8 Household Items You Don’t Need To Clean So Often
I feel like this is the article that many people have been waiting for. No more adding cleaning tasks to your daily grind. Instead, this article is here to tell you the things that you don’t have to clean as much. In fact, over-cleaning can sometimes do more harm than good. I want to give you permission to take a breath and cross these eight items off your weekly to-do list.
Winter Coats
We often feel the need to wash our heavy jackets every time we come home from a cold outing, but most winter coats only need a deep clean once or twice a season. Washing them too frequently can actually break down the insulation or the water-repellent coating on the outside. Unless you spilled something obvious or went on a muddy hike, a simple spot clean or a quick brush-off is usually all your coats need to stay fresh.
Guest Bedroom Linens
It is tempting to wash the sheets in the guest room every week just because they are there, but if nobody has slept in them, they are perfectly fine. Dusting the room is one thing, but running the laundry for clean sheets is a waste of water and energy. I usually just give them a quick refresh with a fabric spray or wash them right before a guest arrives. It saves a lot of unnecessary work.
Your Living Room Curtains
Curtains are great at catching dust, but they don't build up the same daily grime as your floors or countertops. Taking them down, washing them, and ironing them is a massive chore that you really only need to do once or twice a year. A much easier way to handle them is to use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum once a month. This keeps the dust away without the hassle of a full laundry day.
High Quality Wood Furniture
I used to think that a thick layer of lemon polish every week was the secret to beautiful wood furniture. It turns out that over-polishing can actually create a sticky buildup that attracts even more dust and makes the wood look dull over time. Most furniture experts suggest just using a dry microfiber cloth for your weekly dusting instead. You only really need to use a wood polish or wax about once every few months.
The Kitchen Pantry
It is easy to feel guilty about a messy pantry, but you don't need to empty the shelves and scrub them every month. As long as your dry goods are sealed in containers and there are no spills, a deep clean once or twice a year is plenty. I usually save this task for right before a big holiday or big grocery restock. It makes the job feel much more purposeful and less like busywork.
Decorative Throw Pillows
Those beautiful pillows on your sofa look great, but they aren't usually getting the same level of wear as your bed pillows. Since they are mostly for decoration, their covers only need a wash every few months. In the meantime, a quick fluff and a light vacuuming will keep them looking new. Washing them too often can cause the fabric to pill or the stuffing to get lumpy, which just makes them age faster.
Inside Dishwasher
Because the dishwasher is constantly running hot water and soap through its system, it is actually pretty good at keeping itself clean. You don't need to scrub the walls every week. Instead, just focus on cleaning out the filter at the bottom once a month and maybe running an empty cycle with a bowl of vinegar once in a while. This keeps the machine smelling fresh without forcing you to spend an entire afternoon scrubbing.
Rugs In Low Traffic Areas
While the rug in your entryway needs constant attention, the one in your formal dining room or home office can usually wait. Vacuuming is still important, but a deep steam clean is something that only needs to happen every year or two. Over-washing your rugs can damage the fibers or the backing, so it is actually better to be a bit more hands-off. It is a nice reminder that less is often more.
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It took me a while to stop feeling guilty about leaving some things alone, but my weekends have been so much better since I did. We all have enough on our plates without adding extra chores that don't really make a difference. I hope this helps you take back some of your own free time this week. Is there a chore you have been doing that you think might be unnecessary?
Bliss Donahue-Power
