Cleaning 'Hacks' that Actually Make Things Worse
When it comes to cleaning there are tried and tested hacks you can rely on to make sure your house is spotless.
However, according to Good Housekeeping Institute there are some widely known household hints that are actually causing more harm than good.
While some hacks can make cleaning easier, the experts say you can’t believe everything you have heard will work – like using salt to lift red wine, immediately pouring water on carpet stains, or using vinegar as a makeshift cleaning product.
Here we have revealed which of the well-known hacks could make your clean-up job harder, not easier…
Don’t pour water on carpet stains: It may seem like logic to use water to mop up a spill, but there’s a danger that adding more liquid can over saturate a stain.
The excess water could cause long-lasting damage – soaking through the carpet fibres and into floorboards.
Good Housekeeping says that patience is key and advises gently blotting out as much of the stain as possible, then follow with a “light spritz of sparkling or soda water to rinse followed by more blotting”.
A clean dry cloth or paper towel is all that’s needed, and to make sure the stain doesn’t remain use a special removal cleaner.
Forget reaching for the salt for a red wine stain: There’s nothing worse than red wine splashing on your plush carpets – but don’t go reaching for the salt to try and soak it up.
Salt can lift the colour out of the carpet, but the consumer experts say that it can actually ‘set the stain’ because of the abrasive nature of the substance.
There’s also a risk that salt grains can stick in the carpet and become a dirt magnet for everything else.
Using vinegar as an all-purpose solution: While vinegar is regularly counted as an all-natural cleaner and can tackle grease and mould, the kitchen cupboard staple does contain acid and is abrasive.
The acid can affect wood and natural stone, so Good Housekeeping suggests keeping it away from marble counter tops or tiles.
Keep window cleaner away from your computer: The ingredients in a regular window cleaner can permanently damage a computer screen if used to shift marks.
According to the consumer site the ammonia and alcohol mixture used to remove stubborn stains on a window can actually strip anti-reflective coatings off screens, as well as cause clouding.
It advises using a microfibre cloth with a specialist LCD or plasma screen cleaner with no alcohol.
Latest scams to look out for 👀
Neighbourly hopes to keep you safe by keeping you informed of the latest scams circulating. This week, we are sharing two common text message scams:
NZTA / Waka Kotahi scam:
- The scam is a text message saying it's from New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and it encourages the recipient to pay an overdue road toll by visiting a fake website, threatening to take the matter to court within 15 days if they don’t pay up.
- The aim is to trick people into giving away their personal details or pay them money.
- While it is not the first time toll payments have been utilised by scammers, the threat of court action could see more people fall victim.
- The sender will either be a unknown phone number or unknown email address.
Want to report one of these scams? Do so, on Netsafe
NZ Post scam:
- This scam arrives by test message and says it's from NZ Post.
- The premise is that delivery of your parcel was unsuccessful so in order to rearrange delivery. you must click on a link to give your correct address.
- The aim is to trick people into giving away their personal details or pay them money.
- NZ Post advises people not to click the link, but to report the message to the Department of Internal Affairs by forwarding it to 7726.
Think you may have fallen prey to a scam? Get in touch with Netsafe or contact your bank if it involved your bank details.
Remember, if you didn't expect the message and you are now asked to share personal details or money, then stop contact and seek advice elsewhere.
Feel free to share any below that you've encountered recently. This may help others across the country be aware.
Poll: Have you had a pen pal?
With the invention of the internet and mobile phone communication, pen pals seem to be a thing of the past but it was a common practice at one point.
Did you have a pen pal? Where did you meet them? Share below!
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64% Yes
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35.7% No
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0.3% Other - I'll share below!
Have you got a family recipe for oranges?
We're looking for delicious orange recipes to feature in NZ Gardener's October issue. Send your family's favourite ways to enjoy this fruit to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by August 20, 2024. Every published recipe wins a copy of the October issue of NZ Gardener.
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