Cleaning expert Libby Denney has shared her “dirty list” of items she would never have in her home – including a dishwasher, toilet brush, and wooden toilet seat
We all have those household items we can’t live without, and for many of us, the humble dishwasher tops the list.
Can you imagine the hours spent scrubbing dishes by hand, back aching from the effort? It’s not a pretty picture. However, one cleaning guru has shared her list of “dirt-ridden” items she’d never allow in her own home, including dishwashers, toilet brushes, and wooden toilet seats. Libby Denney, 28, argues that these items are notorious for harbouring dirt.
With over a decade of professional house cleaning under her belt, she certainly knows what she’s talking about. She’s compiled a “dirty list” of items she deems either extremely unhygienic or high-maintenance, and as such, they’re banned from her home.
The blacklist includes any type of toilet brush, wooden toilet seats, “dust magnet” freestanding baths, “grubby” hallway carpets, and yes, even dishwashers.
Libby warns against choosing horizontal blinds and black taps, which can quickly look “tatty” if not properly maintained, and are a “pain” to clean. The York-based mum of two advised: “I would advise against all these items – most are just plain unhygienic, and others require high maintenance – we have enough stress in our lives.
“I don’t recommend a wooden kitchen work surface. There is just a lot of maintenance involved – you’ll have to keep sanding it down. Also, water and bacteria can seep into it – it can even become mouldy if it is near a tap by sitting water; avoid at all costs.” In a controversial stance, Libby also suggests that dishwashers can be more trouble than they’re worth. She explained: “If it isn’t cleaned or maintained properly, it starts to smell and build-up dirt around the sides – soap and water does it for me.”
To maintain a clean home, she recommends being strict about decluttering: “If it was not used in six months, it needs to go. This will all help stop the build-up of dust when you could be relaxing instead.”
