12 Things You Are Cleaning Too Often

If you seem to spend most of your free time in the laundry room, you are probably washing your clothes too often. Unless you have a really dirty job, sweat profusely, or are a slob and drop food everywhere, most clothes can be worn more than once.

There are exceptions, of course. Underwear, socks, workout gear, and anything worn close to the body should be washed after every wearing.

But just think how many fewer loads of laundry you could be doing if every person in your house didn’t toss a shirt in the hamper after just trying it on or you took the time to hang up your clothes after wearing so they don’t end up in a daunting pile on your floor or chair, which inevitably almost always ends up in your laundry. You’ll have free time and save money on electricity, water, and laundry products.

Skip sink duty after a meal. You are wasting time and water if you rinse dirty dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. You may even end up with dishes that aren’t clean at the end of the dishwasher cycle.

Dishwasher detergent powders, liquids, and tablets contain enzymes that attach themselves to food particles to dissolve the mess and then allow the spray action of the water to flush them away. When you prerinse the dishes, the detergent can’t cling and is just wasted.

Think of all that water you use to pre-rinse dishes. We bet you leave the faucet running during the entire process. That can waste more than 6,000 gallons of water per year.

It is important to scrape away large amounts of food before loading dishes into the dishwasher. And you shouldn’t leave dirty dishes sitting in the sink or dishwasher for days. If you only have a half-full dishwasher and you want to wait until the next meal to complete a wash cycle, run a ‘rinse only’ cycle. You’ll still save time and water.

Unless you’re going for a Halloween motif, a clean light fixture looks better and gives off more light. But if you are dusting all the light fixtures in your home as part of your weekly cleaning routine, you can take a break.

Ceiling mounted lighting fixtures and ceiling fans can be cleaned just once a month. Get into a schedule of cleaning the fixtures in different rooms each week. Remember to clean the overhead fixtures first, so that any uncaptured dust falls to the floor to be vacuumed away.

Want to save on those dry cleaning bills? Most winter coats can make it through the season with only one or two cleanings.

The keys to staying away from the dry cleaner is to spot clean stains as soon as possible, hang coats properly after every wearing, and use a good clothes brush to remove dust and lint.

It’s also possible to wash many types of winter coats at home, including those trimmed with faux fur.

Bedcoverings are a hassle to clean because of their size. So, unless you live in your bed or have lots of pets that do, no need to wash them weekly. Clean them at the end of every season instead.

Check the fabric care tag because most bedding can be washed. If you don’t have a large, front-loading washer, take the big items to a laundromat. For just a couple of dollars, you’ll have clean linens in less than an hour.

If you and your pets do live in your bed, cover heavy bedding with a sheet that can be tossed in the washer. Spot clean any spills or pet accidents on bedding immediately.

Curtains or drapes in living areas and bedrooms don’t need frequent cleaning; a thorough cleaning by washing or dry cleaning once a year is enough. If you are concerned about dust, take down the drapes and toss them in the dryer on the ‘air only’ cycle to remove the dust and even a few wrinkles. Don’t use heat because that can cause some fabrics to shrink.

Curtains in kitchens and bathrooms should be washed more often (seasonally) because they catch grease particles and aerosol over-sprays.

Ideally, carpets and upholstered furniture should be professionally cleaned just once a year using steam and the proper cleaning products. No, this is not an excuse to skip vacuuming carpets and upholstered furniture at least weekly! Regular vacuuming keeps dirt and dust from becoming embedded in fibers.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you can actually cause more harm than good by frequently cleaning. Using too much shampoo or cleaner and over-wetting can cause serious damage. Excess shampoo actually attracts soil and over-wetting weakens the backing on carpet and causes mold and mildew growth in carpet padding and furniture cushions.

Kids need a daily bath but bath toys can go a bit longer between a good cleaning. If you give toys a rinse in clean water and hang them to dry in a mesh bag, a thorough cleaning is only needed once a month.

Mix 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar in a gallon of warm water. Add the toys and allow them to soak for about 15 minutes. Use a clean sponge or cloth to wipe down the surface of the toys and squeeze out any excess water. Allow to air dry.

Bed sheets and pillowcases need to be washed weekly because they come in direct contact with our skin and body soil. But bed pillows only need to be washed every three to six months. Washing more often will wear them out quickly.

Almost all bed pillows (feather, polyester-filled, or foam) can be washed at home. Just be sure to allow enough time for pillows to dry thoroughly before bedtime!

Because your refrigerator is the spot for cooked and raw foods that perish quickly, it should be cleaned out weekly. But your pantry doesn’t need that much attention. Just give it a cleaning once or twice a year. Empty it out and wipe down shelves. Check for any insect activity and read expiration dates before you sort and organize.