Cleaning 'Hacks' that Actually Make Things Worse
When it comes to cleaning there are tried and tested hacks you can rely on to make sure your house is spotless.
However, according to Good Housekeeping Institute there are some widely known household hints that are actually causing more harm than good.
While some hacks can make cleaning easier, the experts say you can’t believe everything you have heard will work – like using salt to lift red wine, immediately pouring water on carpet stains, or using vinegar as a makeshift cleaning product.
Here we have revealed which of the well-known hacks could make your clean-up job harder, not easier…
Don’t pour water on carpet stains: It may seem like logic to use water to mop up a spill, but there’s a danger that adding more liquid can over saturate a stain.
The excess water could cause long-lasting damage – soaking through the carpet fibres and into floorboards.
Good Housekeeping says that patience is key and advises gently blotting out as much of the stain as possible, then follow with a “light spritz of sparkling or soda water to rinse followed by more blotting”.
A clean dry cloth or paper towel is all that’s needed, and to make sure the stain doesn’t remain use a special removal cleaner.
Forget reaching for the salt for a red wine stain: There’s nothing worse than red wine splashing on your plush carpets – but don’t go reaching for the salt to try and soak it up.
Salt can lift the colour out of the carpet, but the consumer experts say that it can actually ‘set the stain’ because of the abrasive nature of the substance.
There’s also a risk that salt grains can stick in the carpet and become a dirt magnet for everything else.
Using vinegar as an all-purpose solution: While vinegar is regularly counted as an all-natural cleaner and can tackle grease and mould, the kitchen cupboard staple does contain acid and is abrasive.
The acid can affect wood and natural stone, so Good Housekeeping suggests keeping it away from marble counter tops or tiles.
Keep window cleaner away from your computer: The ingredients in a regular window cleaner can permanently damage a computer screen if used to shift marks.
According to the consumer site the ammonia and alcohol mixture used to remove stubborn stains on a window can actually strip anti-reflective coatings off screens, as well as cause clouding.
It advises using a microfibre cloth with a specialist LCD or plasma screen cleaner with no alcohol.
Poll: Would you use a pet cemetery?
Dave Stephens has created a pet cemetery on his land.
The 10-acre site in Albany, Auckland, features graves nestled among beautifully manicured gardens and unique art pieces, offering a serene space where visitors can pay their respects in their own way.
Is a local pet cemetery something you think you would use? Share your thoughts below.
-
31.3% Yes
-
67.1% No
-
1.5% Other - I'll share below
Neighbourly Q&A: Consumer rights with CAB's Andrew Hubbard
What can you do if you buy something that breaks soon after you buy it? It's time for another helpful Q&A.
This week we have Andrew Hubbard from Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand (CABNZ) who will be answering your questions about your consumer rights.
A little bit about Andrew:
Dr Andrew Hubbard is deputy chief executive of Citizens Advice Bureau New Zealand (CAB) and loves working for the CAB so much that he’s been there for more than fifteen years.
Andrew believes in the difference people can make working together in the community and loves being able to support the work of the more than 2000 CAB volunteers across the motu. Andrew’s background is in policy and he’s been actively involved in consumer issues for the fifteen years he’s been at the CAB.
Andrew and the CAB team are ready to answer your questions about your consumer rights. This might be questions about when you can get a refunds, your rights when buying via Facebook or overseas, product delivery issues and what to do if a retailer won't sort a problem out for you. Ask away!
Andrew will be here live on Wednesday at 9.30am, but go ahead, and add your question below now ⇩
Got a minute?💡Try this riddle and let’s see how clever you really are! 🧐
I am silent, yet I speak;
I can open minds but cannot open myself;
I contain worlds but have no life—
What am I?
Do you think you know the answer? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Loading…
