If you’re just as passionate about cleaning tricks as we are, you’ve likely accumulated a collection of your favorite cleaning methods learned from the internet — or even better, inherited from your parents or grandparents. However, just because a cleaning trick has been around for a while doesn’t mean it’s safe or effective to use. In some instances, the ingredients and materials that once made these techniques successful have changed over time. Alternatively, a cleaning method you’ve followed for years might actually be incorrect and potentially damaging.
Although there are certainly some classic cleaning techniques that you should definitely try, it’s not always wise to rely on old-fashioned cleaning tricks. We have debunked a long list of methods that have been around for years, but which you should no longer use. If you’re as upset as we are that you can’t use these cleaning tips—such as using white vinegar in your washing machine—we’ve included some alternatives for each outdated approach that will actually be effective.
Read more: 15 Smart Tips to Maintain a Spotless Shower
Using Baking Soda and Vinegar Together
Baking soda and white vinegar are two popular natural cleaning products — so it makes sense that people searching for their next go-to cleaning trick would try combining them. In the past, baking soda and vinegar have been suggested together to remove stains from both hard surfaces and fabrics. When you add white vinegar to baking soda, it begins to fizz — which indicates it’s effective, correct?
Regrettably, vinegar and baking soda produce bubbles because they are essentially neutralizing one another. To put it simply, vinegar has a low pH, which classifies it as an acidic cleaner, whereas baking soda has a high pH, categorizing it as a basic cleaner. Each of these pH levels can individually assist in breaking down stains and dirt quite effectively, but when combined, their pH levels counteract each other, resulting in a solution that is roughly as effective as just water.
The most effective approach to using baking soda and vinegar is to apply them individually. Pure white vinegar or vinegar mixed with water works well for cleaning dishes or forcleaning your laminate countersIf you wish to convert baking soda into a spreadable paste, consider combining it with water. For enhanced cleaning effectiveness, you may also blend hydrogen peroxide with baking soda, creating a powerful paste that remains active.
Including Fabric Conditioner in Your Wash
Fabric softener is simply another one of those unnecessary itemscleaning products that are not worth purchasingand using it — especially on your clothing. You likely use it because it promises to make your clothes feel soft and like new. Behind the scenes, though, your fabric softener is actually accumulating on your clothes with each wash.
Fabric softener is not designed to be removed from fabric using only soap and water. As you keep adding more fabric softener to your garments over time, it begins to accumulate on the fabric, forming a waxy layer that ultimately makes your clothes feel stiff instead of soft. Even more problematic, fabric softener can create a barrier between the fabric of your clothes and the laundry detergent, preventing proper cleaning during the wash cycle. Once fabric softener builds up on your clothing, it may also lead to skin irritation. Regular use of fabric softener can result in its accumulation inside your washing machine, which can eventually cause clogging — not to mention an increased risk of mold growth.
The top substitute for fabric softener is to wash your clothes using your regular detergent and maintain a consistent washing routine. Another option is to use dryer balls in your dryer, which are eco-friendly and usually crafted from felt or wool — they will leave your garments and bedding feeling soft and free of wrinkles. If you find that your linens require extra softness, you might consider soaking them in a mixture of vinegar and water to achieve this; however, it’s advised to hand wash them afterward, as vinegar may harm your washing machine over time (more details on this later).
Using Bathroom Cleaners On Your Tile Grout
There’s a widespread trend of using toilet bowl cleaner toclean the grout in your bathroomHowever, what works well for one part of your bathroom may not be suitable for another. Toilet bowl cleaner can definitely restore the whiteness of your toilet, but even if it cleans your grout as well, it will eventually cause the grout to deteriorate. In fact, using it could result in parts of the grout peeling off your tiles, as the cleaner breaks down the sealant. This not only risks damaging your tiles but also makes your grout dirtier over time; once the grout is no longer sealed, it becomes more prone to mold growth.
Alternatively, find a specialized grout cleaner that effectively removes dirt without harming the grout. You might also consider an all-in-one cleaner, which is typically less harsh compared to products designed for toilet cleaning (which often contain bleach or other disinfecting agents). Additionally, look for a mold removal solution that is suitable for grout, helping to restore its original color. Remember to clean your grout frequently—ideally every few showers—to stop dirt or mold from accumulating. You can clean it using just water, or add a small amount of dish soap to eliminate grime.
Stripping Your Laundry Regularly
Laundry stripping has become a popular practice where you place your clothes in a bathtub filled with Borax, water, and soap. The goal is to eliminate the residue that a standard wash cycle might miss. It’s very satisfying; you’ll likely see the bathtub water become dark — but the color coming from your clothes into the tub isn’t just dirt. It’s mainly dye from your garments and bedding. The reality is that most people don’t require this process, especially not frequently — running them through the washing machine is sufficient. You can also clean your clothes in the tub using detergent if you prefer not to transfer the dirt directly into your washing machine. If you “need” to strip your laundry, thenyou might be cleaning your garments the wrong way in the first place.
The process of laundry strippingis usually intended for individuals who have garments that are worn frequently on a daily basis. Work uniforms or farm attire are excellent examples; these kinds of outfits tend to collect more dirt and mud than you would want your washing machine to manage. It is also advisable to apply it to white items, as this eliminates concerns about color running. If you use fabric softener on your sheets or clothing and observe that they are beginning to feel waxy, then laundry stripping is also suitable for you. However, avoid making it a part of your regular cleaning schedule; for the majority of people, stripping clothes due to fabric softener should occur no more than twice a year. Performing this more often can lead to quicker wear and tear of your clothing, and may ultimately impact their color.
Using Hair Spray to Remove Stains from Fabric
Have you ever come across the technique that involvescleaning an ink stain using hair spray? This is a cleaning tip that used to be very effective, but isn’t as successful anymore. When this method first became popular, hairspray had a high concentration of alcohol. Applying it to an ink or Sharpie stain would help to softly remove the stain, simply due to the alcohol content in the hairspray.
Nowadays, hairspray typically contains less alcohol than in the past, and many varieties are completely free of alcohol. This doesn’t mean that some hairsprays can’t still be used to remove ink stains; if you’re aware that your particular hairspray has a high alcohol content, then you’re among the fortunate few who can still use this trick. Whether it’s worth using your hairspray on an ink stain is up to you — there’s actually a more affordable alternative you can try: rubbing alcohol. Simple rubbing alcohol is definitely the best choice here. It’s easy to have available for quick stain removal, and it’s significantly less expensive than most contemporary hairsprays — regardless of whether they include alcohol as an ingredient or not.
Cleaning Your Windows Using Newspaper
The method of cleaning windows using newspaper has been in use for many years. The initial concept was that newspapers provided an ideal way to clean windows without causing streaks — plus, most people were purchasing newspapers every day and had extra copies available, which made it an economical choice. In today’s digital news era, however, newspapers are less prevalent — and we also have access to various affordable alternatives for cleaning glass.
Using newspaper to clean your glass is safe, but it may result in numerous ink stains. The paper is very thin, making it prone to tearing when wet, which can leave behind paper fibers. If you plan to clean multiple windows, you’ll need a large quantity of newspaper, as it will eventually become too wet and soggy to be used effectively.
Today, a microfiber cleaning cloth is an excellent choice for cleaning your windows without leaving any streaks — and it’s reusable. A squeegee is also a great option for achieving a sustainable, spotless shine. Purchase orMake your own glass cleaner at hometo utilize on your windows, in combination with your reusable cloth, and you’ll achieve clean windows without the need for scraping the daily newspaper.
Always Using a Full Measuring Cup of Detergent
At one time, the markings on the top of your laundry detergent bottle indicated the proper amount of soap to use per load. However, modern detergents are more concentrated, meaning the same quantity might not be suitable anymore. This can cause you to empty your detergent container more quickly, which isn’t ideal for your finances, and it’s also harmful to your clothing.
Occasionally using an excessive amount of detergent doesn’t typically harm your clothing, but consistently using too much can lead to a buildup on your clothes that resembles the residue from fabric softener. Over time, this accumulation can cause your garments to attract dirt and grime, resulting in faded colors and faster wear of the fabric. Clothing washed with an overabundance of detergent is also more prone to cause skin irritation.
Instead of using a full capful of laundry detergent, you should use 1 tablespoon for an 8-pound load. For a bigger load, like around 12 pounds, you can use 2 tablespoons. If you don’t want to measure with a spoon each time and aren’t sure about estimating, create a new mark on the lid of your detergent bottle.
Suctioning Baking Soda Off Your Mattress
A small amount of baking soda on your uncovered mattress was initially meant to refresh it while you launder your bedding. Baking soda absorbs additional moisture from your mattress, which helps to avoid mold growth, and can also serve as a fragrance neutralizer, keeping your mattress smelling clean. It can be challenging to discover the ideal method for cleaning a mattress that isn’t easily washable, so it’s unfortunate to note that this technique may not be suitable for everyone.
To eliminate the baking soda from your mattress, you may be advised to vacuum it up after allowing it to settle. However, this process can potentially harm your vacuum cleaner. Several kinds of vacuums are not designed to handle large amounts of fine particles such as baking soda, which can lead to clogging and possible damage to internal components. The only exception is if your vacuum is equipped with a HEPA filter, which is capable of handling small particles. Make sure to review your vacuum’s specifications before attempting this method.
If your vacuum isn’t performing well, consider cleaning your bed sheets without soda between washes to eliminate dust. Regularly ventilate your mattress to avoid dampness, and spray it with a mixture of white vinegar and water to address odors, ensuring it is completely dry before replacing the sheets. Want to use baking soda? Attempt to take your mattress outside and shake it off (although this may be challenging if your mattress is big).
Adding Acetic Acid to Washing Loads
You’ve probably heard that vinegar is excellent for revitalizing your clothingIt can make your fabric feel softer, your clothes smell fresher, and it’s also very effective at eliminating that musty odor that occurs when clothes are left in the dryer for too long. Some people think that adding vinegar to your washing machine and running an empty cycle can help clean it. However, it’s not advisable to use vinegar in your laundry machine at all. Since it is acidic, over time, vinegar can damage different components of your washing machine.
That doesn’t imply you should avoid using vinegar on your clothes entirely, though; it serves as an effective cleaning solution when applied outside of your washing machine. Rather than adding it to your laundry machine, consider soaking your garments in a blend of vinegar and water to eliminate odors and leave them smelling clean and fresh. This method can also assist in removing specific stains (like those caused by oil), making it an excellent option for thorough cleaning occasionally.
After your garments have finished soaking in vinegar, rinse them completely. Once the vinegar is washed away, it’s time to place them in the washing machine and complete a standard cycle using only soap and water. This will provide your clothes with the cleansing benefits of vinegar, while preventing any harm to your washing machine.
Using Bleach in Your Toilet Tank
Seeing mold in your toilet bowl (particularly if it appears shortly after you’ve cleaned it) can be annoying. Your toilet isn’t just a breeding ground for germs, but it’s also a damp, closed space that’s ideal for mold to thrive. It’s understandable why a common cleaning tip is to pour a cup of bleach — the top enemy of mold — into your toilet tank. The concept is that each time you flush, the bleach will circulate through your toilet bowl, preventing mold from forming. Additionally, this method is said to also address mold that may develop inside your toilet tank.
Although we may have hoped this method was effective, bleach can be harmful to the internal components of your toilet. From the flush valve to the gaskets, these parts will gradually deteriorate when exposed to bleach — even when it’s been diluted. That’s why it’s acceptable to clean the inside of your toilet bowl with bleach, but it’s not advisable to let the chemicals come into contact with the parts inside your toilet tank.
Even though cleaning your toilet bowl regularly is a task that most people dislike, it is the most effective way to prevent mold without needing to use methods that might harm your toilet. If you continue to see mold forming in your toilet bowl quickly, remember to inspect the inside of your toilet tank and clean it thoroughly. Mold can sometimes accumulate inside the tank without being noticed, leading to increased mold issues inside the bowl.
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