Using your cleaning solutions willy-nilly may seem rather harmless, but the fact of the matter is that you need to be more in your cleaning routine. Otherwise, there is no small risk of surface damage, or worse – damage to your health. It is better to become a cleaning safety stickler than to suffer the consequences of your ill-thought-out methods.
Of course, it is difficult to be all about using the right detergents the right way, without first arming yourself with some knowledge on safety cleaning matters. Following are a number of tips that you can follow for the best safe cleaning practices.
Always wear gloves – perhaps you are wondering if wearing gloves should be a priority. The question gets a resounding yes. This staple protective gear is the simplest to acquire and use during your cleaning session. Cleaning often means using hot water and contact with bacteria and harsh chemicals, which damage your skin. Protecting your hands from the harmful elements in the cleaning solutions and the grime that you are cleaning with gloves is something you should look into.
Find out what the right product for the job is – cleaning safely and efficiently often boils down to using the right products and tools for the job. If you don’t use the right product, not only you won’t get the cleaning result you are after but also risk ruining the surface you are cleaning. This goes for some of the natural cleaners out there. For example, vinegar can damage natural stone and marble, so make sure you know what you are using on such services.
Learn not to mix products/mix them properly – mixing the wrong products could have quite dangerous consequences, so it is important not to play chemist when you have little knowledge on the matter. It is no secret that certain products become a toxic mix when used together, which is nothing your lungs will appreciate. This is true even for your natural cleaners, like vinegar. Mixing it with bleach or ammonia can harm your health. It is best to not mix products before doing extensive research on the matter so that you know you are safe.
Colour-code your cleaning solutions – if you know a thing or two about the professional cleaning business, you will find the concept of colour-coding is central there. The initial idea is that you will cross-contamination this way. Besides, utilising colours for various products also allows you to save on time since you don’t need to wonder what you are using. Pick different cloths for different parts of your home, and you will quickly establish some safety cleaning standards.
Store your products properly – cleaning safety is impossible without considering product storage. This ensures they last a long time and, more importantly, they remain out of reach of children and pets. Store your cleaning solutions in a lockable compartment. After you are done with a cleaning product, make sure to inspect the sides and bottom for any residue. If you don’t do that, you can damage the surface it rests on. Finally, as you put away the cleaning products, ensure you close them well. Adjust the nozzle in off position and tighten the cap.
If there is one thing you need to always pay attention to when cleaning, it has to be safety. The tips above and tricks aim to improve this aspect of the work for you and ensure better success with it.