VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - You’re probably doing a lot more cleaning around your house these days, but there’s a big mistake you could be making - not using your cleaning products correctly.
"Everyone needs to read the product description and how to properly use the product," said Lee Sheridan, owner of Two Maids and a Mop in Virginia Beach. "A lot of times what they’re suggesting is that the surface needs to remain wet for at least four minutes for the product to be effective."
Sheridan says if you don’t leave the cleaner on for the proper contact time before wiping it up, it’s not really effective.
How often you should be cleaning depends on how many people live with you and how much you’re out of the house.
A home with a lot of people in and out may need to be cleaned several times a day.
Focus on high-touch areas like phones, remotes and doorknobs.
Sheridan suggests using products like Lysol and Clorox wipes and sprays.
“Everybody tends towards utilizing bleach, which I would strongly suggest against. It’s harmful. It’s caustic. It’s extremely effective, but I don’t recommend it.”
If you want a little professional help, Sheridan says they are still open for business.
Related: Best strategies, products for keeping your home clean
They’ve been staggering shifts to limit contact among the staff and wearing PPEs (personal protective equipment) like gloves and masks.
He says he's also still committed to supporting "Cleaning For a Reason," which provides free cleaning services for cancer patients.
You can learn more about the program here.
