A clean home isn’t just about looks — it’s about health, hygiene, and peace of mind. Yet, many of us unknowingly follow routines or habits that either waste effort or even make things worse. Below are some common cleaning mistakes backed by studies, plus what you should do, and how trusted products like Mr. Glowra Toilet Cleaner and Mr. Glowra Floor Cleaner can help you avoid them.
1. Cleaning Too Infrequently
One of the biggest mistakes is letting cleaning fall too far apart. A recent study by Boone, Silva-Beltrán, Gerba et al. (2025) examined how different frequencies of cleaning and disinfecting in American household restrooms affect pathogen levels. They found that cleaning every three days (roughly twice a week) leads to much lower levels of heterotrophic bacteria, coliforms, and E. coli on commonly touched surfaces compared to once-a-week cleaning. (MDPI+1)
Their quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) estimated that with cleaning/disinfecting every three days, the risk of infection by norovirus was reduced by over 98% for the most heavily contaminated sites. (ResearchGate)
So, waiting too long between cleans gives germs time to build up, especially in bathrooms and on high-touch surfaces. Using Mr. Glowra’s regular cleaners consistently can cut down risk and keep your surfaces safer.
2. Neglecting Cleaning Tools
Ever used a mop or brush that feels clean but looks stale or has a lingering smell? That usually means you’ve let your cleaning tools themselves become contaminated. Dirty mops, buckets, brushes, sponges – these become breeding grounds for bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens. When you then use them on your floors or other surfaces, you just spread those organisms around.
Studies show that surfaces in public restrooms are frequently contaminated, not only from direct contact but also via tools and equipment. For instance, the “Public Washroom - Friend or Foe?” study (Suen, 2019) observed that restroom environments often show contamination of bacteria on floors, fixtures, and even walls because tools or airborne particles aren’t properly managed. (PMC)
What to do: After each cleaning session, rinse and dry your tools. Disinfect them regularly. For example, after using a brush on a toilet, clean it with a disinfectant; for mops, let them dry fully before storing. Mr. Glowra Floor Cleaner, used with proper tool care, helps ensure floors are cleaned and germs aren’t reintroduced via dirty equipment.
3. Using Excessive Product or Disinfectant Poorly
Another common error: thinking if “a little is good, more is better.” That’s not always true. Overusing cleaning agents doesn’t necessarily kill more germs — it can leave residue, cause streaks, or even damage surfaces.
Also, many disinfectants require a certain contact time — that is, the surface must remain wet (or damp) for a specified period for them to work effectively. Rushing through or wiping off too soon defeats their purpose.
In the study by Boone et al., proper use of disinfectants on multiple surfaces lowered bacterial counts significantly compared to just using a single product for only some surfaces. (MDPI+1)
What to do: Always read the label. Use the amount recommended. Let it sit for the full required time before wiping. Use the right product for the right surface. Mr. Glowra’s label guidance should address this — follow it.
4. Spraying Cleaner Directly Onto Surfaces Without Cleaning First
Spraying cleaner straight onto a toilet seat, floor, or countertop might look efficient, but dirt, grime, or biofilm on the surface can block disinfectants. If the surface is very dirty, disinfectants may not reach all germs unless first cleaned (e.g. wiped off visible dirt) then disinfected.
Also, some surfaces (porous grout, textured flooring) trap dirt in grooves; just spraying over might not clean those parts fully.
What to do: First clean (remove dirt, grime). Then apply disinfectants or cleaners. For toilet bowls, first scrub off buildup, then apply toilet cleaner, allowing it to work before flushing or wiping. Mr. Glowra Toilet Cleaner can be used in this “clean-then-disinfect” approach to be most effective.
5. Ignoring Hidden / High-Touch Spots
We all clean the obvious: the toilet bowl, sink, maybe the floor. But many germs hide in places we forget: under toilet rims, behind the seat, flush handles, light switches, doorknobs.
The research on aerosol generation in public restrooms shows that flushing can create droplet aerosols that reach surfaces up to 1.5 meters high, and the aerosol plume spreads germs to walls, floors, and nearby fixtures.
Another study (Boone et al.) included surfaces like toilet seats, flush handles, faucet handles, doorknobs, and countertops. These often showed significant reductions in pathogen levels when cleaned regularly. (MDPI+1)
What to do: Incorporate these hidden/high-touch spots into your regular cleaning rota. Have your Mr. Glowra Toilet Cleaner reach under rims; use your Floor Cleaner on floors and around toilets; wipe down flush handles, doorknobs, and sink hardware.
6. Not Letting Disinfectants Sit
As mentioned above, contact time is key. Many disinfectants need 1-5 minutes of wet contact to kill bacteria and viruses as claimed on the label. If you wipe off too quickly, or don’t let surfaces stay damp long enough, effectiveness drops sharply.
In the study “Impact of Different Toilet Cleaning/Disinfecting Regimens…” (Boone et al.), proper cleaning/disinfecting protocols were followed, which included letting products stay on surfaces, and that contributed significantly to reduction in infection risks. (MDPI+1)
What to do: After applying your cleaner/disinfectant, wait as specified. For toilet bowls, leave cleaner under rim; for floors or tiles, allow solution to sit briefly before mopping or rinsing. Mr. Glowra products can be formulated to allow adequate dwell time — highlight that in your instructions.
7. Closing the Lid Doesn’t Fully Prevent Germ Spread
A lot of people believe that closing the toilet lid before flushing stops germs from spreading. Research shows it helps somewhat but does not fully solve the problem.
A 2024 study by Goforth, Boone, Gerba et al. analyzed viral contamination in restrooms when flushing with lids open vs. closed. They found that closing the lid had no statistically significant impact on the amount of virus found on surfaces around the toilet (seat, floor, etc.). The lid denies some of the droplet spread but doesn’t block everything. (AJIC Journal+1)
What to do: Sure, close the lid if possible. But rely more on good cleaning and disinfection routines rather than letting that be your only defense. Use Mr. Glowra Toilet Cleaner regularly, clean flush handles, seats, lids, and nearby surfaces.
8. Using One Product for Everything (Over-generalizing)
There’s no one single product that works best on everything. Different surfaces/materials require different formulations (floor tiles vs. marble vs. wood vs. bathroom fixtures). Using a harsh chemical on delicate surfaces can damage them; using a mild cleaner on heavily soiled surfaces may not remove germs properly.
The Boone et al. study compared “bundling” multiple products (different ones for different surfaces) vs. using just one (a toilet bowl cleaner only). The bundled approach (having specific disinfectant sprays, wipes, etc.) had much greater reductions in bacteria and estimated infection risk. (MDPI+1)
What to do: Use product that matches the need. Floors get a good floor cleaner. Toilets get a toilet cleaner designed for their surfaces and for removing toilet-specific dirt and pathogens. Mr. Glowra’s product line can shine here: highlight which product is for which area, and use them accordingly.
9. Letting Water, Moisture, and Mold Build Up
Moist, wet areas are a magnet for mold, mildew, bacteria. Bathrooms are especially vulnerable: under sink, grout lines, around drains, behind toilets. Even floors that don’t dry fully after mopping stay damp, fostering microbial growth.
According to several studies (including Toilet Hygiene reviews), pathogen persistence is higher in moist environments. Biofilms develop in toilet bowl rims, under water/air interfaces, etc. (PMC+2MDPI+2)
What to do: After cleaning, ensure surfaces dry properly. Use exhaust fans, open windows, mop with wrung-out mop heads, avoid pooling. Regularly scrub grout, edges, and places where water sits. Mr. Glowra Floor Cleaner’s formula (if it helps in drying or has anti-mold properties) can help.
10. Skipping Regular Maintenance / Deep Cleaning
Even with frequent cleaning, without periodic deep cleaning some parts of your home will accumulate grime, mineral deposits, scale, biofilm, etc. For example: under rim, behind toilets, grout that is stained, scale in toilet bowls, soap scum on floor joints.
In their studies, Boone et al. noticed that by Day 7 after a clean, contamination returns unless surfaces are cleaned/disinfected again. Thus “once in a while” deep cleaning doesn’t suffice — you need both regular and deeper periodic cleaning. (MDPI+1)
What to do: Schedule “deep cleans” monthly (or more often depending on your environment) where you pull out tools, scrub spots you usually avoid, replace or wash items like curtains, grout, etc. Use strong cleaners or disinfectants safely on scale or stains. Products like Mr. Glowra Toilet Cleaner can be especially effective for scale or mineral deposit removal when used properly.
Why These Mistakes Matter — What the Data Tells Us
In the Boone et al. 2025 study, restrooms cleaned/disinfected every three days showed large reductions in bacterial counts compared to once or weekly cleaning. This routine also reduced norovirus infection risk by over 98% for heavily contaminated surfaces. (MDPI+1)
Aerosolization of pathogens during flushing is real: droplets from 0.3 to 3 μm in size can travel to surfaces around the toilet, including the floor, walls, sink, etc. (arXiv+1)
Even though closing the lid helps somewhat, it does not eliminate contamination risk. So relying on lid-closure alone is insufficient. (AJIC Journal+1)
These facts show that simple, regular, correct cleaning and disinfecting is far more effective than occasional or superficial cleaning.
How Mr. Glowra Makes a Difference
To avoid the mistakes above and keep your home truly clean and hygienic, here’s how using the right products in the right way — like those from Mr. Glowra — can help:
Targeted Formulas: Use Mr. Glowra Toilet Cleaner for toilet bowls, under rims, and other challenging toilet surfaces. Use Mr. Glowra Floor Cleaner for a wide variety of floor types with effective disinfecting and cleaning power.
Appropriate Usage: Follow the label’s directions — apply enough product, let it sit (contact time), clean off dirt first if needed, then disinfect. These steps replicate what studies show to be effective.
Routine & Deep Cleaning: Don’t rely on a “once a week wipe down.” Incorporate a twice-a-week disinfecting routine for bathrooms and frequently used surfaces. Monthly deep cleans should target grout, hidden spots, behind toilets, etc.
Focus on Hidden & High-Touch Points: Always clean flush handles, doorknobs, light switches, toilet lids and seats, faucet handles. Mr. Glowra’s product formulations should ideally allow safe usage on those surfaces.
Drying & Ventilation: After cleaning, ensure the area dries well. Use exhaust, open windows. A cleaner that doesn’t leave slippery residue helps surfaces dry well.
Sample Cleaning Routine
Here’s a suggested schedule you could recommend to your readers to avoid the dirtier mistakes and to maximize hygiene with Mr. Galora products: