Home cleaning advice: Effective schedules and risks of popular hacks

Effective home maintenance relies on a structured cleaning schedule rather than attempting to clean everything with the same frequency. Daily tasks should focus on high-traffic or high-moisture areas, such as kitchen surfaces and dishes, to prevent the buildup of grime. Weekly tasks are better suited for deeper cleaning of bathrooms, floors, and dust-prone surfaces.

Experts are warning against a popular social media cleaning hack that involves dissolving dishwasher tablets in hot water to clean various household surfaces. While effective for ovens or baseboards, Lucas Lar, a wood technology expert from Made of Wood, warns that this method can be dangerous for wooden floors. The aggressive degreasers in dishwasher tablets can strip the protective finish from wood, leading to premature wear and loss of shine. Additionally, the use of hot water poses a risk of causing wood to swell or deform if moisture penetrates between the planks. For wooden surfaces, specialists recommend using pH-neutral cleaners specifically designed for wood and using a well-wrung cloth to avoid excess moisture.