The 5 cleaning rules you can actually break – from loading the dishwasher to sticking to a strict schedule

Among tricks, hacks, and how-to's, the internet is filled with hard and fast rules for scrubbing, dusting, and polishing. But, as the old saying goes, some rules are made to be broken.

Whether it's the way you load the dishwasher, or how you choose to clean glass surfaces, sometimes it's fine to switch things up and find what works for you, or so the experts say.

Here, they share which cleaning tips they ignore or adapt, and exactly what they do instead.

The 5 cleaning rules you can actually break

1. Loading the dishwasher in a specific way

While you may think it's important to load a dishwasher properly, Petya Holevich, house cleaning expert and supervisor at Fantastic Services, says you don't actually have to load the dishwasher in any specific order.

He explains, 'The important thing when using this appliance is not to overload it so every item inside it can be sprayed down. Naturally, every dishwasher is set up differently but the best way to load them is to arrange the dishes in a way that maximizes the space inside.'

That being said, it's still important to pay attention to the things that should go in the top rack of your dishwasher, specifically plastic items, advises Petya, to avoid them melting and damaging your appliance.

He adds, 'There's also another recommendation for loading a dishwasher which is for safety reasons,' which refers to whether you should point your silverware up or down in the dishwasher. Petya says 'Utensils, specifically knives, should be loaded with the sharp ends down to avoid cutting yourself when unloading items.'

2. You must always use glass cleaner on glass

As Karina Toner, cleaning expert and operations manager at Spekless, says, 'Many people reach for a dedicated glass cleaner to get clean windows and clean a mirror without streaks, but you actually don't need one.' Instead, you can make a homemade vinegar glass cleaner.

Simply mix white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, such as the Great Value All Purpose Plastic Spray Bottle available at Walmart, spray lightly, and wipe with a microfiber cloth.

'Vinegar cuts through grease and leaves glass sparkling without the risk of streaks from excess product, explains Karina.

You can also make the best homemade window cleaner using Castille soap and distilled water, or use dish soap, such as Mrs. Meyer's Liquid Dish Soap available at Amazon, to make a dish soap solution for streak-free windows.

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3. You need a sponge to hand wash dishes

While kitchen sponges are undoubtedly convenient, they often harbor germs that end up on your hands if you aren't using gloves when hand-washing your dishes, warns cleaning expert Petya. In fact, they're one of the dirtiest hidden areas of the kitchen we forget to clean.

Instead, he advises, it’s better to use a dish brush, such as the OXO Good Grips Dish Brush available at Amazon, which is conveniently dishwasher safe, for a more thorough clean that keeps your hands clean and dry.

If you are using a sponge, opt for using rubber gloves, such as the Playtex Living Gloves available at Walmart.

4. You should always pre-rinse dishes before loading the dishwasher

Scraping off large food particles is necessary to prevent needing to unclog a dishwasher, but fully rinsing dishes before loading can actually make your dishwasher less effective, and is one of the worst things you can do for your dishwasher's lifespan, says cleaning expert Karina.

This might sound counterintuitive, but, as she explains, 'Modern machines are designed to clean better when they detect food residue.'

For this reason, simply scrape off leftover food, then load dishes directly. Karina continues, 'If your dishwasher has trouble cleaning, try using a dishwasher cleaner, such as the Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner available at Amazon, monthly to remove buildup.'

If you find your dishwasher isn't cleaning your dishes, there's also a quick dishwasher maintenance trick you can do, which only requires vinegar, baking soda, and an old toothbrush to help unclog jets for a more powerful clean.

5. You need to stick to a strict cleaning schedule

Finally, while it's always good to create an achievable cleaning routine, you don't always have to stick to it, says cleaning expert Petya.

He notes, 'It's always nice to have a cleaning schedule, but it's not always realistic, especially if you're a person with a busy lifestyle. Life shouldn't revolve around keeping your house clean and tidy at all costs.'

Instead, set up a list of periodic cleaning tasks, which might be daily chores, household chores you should be doing weekly, or monthly jobs, and stick to them as closely as you can.

Petya continues, 'Arguably, the best approach to housecleaning is to just clean up any messes as soon as they happen. If something looks dirty, then it's time to clean it.'

For example, when it comes to how often you should vacuum, doing so daily simply isn't necessary, says Petya. 'While regular vacuuming is very important, most homes can actually manage with vacuuming only once or twice a week.

'Instead of daily vacuuming, focus on keeping the high-traffic areas of your home clean,' like cleaning a kitchen after use with a multi-surface spray, such as the Method All-Purpose Cleaner available at Amazon, and ensuring you have time to do cleaning tasks that take less than three minutes to do.

FAQs

What is the golden rule of cleaning?

While you can break numerous cleaning rules, there is one we always recommend sticking to: cleaning as you go. This is the most effective way to clean your house when you're too busy, and it can make a huge difference when it comes to cleaning when feeling overwhelmed, too.

If you're ready to throw out the rule book, there are probably some outdated small closet organizing rules you can forget too. Whether it's organizing by color, using drawer dividers, or avoiding storing anything on top of your closet, sometimes it's more about making your space work for you than working to follow the rules for your space.