Cleaning Safely

As cleaning tips and hacks gain popularity on social media, it's becoming increasingly difficult to navigate cleaning safely. While we all love a good hack for tackling stains or adding a pleasant scent to our homes, combining cleaning chemicals can have serious health risks and lead to other problems. As a professional cleaner, I feel it's important to share the best practices for cleaning with my followers. Social media has sparked a wave of cleaning tips, tricks and ASMR trends, with TikTok videos showcasing content creators mixing products and using them in ways they weren't intended for. One dangerous trend involves creators filling toilet bowls with various cleaning products of different colours, layering them on top of each other, and scrubbing the bowl before flushing it all away. It's crucial to use the right product in the right way for the right job. People have tragically died from mixing bleach with other cleaning products and inhaling the fumes. Please, don't take that risk!

I prioritise my health because I spend hours each day working with cleaning chemicals. COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) training is crucial, as it ensures I understand the products I use, their health implications, the correct quantities, suitable surfaces and how to handle accidental mixing. It's like a science lesson with very real consequences if not taken seriously. For example, mixing bleach with toilet gel can create chlorine gas - a rudimentary form of mustard gas used in WWI. This is extremely dangerous and can burn your eyes or suffocate you. The number one rule in professional cleaning is to always flush the toilet before applying anything to the bowl - just in case a client has left something behind. It's also vital to work in a well-ventilated space, and if something goes wrong, get to fresh air as quickly and safely as possible!

Over the years, I've tried many products, conducted extensive research and listened to others in my professional body. The majority of the products I use are not only professional-grade but also eco-friendly. While I've tested and often review high-street products, I don't use them regularly in my professional cleaning for several reasons. My health is a top priority and when you're working with chemicals all day, every day, you need to choose the ones you use carefully. This extends to my clients and their pets health as well, since many chemicals are unsafe around animals. Interestingly, many insurance companies won't cover cleaners who use domestic cleaning products, and some even exclude claims involving bleach. Using eco-friendly, concentrated products allows me to reduce my environmental footprint while still delivering excellent cleaning results. And of course, the cloths I use are also a crucial part of the cleaning process!

How I use the products I have is just as important as what I use. As I mentioned earlier, social media has popularised trends of mixing chemicals to create pretty colours, but using the correct dosage of concentrated products is key. This ensures I add the right amount of product to water, preventing overuse that could lead to residue. The proper amount also helps avoid smears, slippery surfaces and unnecessary wear on materials. If you're curious, I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to cleaning products, so feel free to ask! I'm always happy to talk about them. I also stay in constant communication with advisors and suppliers to ensure I'm up to date with the latest practices and always operating at my best.

A major difference between a professional cleaner and a general domestic cleaner is in the products they choose to use. It's crucial to understand not only the product itself but also the surface it will be applied to. Using the wrong product for a surface can lead to costly mistakes. Additionally, knowing how long to leave a product on a surface is essential. If left for too short a time, it won't disinfect or clean effectively and if left too long, it could damage the surface. This attention to detail is something many cleaners may overlook.

So, before you start cleaning, take a moment to stop and think. Read the labels on your products thoroughly and follow the instructions for their correct and safe use. Your newfound enthusiasm for cleaning could end up doing more harm to your home or yourself than good if you don't take the time to use products properly.