1. Clothes
If you find yourself spending all your free time in the laundry room, then you might be washing your clothes too often. Most clothes, apart from underwear, socks and worksout gear, can be worn more than once before beginning to smell. Take time to hang up your clothes after wearing them, instead of automatically throwing them in the laundry basket. This way, you’ll save free time and save money on electricity, water and laundry products!
2. Dirty dishes
What’s the point in rinsing dirty dishes before you put them in the dishwasher? Many believe that it’s to ensure you have cleaner dishes after they’ve been through the dishwasher – however, this is not the case. Dishwasher detergent powders, liquids and tablets contain enzymes which are meant to attach themselves to food particles and dissolve the mess. So the more food you rinse off, the less clean they’ll be. Instead, skip this step and save water, time, and have cleaner dishes.
3. Ceiling fans and lighting fixtures
Of course, a clean light fixture will look better and give off more light, however they do not require a dusting everyday. Nobody likes dust, it can be filled with mold, fungus and dead bugs, however there is no harm in letting dust build up before you clean it. Ceiling light fixtures should be dusted once a month, or if you have an allergy to the dust then once a week will be fine too.
4. Winter outerwear
If you are looking to save on dry cleaning bills, then only send your winter coats and accessories to the cleaners once or twice a season. This goes the same for if you don’t send them to the cleaners and you manually clean them! Of course, you should spot clean stains straight away, however if you hang the coats properly after wearing them, and use a clothes brush to remove dust and lint, then you should be clear of needing to wash them after every use.
5. Bedspreads, quilts, and comforters
Bedcoverings are a hassle to clean due to their weight and size. So, unless you eat on your bed or have pets that lounge on there a lot, there is no need to wash them weekly. Instead, clean them at the end of every season – save your self the hassle for as long as possible! To save time even more, add a light washable quilt on top of your bed, for your pets to lounge on and avoid it getting dirty for even longer.
6. Curtains and drapes
Gravity will tackle most of the dust on drapes and curtains, therefore it only really needs cleaning once a year. The yearly clean is necessary to remove the dust caught in the crevices and wrinkles of the fabric, however if you clean them too much with hot water, then they may begin the shrink overtime. Curtains in the kitchen and bathrooms need to be washed more frequently as they can catch grease particles and aerosol over-sprays – so seasonally will do.
7. Carpets and upholstered furniture
Using too much shampoo, cleaner, or over-wetting carpets and upholstery can seriously damage them. This is because excess shampoo attracts soil and over-wetting weakens and promotes mold and mildew growth on and within the carpets and furniture. Ideally, carpets and furniture should be cleaned once a year using steam and proper cleaning products. But, of course, don’t forget to still vacuum weekly!
8. Furniture slipcovers
Slipcovers are brilliant as they give furniture a new look and are much easier to clean than upholstery. However, it is impractical to remove and replace sometimes complex slipcovers and this can lead to possible damage if you wash them too frequently. So, unless there’s accidental mess on the fabric, there’s no need to toss them in the washer every week.
9. Bath toys
Children may need a bath daily, but bath toys can last a little longer before having a good clean. Give toys a rinse in clean water, dry them off after use as a way to curb mold growth, and hang them to further air out in a mesh bag. This sort of clean is only needed once a month. If you do see a moldy toy, it is best to toss them in the garbage as you don’t want your child chewing on anything that is mold infested.
10. Bed pillows
Bed sheets and pillowcases need to be washed weekly as they come into direct contact with your skin and body oils. However, bed pillows don’t need that much attention at all. They are only required to be washed every 3-6 months, because if you wash them too often then the filling will wear out much quicker. Memory foam can break down and other materials can clump up or shrink. Save yourself the hassle, and clean them less!