Never use metal pins to clean the charging port.

Metal objects, like pins, knives, or paper clips, can scratch your phone’s port and create more problems for you. One of the best 2 options is a toothpick, which is small enough to fit inside the port and clean all the edges. The second option is an air compressor that can blow out all the dust and debris. Avoid blowing with your mouth inside the port since your breath contains water particles that can cause more damage.

Don’t leave your phone exposed to the sun

Some of you might find it convenient to charge your phone while resting it by the window. However, this is pointless since your phone will probably take longer to charge as sun exposure slows down the charging process. Not only that, but the screen will absorb heat very quickly and start glitching unexpectedly. In the worst-case scenario, your phone can overheat massively and shut down in order to protect itself.

Don’t let the battery reach 0% before charging it

The best battery life percentage is anywhere between 20%-80%. You should never let your phone drop to 0% before charging it, and filling it to over 80% might strain the battery. The ideal scenario would be to charge it to 50%, so half of the lithium ions are in the lithium cobalt oxide layer and the other half are in the graphite layer. However, this may not be very practical for many of you, so keep 80% as your ceiling.

Don’t put your phone under water too often, even if it says it’s water-resistant

Some manufacturers will say that your phone can live just fine underwater, but this comes with a few exceptions. It’s not recommended to take your phone in any water with you for no reason. It should be fine if it accidentally falls in a puddle or gets wet in the rain, but it won’t be smart to keep it underwater for a long time. 5-30 minutes is a reasonable amount of time.

However, you might need to avoid dipping your phone in water often. Exposure to humidity can cause hardware damage that will cost you a lot of money, if not a new phone entirely.

Don’t download apps from unverified stores

Many people try to download apps from sketchy shops for free so they won’t have to pay for the original versions. However, they don’t realize that by downloading the app, they also download harmful malware. That’s why you should stick to official app stores that have ratings and reviews for all apps. For additional help, make sure that your anti-virus program is on so it can detect any malware trying to enter your device.

Don’t use household cleaning products to clean your screens

If you were wondering whether you could use a window cleaner for your laptop, the answer is a big “no!” The chemicals in it, especially ammonia, are way too harsh for your screen to handle. That’s why you need a cleaner made for screens or simply water and a microfiber cloth. The best way to apply either of them is to first wet the cloth and then rub it gently on the screen.

Also, you don’t want to apply too much pressure on the screen since it can cause dead spots. Lastly, don’t use paper towels under any circumstance, since they will scratch your screen.

Have you happened to make any of the aforementioned mistakes? If the answer is yes, will you consider breaking these bad habits?

Don’t charge your phone overnight

Mobile phone manufacturers, like Apple, say that it’s harmful to leave your phone to charge overnight. That’s because your phone will stop charging once it reaches 100%, and once it reaches 99%, it will need to put forth double the effort to recharge. Also, as mentioned above, most manufacturers say that it’s best to charge a phone up to 80%, something that won’t happen if it’s plugged in all night long.

Don’t keep your computer’s keyboard dirty

Whether you have a laptop or a desktop, you might have noticed that through time, dust, hair, and crumbs get stuck in the keyboard. This problem gets even worse if you have a pet at home or if you eat over your computer. And it’s not bad just for the keyboard but mainly because of the fans that put forth double the effort in order to operate properly.

That being said, it’s important to reduce the amount of dust and other debris that gets in your computer in the first place. You will also need to clean your working area and your computer as often as possible.

Don’t take any gadgets with you to the bathroom

Bringing your phone into the bathroom is not only unsanitary, but it can also be hazardous to both your phone and yourself. When you get up from the toilet, your phone may slip out of your grasp and fall into the water, destroying it. You could also keep it charging next to you while you take a relaxing bath. A minor blunder can result in the phone and charger falling into the tub, resulting in a fatal electric shock.

Personal care products

All of the body creams, toothpaste, shampoos, deodorants, gels, and other cleaning products we are so used to seeing and using every day are made with a huge amount of chemicals and preservatives that can end up affecting both our home and our body. The ideal thing to do would be to substitute these industrialized products for others that are more natural and contain no chemical preservatives.

Fireplaces and furnaces

Fireplaces and furnaces could pollute the air inside your home, which could end up affecting your respiratory system. According to immunologist Sheila Cain, the smoke produced by these cozy places contains particles that can get into your eyes and lungs, which in turn can cause allergies, irritation, coughing, and even bronchitis.

Mattresses

Although they are our best friends when it comes to resting, mattresses are also the perfect way of letting pollution enter your house without you even noticing it. During their production, fire-resistant elements are added to mattresses to prevent them from being flammable; that is to say, the chemical load is extremely high but odorless, so hardly anyone knows that they inhale this type of odor for several hours a day. To counteract this effect, it is recommended to aerate your bed every day after you get up.

 Dry-cleaned clothes

Sending your clothes to the dry cleaner is probably one of the best sensations for any person that loves clean clothes. There is hardly anything more comfortable than getting rid of the responsibility of having to wash a few loads in the washing machine. However, resorting to this service on several occasions can be harmful to your health. A substance called perchloroethylene, which is extremely dangerous for your health, is used during the washing process, so it is advisable to ventilate the garments well before storing them in the closet.

Carpets and rugs

These decorative elements are very popular because they can turn any room into an elegant, cozy place to spend some time in, but they can also be very harmful when hygiene is not taken seriously. Certain carpets can release toxic gases that pose a danger to humans in the long run. Also, some of the most common germs and contaminants found in carpets are dust mites, cockroach allergens, mold, dust, and more.

Toothbrush

Although a toothbrush is an essential element of daily hygiene, it is also a place where germs and bacteria can very easily accumulate. It’s the perfect place for them to grow: it’s constantly humid, it’s always in the bathroom, and not everyone changes their toothbrushes often. Despite what you may think, it is not advisable to keep your toothbrush in a closed container. On the contrary, the best thing to do is to keep it in an upright position and in a ventilated area, so that it is always dry the next time you use it.

Air conditioning

Most people turn on the air conditioning and close all the windows so that “the cold air doesn’t get out and the warm air doesn’t come in.” What few people know is that doing this has a negative impact on the quality of the air you’re breathing at home. That’s because being inside in an enclosed space means that you’re breathing in air that has been contaminated over and over again with your own breathing. In addition, cleaning this useful appliance is essential, as dust and bacteria often settle on it and re-circulate into the air.

Insecticides and pesticides

There is no doubt that one of the most annoying discoveries we make when having a picnic near our garden or maybe just walking outside around our home, is finding insects. However, the industrial products used to get rid of them contain very aggressive chemicals that we inevitably end up inhaling and, even though they do not affect us directly, they can gradually cause damage to our bodies.

Shoes

The vast majority of people come home after a long day of work and overlook the fact that they are entering their home without taking off their shoes. Not taking the time to take your shoes off means that all the bacteria that could have come into contact with them on the street are now spreading throughout the floor of your home, where you also walk barefoot and where your kids crawl around. Don’t be too surprised if they end up clinging to your body later on.

While many of these elements are meant to be used on a daily basis and in some cases are actually mandatory, the best thing we can do is to look for solutions that reduce the negative impact they have on our environment. Here are some suggestions you might want to consider:

• Ventilate all areas of your house as much as possible.
• Avoid accumulating garbage.
• Clean dust with a wet cloth or use a vacuum cleaner.
• Make plants your allies when purifying the air inside the house.

There is no doubt that, many times, we are guilty of polluting our house with these everyday objects, simply because we weren’t aware of how dangerous they could be. However, now that we know, it is better to be safe than sorry and avoid any health problem that could arise from the misuse of these objects. What other objects do you think are misused at home and end up polluting your space?

Isn’t the point of a washing machine is that it cleans dirty things? So why would you have to clean it? The reality is, your cleaning tools need just as much TLC as the rest of your home. Good housekeeping means paying attention to the things that make your life easier, which is why your washing machine, for instance, deserves to be cleaned. If your clothes have started smelling of mildew after being washed, it’s time to run a cycle on the hottest water setting with nothing inside, and using vinegar for an extra boost for a squeaky clean washing machine.

Washing your Cutting Board With Soap

Whether you’re slicing veggies, fruit or meat on your cutting board, it’s a no brainer that you need to wash it. But contrary to what you might think, scrubbing it down with soapy water isn’t the answer. Soak your board in bleach after each use (or at least those boards used for things like raw meat which contains harmful bacteria), to properly sterilize it and avoid bacteria transfer.

Dusting Surfaces with a Dry Rag

Put down the duster, or anything that resembles it, especially a dry rag. While dusting your fan may leave it looking pearly white, that dust doesn’t just disappear into thin air! All that sneezing you do when dusting is the result of the tiny particles flying elsewhere, like your table, rug, etc. You may think you’ll clean up all the dust when you vacuum, but there are plenty of nooks and crannies it settles in that you’ll forget about. Your best bet is to wet a rag, which will pick up dust more effectively.

Not Washing Your Pillows

Sure, you know about washing your pillowcases weekly, but what about your actual pillows? Most pillows have a tag giving laundering instructions, yet very few people follow through with doing so. Your pillow is subject to dust mites, body oils, and bacteria from your saliva, which is why you should stick it in the washing machine every three to six months

Cleaning Stainless Steel in Circular Motions

It doesn’t take much to dirty up a stainless steel appliance. One touch and your refrigerator is totally smudged. When cleaning, be sure you’re not wiping in circular motions, because you’ll see the marks when the cleaner dries. Instead, find the grain in the stainless steel and follow that. You’ll notice a big difference.

Switches and Remotes

You know to do the big stuff: vacuuming, mopping, wiping away dust. But there are some items in your house that you may have never cleaned, yet harbor a major amount of bacteria. Light switches and remote controls are two highly overlooked housekeeping areas. Cold viruses lurk on such places, from sneezing or coughing into your hand and then immediately flipping on the TV or light. A simple spritz of disinfectant is a good place to start, and a bleach wipe can get into the tough to reach spots where the unhealthy gunk hangs out.

Washing Windows on a Sunny Day

You can’t control the sun, but you can avoid it, which is something you should do when washing your windows. This is because glass cleaner dries quickly in direct sunlight, leaving behind unsightly streaks that are counterintuitive to your washing job. Opt for overcast skies and the temp below 70 degrees.

Using Too Much Water on Wooden Floors

Less is usually more when it comes to good housekeeping, and that’s certainly true for cleaning and taking care of your wooden floors. Whether you’re mopping or using a standard rag and bucket, be sure that you don’t have too heavy of a hand with the water. If there are scratches or gouges in the finish, the excess water can make its way beneath the surface and damage the wood

Not Cleaning Your Air Ducts

Even if you are good at keeping the dust at bay throughout your house, your housekeeping is lacking if you’re not cleaning your air ducts out. Over time, they collect dust, leading to allergy symptoms and even increasing the chance of fires when you turn the heat on. Be sure to clean them once a year at least.

Not Cleaning Your Light Bulbs

While light bulbs used to burn out and need replacing frequently, today the long-lasting LED bulbs make it possible for you to forget about them for a while. But you shouldn’t. The longer they’re installed, the more dust they build up, which can become a fire hazard.

By Alexa Erickson – familyhandyman

Using Hot Water in Your Garbage Disposal

It may seem counterintuitive, but hot water is no good for cleaning kitchen scraps from the sink. When running the garbage disposal to grind up food, use cold water instead. Hot water melts grease and fat, which only leads to clogged drains and mechanical damage.

Leaving Coins in Your Pockets

Check all your pockets for bills and coins carefully before putting pants in the washer. Loose coins can damage the drum and may work themselves into nooks and crannies, causing a jam—and an expensive repair. All the more reason to pinch your pennies.

Overfilling the Freezer

It’s true that a full freezer works more efficiently than an empty one. But there can be too much of a good thing. Overfilling the freezer can block air vents, restrict the flow of cold air, and overtax your refrigerator’s condenser, which could lead to a burn out.

Overloading the Washing Machine

It’s tempting to stuff the washing machine to the brim, especially when the laundry piles up. But don’t. An overloaded washing machine puts undo stress on the bearings, throws the drum out of alignment, and can lead to an appliance repair call.

Leaving Spills in the Oven

Spills are a natural by-product of cooking. But anything spilled in your oven needs to be cleaned up right away, or it may damage the heating coils. Tip: Line your oven rack (not the oven bottom) with foil, so spills are quickly and easily removed.

Letting Lint Build Up in Your Dryer

Remember to clear the lint trap in your clothes dryer after every single load. If you don’t, the efficiency of your machine will be drastically reduced. And it’s a safety issue, as well. Lint that gets clogged in the vent pipe can start a fire, and nobody wants that.

Using Soap to Clean Your Gas Range Burners

Avoid cleaning the burners of your gas range with soap. It can lead to corrosion. It can also clog the lighting hole, causing your burners to have a slow ignition, or fail to ignite at all. Read your manual and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning.

Using Cast Iron on Your Ceramic Range

The bottom of a cast iron pan is rough, which makes it easy to scratch your smooth ceramic cooktop. So, avoid using cast iron cookware that isn’t coated. With all pots and pans, be sure not to drag them on and off the stove top, but rather pick them up and lift them to and from the burners.

Sharp Objects in the Dishwasher

Avoid putting sharp objects in the dishwasher. If you must wash knives in the dishwasher, put them in a cutlery basket with the sharp ends pointing up to avoid dinging the racks. Any nicks in the vinyl coating of the racks will lead to rust, which will stain your dishes until you replace that dishwasher.