Home Cleaning 6 Cleaning Myths That Don't Work—Plus 2 That Actually Do A couple of these too-good-to-be-true cleaning myths work surprisingly well. By Caylin Harris Caylin Harris Instagram Website Caylin Harris is a freelance writer, stylist, and crafter with over a decade of experience in the media industry. She is a regular contributor to magazines like Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Family Circle, Rachael Ray Every Day, Good Housekeeping, and Parents. Served as craft producer for season three of the Emmy award-winning TV show, Naturally, Danny Seo. Whether she's working for editorial or brand clients, she loves helping people learn new and exciting information about all aspects of their homes and lives. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 19, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email The internet is the Wild West when it comes to cleaning tips, that's why it's important to look to trusted sources when you have a tricky cleaning question. When in doubt, always start with the least damaging cleaning method and work from there. Here are common cleaning myths we've debunked once and for all—along with two that really work. 7 Common Cleaning Hacks You Should Never Try, According to Experts 01 of 08 False: Freezing your jeans kills bacteria We're sorry to report that putting your favorite pair of jeans in the freezer won't kill bacteria. Unfortunately, the temperature in the freezer (about 0 F) isn't low enough to kill bacteria (-80 F). Dirt, dead skin cells, and oil all accumulate on your jeans when you wear them. The only way to clean them is to wash them. 02 of 08 False: Hand washing your dishes is more water-efficient While it might seem more eco-friendly to not use your dishwasher, you actually use more water when you're rinsing and washing your dishes by hand. The average full-size dishwasher only uses about 5 gallons of water per cycle. 03 of 08 False: More detergent = cleaner clothes Too much detergent increases the amount of suds, creating so many suds that they won't rinse away. This means more bacteria. Yuck! People tend to use too much detergent, in general; a good rule of thumb is to start with half the amount you normally use and increase it if you feel like your clothes aren't clean enough. 04 of 08 False: Silver polish is needed to remove tarnish You don't need to polish silver one piece at a time; do it in bulk instead! Try this: Line a deep glass container with a layer of aluminum foil. Place the silverware on the foil and cover it with baking soda. Pour boiling water on top of it and watch the tarnish disappear. 05 of 08 False: Vinegar can clean anything Vinegar is an acid, which means it's not meant for every surface in your home. While it's handy as a multipurpose cleaner, it's not great for porous surfaces, tech devices, and more. 06 of 08 False: Furniture polish is the best way to keep furniture looking new Most pieces of wood furniture don't need to be polished; they just need to be kept clean and safe from sitting moisture. If you use furniture polish often, it can build up, forming a sticky residue over time. 07 of 08 True: Vodka removes odors from clothes According to laundry experts, you can use cheap vodka to remove musty odors from your clothes. Pour it into a spray bottle and spritz a fine mist over a hanging piece of clothing, then let it dry. 08 of 08 True: Microfiber cloths wipe away germs Microfiber's physical structure allows the cloth to pick up dirt, grease, and bacteria, which makes them great to clean with. They are also super gentle on surfaces and can be used and reused in every room of your home. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit