I’m already thinking about having more guests around the holidays and how I need to give my house a deep clean before I’ll let anyone thru the front door.  But what are the best spots to tackle first? And the methods to get them the cleanest? A new survey reveals the six ways we clean house that might actually be making it dirtier…

1.  You’re using the same towel, rag, or sponge around the whole house.  Thinking about it, you’re really just moving dirt from one place to the next.  Instead, experts recommend using disposable wipes or a fresh rag for each surface that gets washed after each use.

2.  You’re spraying cleaner directly on a surface.  Experts say this is actually causing a build up of that cleaning solution, and THAT can make dirt harder to remove and cause streaking. Spray your rag or paper towel first, THEN wipe.

3. You’re using a feather duster.  Experts say that feather dusters are notorious for spreading dust around rather than removing it.  A microfiber cleaning cloth is a better option, just be sure to wash it after each use.

4.  You’re not cleaning your vacuum.  If you haven’t changed your filter or haven’t cleaned it in a while, the vacuum can’t pick up as much dirt and dust as it should.

5.  You’re putting the toilet brush back into its holder too soon.  Experts say you’re pretty much just rubbing the germs back on the toilet if you don’t let it dry between uses. Moisture and germs from the toilet can get trapped in the container and the brush if it does back too soon.  So let the toilet brush dry completely before you put it back in its holder. (But where do you put it while it dries?!?)

6.  You’re cleaning from the ground up.  Thanks to gravity, dust and crumbs just fall from higher surfaces onto the ground. If you sweep, mop, or vacuum before cleaning everything else, you’ll just get the floor dirty again.  Experts recommend cleaning from the top down and hitting the floors last!