Surprising reason your cleaning products might not be working as well as they should
By Rachael Gavin|
I?f you've been using a cleaning product for a long time and found you've suddenly needed to start scrubbing harder for it to work, you might be making a simple mistake.
According to professional organiser Jacqueline Stein, many of us have been unaware that cleaning products have expiry dates.
She shared the handy tip in an Instagram reel about cleaning mistakes we might be making.
Watch the video above.?
If a product you're using is past its expiry date it means the product won't be as effective, which means you might have to leave it on a surface for longer, use more product or work harder to get results.?
"?If you did not already know, your cleaning products EXPIRE! Avoid Buying in bulk if you aren't able to use them all before the expiration time!" Stein captioned her Instagram post.
The best place to find out a product's expiry date is on the packaging.
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?Cleaning product expiration information provided by business Sydney Solvents on its website backs Stein's claim we need to use cleaning products before their expiry dates.
"Expired surface cleaning sprays and dishwashing liquids won't harm the surfaces they're meant to clean, but they won't clean as well. To achieve the same results, you may need to use a little more product or clean for a little longer," Sydney Solvents' blog post read.
"However, disinfectants and hand sanitisers must be used within their shelf life in order to have the desired effect.?"
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Another cleaning mistake Stein said we might be making? is "using the same product on everything", particularly if it's bleach.
"Different surfaces require different kinds of products. Make sure you are caring for your home with the correct items," she explained.
This is true even with less toxic options like vinegar and baking soda. Vinegar is known to damage stone surfaces, device screens, grout and cast iron cookware, while baking soda shouldn't be used on marble surfaces or anything with a crack or deep grooves.?
We also might not be cleaning our microfibre cloths ?well enough, because Stein recommends washing them on their own in the washing machine.
"?Microfiber should be washed by itself to maintain the fibers. This is the main reason they come out fuzzy," she said.
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And for anyone who thinks their house is clean because it looks clean, think again. Another cleaning mistake we might be making is missing a lot of hidden spots that fill with dust, debris or residue.
These areas include under and behind the fridge and filters in the washing machine and dishwasher.
"Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it doesn't have to be cleaned! Make sure you are moving furniture and cleaning under and behind it, because dust travels in the air and could be what is causing dirt around your home," she said.
Now excuse us while we go check every product in the cupboard for its expiry date...
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