Getting rid of bad habits is something everyone strives for in their lives. Those usually involve getting more exercise, eating healthier, and being kinder to people around them. However, what most people forget is that their homes need some attention too.

Instead of putting off chores or letting things sit around, it’s time to cut back on those lousy household habits that are making your home suffer.

Cleaning your fridge

We’re not talking about the outside of your fridge. Get everything out and clean out all the shelves and drawers. Don’t ignore the fruit and vegetable drawers too, as they can accumulate more debris.

This mess is because bacteria can also develop inside of your fridge. You wouldn’t think so because of the cold temperature, but some bacteria can actually thrive in these temperatures. Take the shelves outside and hose them down if you have to if they can’t fit in your sink.

Using a sponge too long

Your trusty sponge has been your best friend and keeping everything clean in your kitchen. However, using one sponge for too long is a bad thing. It has moisture trapped in it for a long time, and with all the filthy things you’ve cleaned, all that grime is trapped in the sponge too.

That creates a breeding ground for bacteria to thrive, creating a cesspool of germs that you’re smearing on everything. Throw the sponge out, or you can kill the bacteria in your sponge by zapping it in the microwave while it’s wet.

Not investing in other cleaning tools

If you really want to save money on buying sponges over and over again, invest in cleaning brushes instead. They’re easier to keep clean and aren’t breeding grounds for bacteria.

You can use your brush over and over again, and it’s just as effective, if not more effective, than a sponge. Moreover, there are fewer chances for your hands to get grimy and wet so that you can spare yourself from dishpan hands.

Not washing fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are sprayed with protective substances to keep them fresh in the grocery store as long as possible. However, these substances aren’t things you should be putting in your body.

It doesn’t take much to scrub them before using them or putting them in your fridge. Then you won’t have to worry about it in the future. Moreover, doing it every time will help you to develop good habits.

Cooking becomes stressful

Cooking at home is an excellent habit to have. It fosters togetherness, creativity, and the joy of making something for other people. However, if cooking gives you anxiety and stress, then you may want to cut back on how many times you cook per week.

Give yourself a much-needed break and take some time to relax. There’s no reason to engage in an activity that isn’t making you happy. You could eventually resent cooking altogether, and your meals aren’t going to taste good if they don’t come from a happy place.

Leaving laundry in the washer

We can understand being so busy that you forget they’re in there, but when it becomes a constant habit, then you’re not doing yourself any favours. Leaving your wet laundry in the washer allows mold to grow, and you’re definitely going to smell it when you open your appliance up.

Additionally, you’re wasting water and detergent by having to rewash the same clothes when you could be doing a new load instead. Develop a strategy to remind yourself that you have laundry in the washer so that you can take care of them sooner.

Storing things in the oven

You may not use your oven as often as you do, but that doesn’t mean that you should use the inside of it as storage. Not only does this create a problem that’s out of sight so that you forget it, but it’s only going to get worse.

By shoving random things into your oven, you’re actually creating a dangerous fire hazard that could result in much harm. It’s best to use your oven as it was intended and put your belongings in their rightful place.

Getting too many ingredients at the store

It’s good to plan for meals you want to make for the week, but getting too many can actually be detrimental. If there’s no way you can get through all the food you’re buying, then it’s time to put it all back.

You’re wasting both food and money by buying so much in bulk. Unless you’re buying a lot of food and plan on donating it or having a huge party to feed many people, then you may want to start cutting back on your grocery lists.

Using towels

Towels are used a lot from week to week, so, understandably, they wear out over time. But if your cloth is so worn that you can barely dry yourself, it’s time to throw it away. Get a whole new set to replace them if you want to coordinate them with your bathroom.

Getting a new towel set also feels great on your skin. No more threadbare rags that are barely getting you dry and multiple washes have likely made them less soft by now. You’ll love the feel of new towels against your body.

Not washing towels and bed sheets often enough

Because they’re against your skin for extended periods, they pick up a lot of dirt, debris, and sweat. This bad habit means that you’re just rubbing that all over your skin again after every shower or when you go to sleep at night.

A good rule of thumb is to wash and change your towels every three to four days, and your bedsheets should be cleaned and replaced every other week. That sounds like much laundry to do regularly, but your skin will definitely thank you for it.

Keeping junk

We’re not talking about a hoarding situation. This bad household habit is about items that you don’t use or don’t give you any joy in your daily life. It can include old clothes in your closet, cutlery, plateware, or just stuff lying around in a junk drawer.

Either way, clearing all of this out will give you more room so that your home’s interior actually feels more significant. Don’t see this as an opportunity to get more stuff, in any case. You’ll fall into the same habit as last time and be forced to get rid of things in the future.

Putting the phone on the nightstand

This habit is worse for your health than keeping your home clean. Keeping your phone close to your bed makes it easy for you to access your email and other apps in the middle of the night, which interrupts your sleep schedule.

Charge your phone in another room so that the temptation isn’t there to reach for it. Making this change will make you realise that you’re feeling more rested in the morning. Also, emails can always wait.

Making the bed every day

It’s something that was likely drilled into your head as a kid so that your parents would stop nagging you. But making your bed every single day may actually be detrimental to your health, even if it does look a little messy.

The reason is that when your bed sheets are pulled tight, and the covers are drawn, it traps the heat and moisture from your body and makes it dark, which is the perfect atmosphere for bed bugs. Leaving your bed unmade exposes them to light and allows your sheets to breathe so that the bed bugs won’t stick around.

Having a junk drawer

Everyone has one, but that doesn’t make it a good habit to have. It has everything from receipts to batteries to pens. That makes it harder for you to find what you’re looking for.

Instead, take the time to sort out your junk drawer and give of all the contents a home of their own. Sift through the paperwork and get rid of anything you don’t need. You’ll soon have a cleaner, emptier drawer that you can give a new purpose. Also, if you don’t have any space, just add a drawer organiser to it so that everything has its place instead of being in a pile of stuff.

Using furniture as storage

It’s easy to shove things behind or under a couch when you suddenly have company over. We’re all guilty of doing it. However, you can easily forget those things you’ve hidden as they gather dust.

Instead, make a conscious effort to put things away or hang them up when you’re done using them. If you can’t at that very moment, then spend at least ten minutes before bedtime putting your things away so that you can have a clear conscience before bed.

Letting dishes pile up in the sink

Doing dishes is one of those chores that no one likes doing. However, seeing a sink full of dirty dishes is enough to turn off any guest.

It also makes it hard for you to prepare for dinner if all of your forks are sitting at the bottom of the sink. Take the time to wash or rinse your plate after use, so that your kitchen sink is kept clear.

Not treating carpet stains

It can be challenging to keep carpets clean every single day. As soon as you see dirt on your rug or spilled a drink, it would be best if you cleaned it up as quickly as possible. The less time it spends in the fibers of your carpet, the less likely it is to leave a stain.

Also, stains don’t exactly fade over time. So stain on top of stain is only going to lead to a dingy carpet. Keep carpet cleaner close by for an easier time of keeping your carpets clean and the color they’re supposed to be.

Overfilling the fridge

You may think that you’re getting the most for your buck by filling every square inch of space inside your fridge. It only makes sense, right? However, the truth is that your refrigerator works best when it’s only ¾ full.

A completely-full fridge has items blocking the vents where the cold air is released, so not all of your food is going to receive the same amount of refrigeration. Also, poor circulation of chilled air means that most of your items are going to spoil faster.

Culled from www.homeaddict.io