Cleaning Product Swaps You Should Never Make

When you run out of a certain product, there's often another one that can get the job done. But there are several cleaning swaps that you should never, ever make.

When you run out of a certain product, there's often another one that can get the job done. For example, you can use a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on your laundry as a stain remover, and baking soda works great as a sink and faucet cleanser. But there are several cleaning swaps that you should never, ever make.

1. All-purpose cleaner for glass cleaner. What could be the harm in this swap? Well, using an all-purpose cleaner on windows or mirrors will leave them with soapy streaks. A smart alternative would be to use something that is billed as a multi surface cleaner.
2. Hand dish soap for automatic dishwasher detergent. We bet you're thinking: Who would be that silly? Well, it's happened. Make this exchange and you'll wind up with mountains of suds all over your kitchen floor that just won't quit.
3. Stainless steel cleaner for silver polish. Use a tough stainless steel metal cleaner on your fine sterling and you risk leaving it with permanent marks.
4. Laundry stain remover for carpet or upholstery cleaner. Thinking about reaching for a laundry product to get a stain out of your carpet or sofa? Think again. It'll saturate the material with suds.
5. Bleach for rust remover. While bleach can remove lots of different types of stains from lots of surfaces, using it on rust spots will only result in permanent stains.