Not all cleaning hacks are created equal. While some promise to save you time and effort, they often do the opposite—making tasks harder, less effective, or even damaging to your home. If you’ve been struggling with cleaning chores, you might be following outdated or ineffective hacks without realizing it.
To help you clean smarter, not harder, here are 10 common cleaning hacks that are actually wasting your time—and what to do instead!
1. Using Vinegar to Clean Everything
Vinegar is often praised as a miracle cleaner, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. While it works great for glass, stainless steel, and deodorizing, it can damage certain surfaces. The biggest mistake people make is using it on natural stone surfaces like granite and marble. The acidity in vinegar can etch the surface, dull the shine, and even weaken the stone over time.
What to do instead:
For granite, marble, and stone countertops, stick to a mild dish soap mixed with warm water. If you need a stronger cleaner, look for a pH-balanced stone cleaner that won’t harm the finish. For other surfaces where vinegar is safe, like glass or stainless steel, always dilute it with water to avoid streaking.
2. Scrubbing Stains Out of Carpet
Scrubbing might feel like the quickest way to remove a stain, but it actually pushes the stain deeper into carpet fibers, making it harder to remove. Worse, aggressive scrubbing can fray carpet fibers, leading to worn-out spots that look even worse than the stain itself.
What to do instead:
Always blot the stain instead of scrubbing. Use a clean cloth or paper towel to absorb as much of the spill as possible. Then, apply a mixture of warm water, dish soap, and white vinegar to the area, letting it sit for a few minutes. Blot again until the stain lifts. If the stain is stubborn, try a carpet cleaner designed for tough stains or a steam cleaner for deep cleaning.
3. Cleaning Windows on a Sunny Day
It sounds like a great idea—cleaning windows while the sun is out so you can see smudges better—but direct sunlight causes window cleaner to dry too fast, leaving behind streaks and smudges that are hard to remove.
What to do instead:
Choose a cloudy day or evening hours to clean your windows. This gives you more time to properly wipe and dry the glass before the cleaner evaporates. Use a vinegar-water solution or a store-bought streak-free cleaner, and wipe with a microfiber cloth or coffee filters for a lint-free shine.
4. Using Bleach to Clean Everything
Bleach is a strong disinfectant, but it’s not a great all-purpose cleaner. It doesn’t remove dirt or grease, and using it too often can damage surfaces, weaken fabrics, and even cause toxic fumes if mixed with the wrong chemicals (like ammonia).
What to do instead:
For general cleaning, use an all-purpose cleaner or mild dish soap instead of bleach. Save bleach for sanitizing high-germ areas, like toilets or garbage cans. Always dilute bleach with water and use it in a well-ventilated space to avoid inhaling fumes.
5. Using Paper Towels for Everything
Paper towels are convenient, but they’re wasteful, expensive, and not always effective. They tend to leave lint behind, especially on mirrors, windows, and stainless steel appliances. Plus, using too many just creates more waste and expense over time.
What to do instead:
Swap out paper towels for microfiber cloths. They’re more absorbent, reusable, and lint-free, making them perfect for dusting, wiping down surfaces, and polishing glass and mirrors. When they get dirty, just toss them in the wash and reuse!
6. Pouring More Detergent for Cleaner Laundry
It seems logical—more detergent = cleaner clothes, right? Wrong. Excess detergent doesn’t rinse out properly, leaving behind a residue that makes fabrics stiff, dull, and more prone to attracting dirt. It also causes soap buildup in your washing machine, which can lead to odors and mold growth.
What to do instead:
Follow the recommended amount on the detergent bottle—or even slightly less for high-efficiency (HE) washers. For an extra cleaning boost, add white vinegar to the rinse cycle to remove soap residue and soften clothes naturally.
7. Spraying Furniture Polish Every Time You Dust
Furniture polish can add shine, but using it too often causes a sticky buildup that actually attracts more dust over time. Overuse can also dull the finish of wood furniture instead of enhancing it.
What to do instead:
Dust with a dry microfiber cloth or a lightly dampened cloth first. If your furniture needs a shine boost, use furniture polish sparingly—about once a month or when the wood starts looking dull.
8. Using Magic Erasers on Everything
Magic Erasers are amazing for scuff marks, but they’re abrasive and can scratch delicate surfaces like painted walls, stainless steel, and glossy finishes.
What to do instead:
Use Magic Erasers only on tough stains, like crayon marks, scuff marks on baseboards, or grime on tile grout. For delicate surfaces, opt for a gentle cleaner and a soft cloth instead.
9. Cleaning the Dishwasher with Lemon Slices
Lemon slices smell nice, but they don’t actually clean your dishwasher. They don’t break down grease, remove food particles, or get rid of mineral buildup from hard water.
What to do instead:
For a proper deep clean, place a cup of white vinegar in the top rack and run a hot water cycle. Then, sprinkle baking soda on the bottom and run another short cycle to remove odors and buildup.
10. Washing Cutting Boards with Just Soap and Water
Soap and water won’t fully disinfect cutting boards, especially after cutting raw meat or fish. Bacteria can linger in knife grooves, leading to cross-contamination.
What to do instead:
Disinfect cutting boards by sprinkling baking soda and scrubbing with lemon, or use white vinegar to kill bacteria naturally. For plastic boards, run them through the dishwasher on high heat.
