8 Things You Shouldn’t Clean Too Often
October 30, 2020Whatever chance we have to cut down on cleaning chores, we take. Who doesn’t want to keep their homes clean and neat while still having more time to relax or do more important things, right? As it seems, there is such a thing as too much cleaning. While some things in our home need constant weekly sweeping and puffing, there are actually some things that can go longer without being cleaned in our usual cleaning routines. We just get too used to including them in our weekly routines to get everything out of the way. Check out this list, put down that broom, and use that extra time to relax.
1. Oven
Unless you use your oven every day and whatever food you’re making is always dripping everywhere, there’s no need to clean your oven every week or every time you cook. Simply wipe away any spills as soon as they come and your ovens can stand to be cleaned a minimum of twice or thrice a year. One of the best times to do a thorough clean is after all the holiday cooking.
2. Clothes
A lot of us are guilty of having overflowing laundry baskets. Oftentimes, not even every piece of clothing in there is actually dirty. Some of them could even be worn again. Of course, there are exceptions like underwear, workout gear, and socks. Unless you’re a slob or you have a job where you can’t avoid getting dirty, clothes like your pants and outerwear could do with another use. Just think of all the money, electricity, water, and soap you’ll be able to save. Just make sure to hang them up properly or dust them off so they won’t be intermingling with all the dirty ones on the floor or in the hamper.
3. Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans
Nice and clean light fixtures and ceiling fans are nice to look at but you can take a break from dusting them off every weekend. Although they tend to be hotspots for dust, the dust that settles on them doesn’t get too troublesome until after a few weeks. You can get by cleaning them once a month. If you have allergies, you can increase that to twice.
4. Bedspreads, Comforters, and Quilts
These things can be quite tiresome to wash because of their size and weight. Luckily, if you don’t have pets or if you don’t usually sleep in the nude, there’s no need to wash them every single week. You can enjoy them a bit longer and just wash them at the end of every season. If you do have a pet or if you spend a lot of time in bed, cover your beddings with a sheet to protect it from dirt and allow it to go a little longer unwashed.
5. Curtains and Drapes
Curtains and drapes in your bedroom or living room areas do attract dust. But a good shake or a toss in the dryer on the air only cycle can get rid of those. There’s no need to put them through the whole washing cycle too often. Once a year of that is enough. For kitchen curtains though, it’s a different story. Those catch grease particles and dirt so if you want to keep them bright and preppy, wash them more often.
6. Dishes
We’re not telling you to skip out on washing your dishes but rather skipping out on the pre-rinsing before you throw them into the dishwasher. This only wastes water. You might also end up with still dirty dishes at the end of the dishwasher cycle. This is because pre-rinsing doesn’t allow the dishwasher detergent to do its job properly. It just slides off the dishes instead of clinging to the food particles and letting the spray action of the water to wash it all away. Simply scrape away large amounts of food before loading your dishwasher and don’t leave them in the sink for days.
7. Carpets and Upholstered Furniture
Vacuuming these weekly is a must! These get rid of dust and prevent them from sticking onto the fibers. You don’t need to give them a good wash every few months though. This might even cause more harm to your carpets and upholstery. A good professional cleaning once a year is enough to keep these spick and span.
8. Pantry
Much like most storage areas, the pantry doesn’t need a monthly clean. A good deep clean once or twice a year is enough. Just make sure to keep your containers clean before putting them in there and to wipe away any spills or so right after they happen. It’s also a good idea to check every once in a while for expiration dates and insect activity.
