12 things you shouldn’t wipe with paper towels: the advice of professional cleaners

It doesn’t matter how thick your rug is or what material it’s made of: if you spill a soda or cappuccino on it, don’t rush to the kitchen to buy one.

“The danger of using paper towels in this case is that the lint will tear them, and that happens 100% of the time with wet paper. As a result, particles will settle on the carpet and it will be very difficult to remove them even with a powerful vacuum cleaner, ”says professional cleaner Olivia Monash.

Fellow cleaning team leader Deretta Richards adds: “Paper doesn’t absorb liquids well – you’ll just rub the stain into the carpet instead of removing it.” Both experts advise using a sponge as an alternative to paper towels in carpet cases—it will collect whatever is on the pile.

Is a film or glass stuck on the screen of your smartphone? You can scrub it as much as you like: the harm from paper towels will be reduced to tiny lint that will remain on the surface – unpleasant, but not deadly. However, in the absence of a protective layer, everything will end in disaster: as the owner of the cleaning company Carol Smith explains, the paper can leave many micro-scratches on the surface of the screen. Therefore, it is better to keep it away from a laptop or plasma TV – it is better to use microfiber cloths for monitors and special sprays for electronics.

Some facts about paper towels might surprise you: According to Carolyn Osborne, a professional housekeeper, they can contain chlorine, formaldehyde and bisphenol-A, which can affect brain function, the cardiovascular system and blood circulation.

Of course, the concentration of these harmful substances is low and very little will remain on the fruits and plates that you have wiped with paper. However, according to Carolyn, when it comes to dangerous ingredients, prevention is better than cure.

According to the expert, the best way to dry cups or apples is to leave them in the open air using a special rack or mat. Need to speed up the process? Use a clean, plain cloth (and wash it the same day to prevent bacteria growth).

The danger of paper napkins for glass is the same fluff that settles on the surface – in fact, it is a large number of small spots that obstruct your view. If you want a clean, shiny surface, when wiping glasses and mirrors, use microfiber, coffee filters, an old T-shirt or regular cloth napkins – they will do the same job without leaving residue.

“Paper towels and furniture don’t mix,” says Lisa Sorensen, a professional housekeeper. — When you remove stains from upholstery, the textile fibers tear the paper, making the damage worse, which is especially noticeable with dark fabrics. The paper itself can leave scratches on the wood, especially if you wipe off the dust with a dry towel. Lisa advises cleaning textiles following the manufacturer’s advice and purchasing special products for wooden surfaces.

Grout is a hardened mixture of sand and cement and therefore has a rough surface similar in texture to sandpaper. “Do it once and you’ll understand why you shouldn’t use paper towels to clean grout: they’ll only make things worse,” says Deretta.

A housewife is unlikely to try to clean the toilet with paper, but there are enough people who throw not only toilet paper, but also any other paper into it – this happens especially often during cleaning. “Biodegradable towels are not that common: regular towels last two to four weeks in water, which can lead to clogs,” says Olivia.

As Carol explains, when cleaning a car, there’s more than just the lint left on the surface to consider. “Everything is simpler: the machine is large, and to put it in order, you will need more than one or two rollers. Using paper napkins in this situation is simply unprofitable, and a comparison of paper and cloth napkins in this case will definitely be in favor of the latter: they absorb more moisture and are a reusable tool, ” she says.

“If your camera lens or favorite aviators are dirty, don’t try to clean them with paper, you risk scratching the surface,” says Lisa. What should I use instead of paper towels in this case? Of course, special wipes and cleaning sprays for optics.

Author and television personality Martha Stewart, best known for her DIY tips, says the worst way to get rid of grease and dirt on your fingers while cooking is to use paper towels or rags. According to Martha, you should definitely wash your hands, then dry them with a cloth or apron, which should be washed immediately after removing it.

“My professional opinion on paper towels as a tool for wiping dust is clear: they are only suitable for moving it from one place to another. Instead, use microfiber: it picks up and retains 99% of dirt,” explains Olivia.

“Cutting boards can’t just be wiped dry with a paper towel: they need to be disinfected thoroughly. To do this, I recommend spraying them with white vinegar or three percent hydrogen peroxide for a few minutes, and putting plastic, ceramic, glass, and plastic ones in the dishwasher. For drying, it is better to use fabric napkins – they do not leave lint, which contains potentially harmful substances, ”says Lisa.

And finally, all experts agree that anyone who cares about the environment should ditch paper towels and use reusable tools instead.

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