These Household Cleaners Could Damage Your Home If Not Used Right

Before you accidentally scrub your home into ruin.

Who doesn’t love a squeaky clean home? Think dust- and dirt-free countertops, a sparkling clean toilet bowl and grout that looks as new as the day it was applied, among other things.

When it comes to home cleaning though, some household cleaners can – over time – damage the very surfaces you’re trying to care for. This doesn’t mean you need to avoid them altogether; rather, it’s about knowing the right spots and methods to use them.

Here’s a breakdown of common household cleaners and how they could potentially damage your home – plus solutions.

1. Abrasive items like magic erasers

These scrubbers are usually made of a foam-like material called melamine and are great for lifting stains – but they’re also abrasive, like fine sandpaper.

They can scratch delicate natural stone surfaces like marble and granite, and others like your stainless steel sinks or limewash walls. Wood finishes and glass are no exception either.

With that in mind, it’s best to use magic erasers for smaller areas as a spot treatment, and without too much force.

2. Bleach

The disinfectant hero, bleach, is present in many raved cleaning products, particularly for getting rid of stains and mould in heavy-duty areas like the bathroom and kitchen.

While there is no issue with using such cleaners, keep this in mind: never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar or other acidic cleaners, as the resulting chemical reaction results in harmful fumes that could irritate your eyes, nose and lungs with exposure over time.

To avoid this situation, let any previous cleaner dry completely, then rinse it with water before using bleach-containing cleaners.

As you probably already know, you should always dilute bleach before use.

Pro-tip: Materials like sintered stone are more resistant to many household chemicals, but it’s better to err on the side of caution; avoid abrasive cleaners and harsh chemicals like bleach at a high concentration.

3. Vinegar and other acidic cleaners

From cutting through grime and grease to getting rid of limescale buildup in kettles, vinegar is a popular natural cleaning solution for practically everything at home.

Natural stone (marble, sealed granite and the like) and organic materials like limewash, however, are an exception. Used on such delicate surfaces, vinegar can cause etching and dullness over time.

As a general rule of thumb, avoid using acids on natural stone and stick to pH-neutral stone-specific products with a soft/microfibre cloth to prevent scratches.

4. All-purpose cleaners

Despite its name, “all-purpose” cleaners are not necessarily safe for every surface you have at home.

While they’re great for a variety of uses like cleaning your sink, stovetop, walls and certain counters, these cleaners are likely to strip the protective layer of materials like wood, leather and textiles.

Before you go all-out with cleaning, make sure to check the product label and which areas of the home they’re suitable for, and opt for surface-specific cleaners when necessary.

5. Glass cleaner

There’s something so satisfying seeing all the grime and streaks melt away with glass cleaner – when used on glass/mirrors.

Some of us might, however, confess to having used glass cleaner on other surfaces as a quick fix to smudges and stains.

Since glass cleaners usually contain alcohol or ammonia, be careful with surfaces you use them on since they can degrade painted surfaces, wooden furniture and granite/stone countertops.

In the same vein, avoid getting glass cleaner on the surrounding frames of glass surfaces/mirrors.

6. Soap and water

Good old soap and water can get a lot done when it comes to cleaning, but on natural stone, even mild soap can wear down the sealant over time and potentially leave streaks and/or a film.

Considering that such stone surfaces are rather porous, this can also cause staining.

As you might’ve realised by now, any natural stone surface you have at home requires gentle and regular care: always stick to recommended stone cleaners and make sure to dry it thoroughly.

6. Baking soda on delicate upholstery

Many a guide recommends baking soda to get rid of stubborn stains in fabric sofas and curtains because of how effective it is.

Just remember that its mildly abrasive nature makes it unsuitable for delicate materials like wool, silk or cashmere. You’ll find that it could fade these materials, or leave residue.

If you’re not sure what’s suitable for your upholstery, check the care tag.

As an alternative for cleaning such surfaces, try steam cleaning (where suitable, of course).

7. Drain and oven cleaners

Drain and oven cleaners are extremely effective at their job of unclogging/cleaning – but that also means they’re made up of highly corrosive chemicals that can burn skin and stain nearby surfaces.

For drain cleaners, always follow the instructed amount of cleaner to use, or risk damaging your metal/PVC pipes. After leaving it for the recommended time, make sure to flush it down with hot water.

Do also ensure you wear gloves, ventilate well, and cover up the counters/floors, or any other area that may be exposed to these cleaners.

8. Vacuuming hardwood floors with the wrong attachment

Vacuuming is all well and good to free your home of dust and dirt, but when it comes to hardwood floors, pay extra attention to your vacuum components.

Vacuum heads with beater bars or stiff bristles can scuff and wear down your gorgeous (and expensive) flooring, so make sure you’re using one suitable for hardwood floors, such as those with soft roller brushes.

9. Harsh cleaners and excess moisture on vinyl flooring

Though durable and low-maintenance, your vinyl flooring will be neither of those if it’s repeatedly exposed to harsh cleaners and excess moisture.

In such cases, you might find discolouring, scratches and even vinyl lifting after several years.

The solution? Stick to gentle cleaners made specifically for vinyl floors, and always wring out your mop when you’re mopping to prevent excess moisture from seeping into the floor.

To sum it up…

Household cleaners are no doubt a lifesaver for keeping our homes cleaner, but do check how they should be used best to avoid any costly damages down the road.

Here’s a summary of the tips applicable for any situation to keep in mind before you clean away:

• Avoid mixing cleaning products due to potential reactions; for instance, bleach and rubbing alcohol release chloroform which could knock you out at a high concentration
• Wear gloves and ventilate well when handling more abrasive cleaners/cleaning for a long time
• Where possible, avoid cleaners with strong fragrances – these chemicals could react with other cleaners and cause irritation

Got other tips to share with your fellow homeowners? Let us know in the comments below!

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