No one likes doing housework, so the quicker it's done the better.
But you'll be surprised at how many common cleaning habits are wasting your time and leaving you with more to do than is necessary.
To help you make changes to your cleaning routine and leave your home sparkling, we spoke with Heather Barrigan, a cleaning expert at MyJobQuote.co.uk.
She shared the most common cleaning mistakes she thinks people make and how you can fix them.
From washing your chopping board down with soap to spraying your cleaning products directly onto the surface, Heather goes through it all.
Here's a look at what she had to say...
Not pre-soaking dirty dishes
Not pre-soaking dirty dishes will mean you’re spending double the time scrubbing off any food residue.
Not only does this take time, but it’s also less hygienic.
Even if your dishes are going in the dishwasher, you should try and remove the food debris.
Failing to do so will not only make the inside of your dishwasher dirty, but it can also develop into a strong smell.
Pre-soaking your dishes will ensure they are properly sanitised and free of foodborne illness-causing bacteria.
You can kill the bacteria by submerging your dishes for 30 seconds in hot water that’s at least 75°C.
You should allow your dishes to air dry as a cloth or towel can spread germs.
Using the same cloth around the house
Even with cleaning product spritzed on, using the same cloth in multiple spots around the house results in spreading grime around from the previous surface.
This leads to unintentionally spreading bacteria around your home.
The germs from your kitchen counters getting onto your living room coffee table is a thought you don’t want to have.
Use a new cloth for each surface or have a microfibre cleaning cloth for each area of your home.
Microfibre cloths are tightly woven fibres that can brush away bacteria and be washed in the machine after each use to remove any grime.
Placing your toilet brush back immediately after use
Cleaning your toilet is a task everyone puts off, but once it’s finished you might be making a big mistake.
If a toilet brush is put right back into its holder right after use, the moisture and germs from the toilet are then trapped into the container and brush.
These germs are then released and rubbed back into your toilet the next time it’s used, as they’ve been breeding and multiplying.
To avoid this, allow the toilet brush to dry completely before returning to its container.
Using washing-up liquid on your cutting boards
Washing-up liquid and hot water don't clean cutting boards as well as imagined.
This is because soap can’t penetrate the cold cutting board meaning it doesn’t get cleaned thoroughly.
If you wash your boards between cutting different kinds of foods, there’s probably still harmful bacteria on it.
Even if you mix the soap with steaming hot water, it’s not enough.
To avoid any cross-contamination and ensure it’s clean, soak your cutting boards into bleach solution after each use.
This will kill most bacteria and will prevent it from transferring to any other foods you prepare.
Spraying cleaning solutions directly onto surfaces
When you spray cleaning solutions directly onto surfaces, furniture and glass, it creates a residue and build-up that’s harder to remove.
This results in streaky windows and greasy surfaces that dust will stick to.
Spraying cleaning solutions directly onto surfaces also release chemicals into the air which can irritate people with asthma or allergies.
Spray your cleaning solution directly onto your microfibre cleaning cloth before wiping down the surfaces.
Cleaning stainless steel in circular motions
Cleaning stainless steel is a hard task and sometimes no matter how hard you scrub, you aren’t left with a sparkly finish.
If you wipe a stainless-steel surface using circular motions, the marks may become more obvious once the solution dries.
To obtain a shiny look, identify the direction of the ‘grain’ in the stainless steel and follow that while cleaning – it will make all the difference!
Not wiping down the sink
After using your sink, you might just quickly rinse with water before walking away, this can be unhygienic.
Sinks rapidly grow germs as food from soaking cutlery and pans can get left behind in the sink.
This acts as a breeding ground for bacteria.
If you think about how much dirt and food pass by daily, you will realise the care your sink needs.
For an intense clean, mix neat bleach with a cup of water and pour it into the sink.
Leave the bleach to work for 30 minutes before giving the sink a rinse with warm water.
Were you making any of these mistakes? Let us know in the comments below.
Do you have a story to share? We want to hear all about it. Email us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk