6 Housekeeping Rules It’s Totally OK to Break, According to Cleaning Pros

They say that rules are meant to be broken. This is particularly true when it comes to housekeeping. While you might think that a clean and tidy home means doing things the way you’ve been told for your whole life—that’s not necessarily true. Here are six housekeeping rules to break for a cleaner home, extra free time, and less stress. 

You Must Load the Dishwasher in a Specific Way

It’s the age-old dilemma that everyone has had with a partner, roommate, or family member. No one is going to win this argument. You don’t have to load the dishwasher in any specific way, as long as it’s not overloaded and every piece can be sprayed down. 

Every dishwasher is set up a little differently and, technically, the best way to load one is to arrange the dishes in a way that maximizes rack space. 

The only exceptions are items marked “top rack only,” such as plastic food containers. It’s also safest to load utensils face down, but it’s not the end of the world if they’re loaded the other way. 

You Need to Dry Clean Your Down Comforter

Down comforters don’t come cheap and many people believe they must be dry-cleaned, which only adds to the cost. Not only is it inconvenient and expensive to send a down comforter to the dry cleaner but the washing machine can do an even better job. Wash your down comforter alone on a delicate setting and dry it on low.

Dryer Sheets Are Absolutely Necessary

Here’s another laundry rule that’s meant to be broken: You don’t need to use dryer sheets. If you use them to make your clothing soft, use fabric softener instead because it will do a better job. 

Dryer sheets are unnecessary and can even cause skin irritation for some people. If you want your clothing and linens to smell their best, use dryer balls with laundry oil or an essential oil, like lavender. “Add a few drops of the laundry oil onto our wool balls,” Lindsay Droz, confounder of L’Avant Collective, says. “Place the balls in your car, shoe rack, closet, or any other place that you feel could use a scent refresh! The wool balls will act as an air freshener with the laundry oil added to it.”

Only Use Glass Cleaner to Clean Glass

No, you don’t need a separate glass cleaner to clean your windows, mirrors, and glass surfaces. A quality multipurpose spray can get the job done without leaving streaks. “We love using our multi-purpose spray to clean windows, mirrors, stainless steel, as well as a floor cleaner,” says Droz. “Simply spray the cleaner onto the intended surface and wipe until dry. Use a microfiber cloth for the ultimate, streak-free finish.”

Sponges Are Necessary to Hand Wash Dishes

Sure, sponges are convenient, but they also ruin the aesthetic of a neat kitchen and harbor germs that end up all over your hands if you aren’t cleaning with gloves on—and who always cleans with gloves on? A dish brush not only does the job better and keeps your hands clean, but it also looks nicer stored near the kitchen sink. 

You Should Stick to a Schedule for a Clean Home

While it’s nice to keep a cleaning schedule, it isn’t always realistic. Furthermore, your life shouldn’t revolve around keeping your house clean and tidy. While you can set up schedules for periodic decluttering as well as for your robot vacuum (if you have one)—making plans to bleach your bathtub every third Tuesday is a losing game. Clean up messes as they happen. When something looks dirty, that means it’s time to start scrubbing. But don’t put too much pressure on yourself.