apparently, the use of this citrus liquid should be approached with 'extreme caution'.
Alison discloses: "Lemon juice can strip away the protective coating of the chrome, leading to flaking, peeling, and even rusting – putting you in a worse position than when you started."
Instead, she suggests trying out vinegar or dish soap on your bathroom surfaces to guarantee that sparkling, fresh appearance.
Laundry pods to clean floors
According to some TikTokers, pods shouldn't just be limited to laundry use only, and can, in fact, be used to clean other surfaces, namely your floor.
"One of the most popular methods is dissolving a laundry pod into your mop water, and using it as a cleaner," Alison explains.
She adds, however, that, that these pods are filled with detergents and enzymes specifically purposed to clean clothes and aren't formulated for use elsewhere.
"The ingredients in laundry pods will leave a sticky film on your floor, which will act as a natural dust magnet once dry," she discloses.
"That said, the laundry pod concoction could potentially damage your flooring, as it could be soaked up into the textile and retained, possibly resulting in mould, mildew, and damp."
Using ammonia-based products on outdoor furniture
Apparently, washing products made from the likes of acacia and eucalyptus should also be approached with caution, being that the wrong type of detergent can wreak havoc on wooden products.
One of the most harmful of these chemicals is ammonia - which can often be found in unsuspecting household furniture polishes and multi-surface cleaners.
Instead, we should be using mild dish detergent, warm water, and a cloth to regularly clean our wooden outdoor furniture.
The more you know, eh?
Rhianna Benson