Professional cleaners typically skip tasks involving high liability, specialized skills, or excessive health risks. Common exclusions include cleaning biohazards (mold, bodily fluids), pest-infested areas, exterior surfaces (gutters, windows), delicate antiques, and, often, organizing or cleaning the inside of cabinets, appliances, and handling personal items like toiletries or dirty dishes.
Special Items. Whether antiques, cherished knickknacks, or heirlooms, items that are very delicate and/or precious to the customer are typically items house cleaners won't want to mess with in order to cut down the risk of damaging them.
What is the Hardest Thing to Clean in a House?
Here are some common dangerous combinations to avoid:
A lack of adequate training and experience is a common weakness among cleaning services. Aspiring cleaners may think that cleaning is easy, given that it's a routine activity that most people do regularly.
Low-tox cleaning products use simple, natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and castile soap, or are commercially available options (like Blueland, Method, Branch Basics) that avoid harsh chemicals, often in refillable, eco-friendly packaging, focusing on plant-based, biodegradable formulas for safer cleaning. You can DIY effective cleaners with pantry staples or choose certified brands that are transparent about their ingredients for a healthier home environment.
Dawn dish soap is a universally known degreaser and Lysol is a sanitizer. Fine to mix, we do it often and own a cleaning company.
When cleaning your oven, we never recommend cleaning with bleach, ammonia, or a mixture of the two (this can create very dangerous, life-threatening fumes). Steer clear of chemical cleaners and try more holistic products and natural cleaners you can find in your own kitchen for a fraction of the price (i.e., free).
The 20-minute cleaning rule (often the 20/10 method) is a time-management strategy where you clean intensely for 20 minutes, then take a 10-minute break, repeating as needed to tackle chores without burnout, making cleaning manageable and preventing mess from piling up through daily, focused bursts of effort. It's perfect for busy people or those who find cleaning overwhelming, turning a big task into a series of small, achievable goals.
Non-food-contact surfaces
The 2017 FDA Food Code has many recommendations for cleaning such surfaces. For example, iced tea dispensers and consumer self-service utensils that do not come into contact with TCS foods (tongs, scoops, ladles, etc.) should be cleaned at least every 24 hours.
The 5-5-5 Rule for decluttering, popularized by Steph of The Secret Slob and Apartment Therapy, is a quick, low-pressure method that involves setting a 25-minute timer, picking five different zones in your home, and spending just five minutes tidying or decluttering each zone before moving to the next, making it ideal for tackling daily messes without feeling overwhelmed.
You should not use Dawn dish soap on items where it can strip protective coatings, oils, or finishes, like car paint, hardwood floors/furniture, fine leather, cast iron, natural stone countertops (marble, granite), and skin/hair, as it's too harsh; also avoid it in automatic dishwashers and washing machines due to excessive suds.
11 Cleaning Products You Should Never, Ever Mix
Common Areas Not Cleaned by Housekeepers
But amidst all these cleaning hurdles, one area stands out as particularly daunting – the mysterious realm of tile grout. While it may seem innocuous at first glance, the intricate network of grout lines can trap dirt and grime, making it a formidable opponent in your quest for a spotless home.
Lysol All Purpose Cleaner is ideal to use in every part of your home. Lysol All-Purpose Cleaner beat out its competition during our testing, making it our No. 1 pick and the best all-purpose cleaner.
How Messy Is The Average House? Surprisingly, we found that half of American homes are always clean, while just 1% of Americans never lift a finger and do the dirty work. In between these extremes, about 1 in 4 respondents clean once a day and another 23% make at least some effort but let their duties slip on occasion.