The worst advice you could get about cleaning in Dubai
Cities like Dubai are known for their social life: school moms lunches, coffee dates, villa pool parties, holiday parties, themed birthday parties, play dates, festival celebrations and more. Having help around the home is an accepted part of life here, and many women consider it a blessing.
However, when it comes to opinions on how the house should be run, there are often no restrictions. You can have an army of maids, or you can do it all yourself, but someone will surely tell you how you can do it better. Oscar Wilde once said, “The only good thing you can do with advice is pass it on; it is never useful to yourself.”
Of course, no one can deny how valuable advice can sometimes be. Parenting, health, and housework are touchy topics, and you’ll find everyone has a different opinion on how best to do it. Getting good advice can often be of great benefit.
However, what if the advice is less than helpful, or even wrong? Here’s a look at some of the worst cleaning tips we’ve ever had to deal with.
Clutter is not dirt: You can console yourself by saying that the two of you are very different, but clutter attracts more dust and dirt. It’s harder to keep multiple surfaces clean, and cluttered areas provide plenty of dark, unsanitary corners for pests to hide and thrive. Make sure you always stay on top of clutter and avoid hoarding.
Dishes can wait: It’s tempting to put dirty dishes under the sink, and it’s okay to do it once in a while, but it’s best not to make it a habit. Wash dishes when you use them, while cooking, or after eating so pests and germs don’t take up residence. The task also seems less daunting when you have less to deal with. If you use a dishwasher, run it on a regular schedule.
Air conditioning prevents the entry of dust: Much of our life in Dubai is spent indoors, with the windows tightly closed and the air conditioning blasting. We tend to think that this also keeps dust out. Unfortunately, dust and dust mites build up inside the home and indoor air quality deteriorates. If there are carpets, the problem is compounded. Read this account by the wonderful Dubai based blogger Ms. Dubai on cleaning air conditioning ducts.
Organize your laundry once a week: Here, the day starts at 5 am for most of the mothers who are engaged in school and sometimes it is difficult to find the time for each task. However, it is better to spend a few minutes every day to put things in their place. Your house will be less cluttered, you’ll find what you need in a jiffy (like your son’s uniform tie!), and you’ll have free space where you normally throw your unsorted clothes.
Use a lot of product: Without a doubt, less is more when it comes to cleaning products. Read the instructions carefully and see if it is necessary to dilute the product and how much is recommended. If you use too much product, it can be difficult to remove residue. Similarly, using multiple products for multiple things could expose you to increased toxicity.
Spray air freshener to eliminate bad odors: An odor is a sign that something is not right. With our windows shut tight for most of the year in Dubai, it’s not as easy as opening a window to let the stink out. You will have to be much more resourceful and find the source of the smell and treat it. Air fresheners cannot completely mask odors and are also known to contain ingredients linked to allergies, respiratory problems and cancer.
The exhaust fan is not necessary: The exhaust fan is there for a reason. It prevents your house from getting sooted and the air conditioning vent clogged with cooking smoke, which is very important in places like Dubai where the air conditioning is almost always on. It’s also the best way to prevent mold from growing in bathrooms that are kept closed at all times.
Organic products are always better: Our awareness of toxic ingredients in the products we use has multiplied, and switching to organic is a good solution. However, do your research properly and choose products that can clean well and are actually as eco-friendly as they say. Using home remedies is good, but again be careful: lemon can be harmful as it whitens, and vinegar is not suitable for everything.
Disinfect, disinfect, disinfect: Our mania for sanitizing our environment means that we have increased our own susceptibility to illness and disease. As far as possible our surfaces should be clean but it is not entirely necessary to disinfect every part of the home. Also, many disinfectants contain chemicals that can harm you, and not just the bacteria they are intended to destroy.
Your house should always look like an interior design magazine: Appearances matter a lot in Dubai, a city of huge shopping malls, where people wear designer clothes on the streets and in the metro. We are all under a lot of pressure to keep our homes sparkling clean. In the process, we forget that houses are meant to be lived in and a certain amount of clutter is acceptable.
You must do everything yourself: You may think that household chores like cleaning are your turf, but if you ever feel overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to seek help. A maid who comes at her convenience can ease her burden if necessary. As any seasoned housewife in Dubai will tell you, cleaning companies in Dubai can offer you good value for money and a much-needed break from the routine.
What’s the worst cleaning advice you’ve ever heard?