You read countless articles telling you how to clean this, that and the other thing, including (or should that be especially?) the kitchen sink. But you seldom come across articles that warn you what not to do.

Cleaning’s easy, right? It’s pretty idiot-proof, isn’t it? Well, yes and no. Many cleaning chores about the home can be done by anyone, although some young children may need supervision with some tasks. And if you know a few basics, then you can clean effectively and well. But there are some things that you should never do, and it pays to warn amateur cleaners not to do them (professional cleaners are usually trained not to do them, of course).

1. Mixing cleaning chemicals. This is extremely dangerous, as the two chemicals can react with each other and produce a lethal cocktail. Two of the most common cleaning chemicals around the home are chlorine bleach and ammonia. In combination, these produce one of the poison gases used during World War 1. To be on the safe side, never mix any commercial cleaning chemicals (natural cleaning products like baking soda, salt and vinegar can be mixed, but that’s another story).
2. Poor ventilation. Even if you don’t break Rule Number 1, you can still irritate your lungs and other mucous membranes by cleaning in a small enclosed space with bad ventilation. Open the windows and open the doors. And if you really can’t avoid it, invest in one of those cheap masks for your mouth and nose, and wear swimming goggles.
3. Avoiding rubber gloves. A lot of cleaning products are pretty harsh on the skin. This is especially the case for products that are designed to kill germs. They kill living cells, and this includes your skin cells. Detergents strip the skin of its natural moisture, making it dry and irritated. Some people have tough, leathery skins that can handle a wee bit of detergent, but even they need to wear rubber gloves to protect themselves.
4. Improvising ladders. OK, you can get away with just one sturdy box, table or chair if you’re cleaning your house up high. But if you have to go higher than that, use a proper stepladder and make sure the feet are securely placed. Don’t make a ladder out of multiple chairs and boxes, and don’t stand a ladder on a ladder. Getting that cobweb off the ceiling isn’t work risking serious injury.
5. Putting extension flexes in the wrong place. If you have to use an extension cord, make sure that there’s no risk of any part of it getting wet. Didn’t James Bond kill off a villain doing something like this?
6. Using the same cloth for everything. You wipe down the toilet seat and handle. Then you go into the kitchen, wiping all the way and use the same cloth for the kitchen bench where you prepare food. Ick! There isn’t a shortage of cleaning rags, so change them often and be careful not to drag germs from one area to another via the cloth.
7. Using too much cleaning product. Too much is twice as effective, right? Wrong – it doesn’t work any more effectively and can leave a sticky, dull residue that looks dirtier than when you started.
8. Using hot water on protein stains. Hot water may be great for a lot of stains, but on protein stains such as blood and egg white, it’s diabolical. It will set the stain in place and you will never get it out. If you’re not sure whether something’s a protein stain or not, use cold water and lots of elbow grease.
9. Forgetting high-touch areas. High-touch areas like TV remotes, phones and computer keyboards are used for hours on end and can be a happy home for a lot of bacteria. Give these areas a good wipe down with antiseptic of some sort as part of your regular cleaning chores.
10. Not reading care labels. You never know when something isn’t colour fast, will shrivel up on contact with certain chemicals or will melt in the dishwasher. Your parents sent you to school for years, so you probably know how to read well enough to read a care label (you’re reading this!).

For those of you who need some ideas about DIY cleaning of your room or house here is a video that will help. At the end of the day people have to maintaing their dwellings clean and tidy for many a reason. Not just the good tidy look of a clean house is what matters. There are more important factors like indoor air quality, anti-allergen treatments, dust mites and bacteria removal, sanitizing and others.

There are a ton of instructional videos and plenty of DIY advice on the internet. Use it.

Enjoy the DIY cleaning video: