What's the worst cleaning tip you've ever heard? Sure, you may have heard some good, or even great, ones, but what are the ones which really didn't work?
Reddit is filled with really helpful advice when it comes to cleaning, but also, unfortunately, some not so useful tips. From using pumice stones on porcelain to cleaning windows with cola, we've trawled the site so you don't have to, and these are the worst home cleaning mistakes we came across, and wish we never encountered.
Reddit's worst cleaning tips
1. Mixing toilet cleaners
I'm sure we've all seen those videos online of people mixing seemingly every toilet cleaner they own in their toilet bowl, in the hopes of a sparkling shine. This, unsurprisingly, is the worst mistake u/Catlady515 has seen, sharing on the Worst cleaning “tips” you’ve seen recently? Reddit thread, 'Mixing tons of different cleaners in your toilet.'
While one user, u/sparksaflowin, replies, 'But that’s my cauldron!' another replies 'Bubble bubble toilet trouble,' and they're not wrong – mixing chemicals not only risks damaging you're toilet bowl, it's also extremely and seriously dangerous to inhale, which is why there are plenty of cleaning products you should never mix.
Instead, stick to one specific product to tackle your toilet bowl when cleaning your bathroom, such as the Lysol® Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner Gel available at Walmart. And, if you prefer not to use harsh chemicals at all, you can clean your toilet tank with vinegar.
2. Using excessive amounts of laundry detergent
Of course, using laundry detergent is an integral part of any washing routine, and using too little may result in an ineffective clean. But, as u/maya_star444 highlights, it's also a big washing machine mistake to use too much.
'It gets on my nerves when I see friends and family using excessive amounts of laundry detergent with the mindset that their clothes will be "cleaner" and "smell better,"' they say. 'I have a friend who fills the cap to the very top for every load. I'm so grateful that I've learned through experience that less is more.'
u/cryingstlfan agrees, adding, 'My stepmom thinks she needs to use a whole cap for her laundry, she even told me that she'll use a cap and a half if she needs to. Whatever, ruin your clothes.'
Recently, after spotting warnings signs she was using the wrong amount of detergent, Chiana Dickson, content editor on Solved, cut down on laundry detergent, and says her clothes feel 'feel better than ever.'
So, swerve any mistakes you're making with powder detergent or mistakes you're making with laundry pods by cutting down for good.
3. Cleaning porcelain with pumice
Like u/shehasamazinghair, you may have heard of using pumice stone to clean a porcelain sink. 'I see insta/tiktok cleaning influencers recommending cleaning porcelain with pumice stone and swearing in the comments it doesn't scratch,' they say. 'I've seen a few posts here that show the opposite.'
Indeed, u/JerkRussell has, unsuccessfully, tried it for themselves and regretted it. 'I just used a pumice stone for the first time because I needed something done fast before visitors arrived,' they share. 'Sorry, not sorry but it’s not a good solution. You can feel that it’s wrong as you’re using it. All of the admonitions about not doing it right is ridiculous. Yes, I wet the stone and the bowl. Yes, I didn’t scrub hard.
'It still scratches your toilet bowl. It’s only worth it if you were going to replace the toilet anyways. Oh and they’re kinda pricey. I paid $9.99 for that thing.'
To avoid the same fate as u/JerkRussell, stick to cleaning with The Pink Stuff, or cleaning with Bar Keepers Friend, with a soft microfiber cloth, such as the Great Value Multipurpose Microfiber Household Cleaning Cloth, available at Walmart. Don't forget about the dry/damp cleaning rule either, unless using a Scrub Daddy Damp Duster, available at Amazon.
4. Using cola to wash windows
There are some nostalgic cleaning tips which have stood the test of time but, perhaps unsurprisingly, using cola to clean your windows is not one of them.
Shared by u/MrMag00, who simply writes 'Cola to wash windows,' u/typhoidmarry replies 'The amount of bugs attached to my windows would be incredible!' with u/HumbleAbbreviations chiming in, 'Sudsy ammonia is dirt cheap. Why waste a Coke on windows?'
Interesting, u/Playful-Natural-4626 says it does work well on toilet bowls, but our experts have that down as one of the bathroom cleaning hacks that don't really work.
Either way, to clean your windows, use a dish soap solution for streak-free windows, make the best homemade window cleaner with Castille soap, such as Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap available at Walmart, and distilled water, or even try a magnetic window cleaning tool. Just stick to drinking cola, rather than cleaning with it.
5. Adding salt to mop water
Finally, as u/archiearcher found out, not only is adding salt to mop water a mistake, it's actually not a cleaning tip at all. Or at least not as such.
'I Googled if you could add salt to mop water,' they share. 'Was thinking maybe the grit could help clean stains.
'Google says YES! Adding salt to your mop water is a great way to CLEANSE YOUR HOUSE OF EVIL SPIRITS.'
Indeed, cleansing your home with salt might banish bad energy, but it's certainly not an effective way to clean a floor without streaks. Who knew?
What to shop
Remove stains from all surfaces without the need for a pumice stone, or any other abrasive material, with this Magic Eraser that offers a powerful clean with water alone.
This window cleaning tool can be adjusted according to your needs, for reaching upper corners. It's suitable for flooring and tiles, too.
To give your floors a real clean, this rich and nutty almond-scented floor cleaner shines up surfaces for a streak-free, spotless finish, without the salt.
It's not all bad. Reddit's people swear by commercial washing machine cleaner, and there are plenty of Reddit highly-rated toilet limescale cleaners, too.
