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Have you ever felt like your attempt at cleaning created even more of a mess than it was before? Breaking a glass while drying it, spilling detergent all over the floor when doing a load of laundry, or bleaching your clothes while trying to get that stubborn stain from your shower.

If you’ve experienced this pain before, we are glad to report that you’re not alone. Just take a look at these people in the list below whose urge to clean ended up in far worse scenarios than those mentioned above. From breaking through ceilings to smashing shower doors, scroll down to wince and chuckle at some of the most unfortunate cleaning failures we at Bored Panda could gather from peeps online.

While you’re at it, don’t forget to check out a conversation with cleaning expert Alessandro Gazzo and professional cleaner Axel Avery, who kindly agreed to share a couple of tips on how to avoid common cleaning mistakes and learn to tidy like a pro.

#1

I Tried Cleaning The Stain Off This Mug Until I Realized It's Part Of The Design

I Tried Cleaning The Stain Off This Mug Until I Realized It's Part Of The Design

digitaldylantoddni Report

#3

My Wife Wonders Why The Vacuum Hasn't Been Working

My Wife Wonders Why The Vacuum Hasn't Been Working

DDHRUGER Report

We have to admit that not everyone enjoys cleaning. At least not after smashing an oven door or covering the bathroom floor with bubbles. Cleaning expert Alessandro Gazzo believes that the reason many dislike tidying up is because it’s a repetitive and mechanical task. 

“If you think about it, it’s like brushing your teeth: it’s not fun, but it’s important. You have to do it whether you like it or not, but you (and the people around you!) will notice the positive outcome. However, brushing your teeth is much easier and faster, of course. That’s why you need to focus on creating a routine that stops you from overthinking and allows you to jump straight to action.”

Meanwhile, professional cleaner Axel Avery says, “I think many people dislike cleaning because a) it’s tiring, especially if you do it for years and years; b) it’s often an imbalanced responsibility that usually falls heavily only on a single member of the household (which leads to arguing, frustration, etc.); and c) it takes time and energy away that you can spend doing something more productive or fun (which is why many people hire a house cleaning service).”

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#4

My Mom Erased Part Of The World While Cleaning My Globe

My Mom Erased Part Of The World While Cleaning My Globe

altrefdv Report

#5

Washed My Measuring Cup And All The Lines And Numbers Came Off

Washed My Measuring Cup And All The Lines And Numbers Came Off

TranslucentTaco Report

#6

I Clean Pools And Today I Knocked A Huge Potted Plant Into The Water

I Clean Pools And Today I Knocked A Huge Potted Plant Into The Water

JapaneseKitten Report

Indeed, cleaning can be a true pain sometimes, but it often proves to be very beneficial to our mental health—an aspect Gazzo finds the most enjoyable about it. “We all know a clean space helps you stay healthy in the physical sense (by sanitizing surfaces, killing mold, etc.) But what I like the most is that you also improve your mental health. 

If you clean your home regularly, you feel more at ease, you forget about the stress of not finding your items, and you are more focused (this is key if you work from home). If you stop thinking of cleaning as a burden, it becomes one less burden in your life.”

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#7

My Tenancy Ends Tomorrow After 2 Years In This Flat. Today, While Cleaning And Getting Everything Ready To Move Out, I Hit The Oven's Door And Broke The Glass. Bye Bye Sweet Deposit Money

My Tenancy Ends Tomorrow After 2 Years In This Flat. Today, While Cleaning And Getting Everything Ready To Move Out, I Hit The Oven's Door And Broke The Glass. Bye Bye Sweet Deposit Money

cheekibreekio Report

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Stephanie Did It
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OP has all my sympathy. I'm moving Friday and the more tired I am, the clumsier I get. This sounds so much like something I'd do.

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#9

I'm Doing Renovations And My Roomba Found A Tiny Piece Of Sheetrock

I'm Doing Renovations And My Roomba Found A Tiny Piece Of Sheetrock

AStrangerSaysHi Report

Avery likes to clean professionally because it makes other people’s lives easier. “You know, it’s not easy to run a home and have a social life, work, and spend time with your family. In a more personal sense, what I enjoy about cleaning is that it helps me keep my life in order and structured. I think your home is (most times) a representation of what is going on in your life. If your house is a mess, it’s highly unlikely that your life is under control.”

To befriend cleaning and avoid failures in the future, experts point out a few mistakes people should refrain from making. The first one Avery indicates is using the wrong cleaning products. “You don’t need a strong, borderline-toxic cleaning chemical. In fact, most things in your home just need an all-purpose cleaner. The simpler and more versatile your cleaning products are, the more efficient you will be at cleaning.”

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#10

Got New Cargo Shorts And Accidentally Sat On A Stool That My Sister Was Cleaning With Clorox

Got New Cargo Shorts And Accidentally Sat On A Stool That My Sister Was Cleaning With Clorox

vibraniumdroid Report

#11

My Brother And I Were Cleaning Out The Attic, But Then I Heard A Loud Crash And Saw This Above Me. I Chose To Take A Photo Before Asking Questions

My Brother And I Were Cleaning Out The Attic, But Then I Heard A Loud Crash And Saw This Above Me. I Chose To Take A Photo Before Asking Questions

wtfitzjdoggwha Report

#12

Home Alone Cleaning The Roof And Gutters When I Heard A Loud Bang

Home Alone Cleaning The Roof And Gutters When I Heard A Loud Bang

orangeworker Report

Another one he points out is cleaning in the wrong order. “This makes people over-clean wet floors, for example, or have to clean twice because they’ve forgotten to clean from top to bottom. Always clean from top to bottom and from the furthest point away from the door to the room you’re in, and move towards the door."

#13

Let’s Just Say That We Ended Up With Very Clean Laundry Room Floor… And Yes I’m An Idiot

Let’s Just Say That We Ended Up With Very Clean Laundry Room Floor… And Yes I’m An Idiot

lyricmeowmeow Report

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ILoveMySon
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I put regular liquid dish soap in the dishwasher when I was five and cleaned the floor as well.

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#14

When Your Flatmate Likes To Eat Seeds And Cleans The Floor Without Vacuuming First

When Your Flatmate Likes To Eat Seeds And Cleans The Floor Without Vacuuming First

mr_prout Report

#15

My Robot Vacuum Curled Up And Is Sleeping When It Should Be Working

My Robot Vacuum Curled Up And Is Sleeping When It Should Be Working

Thisismybirdaccount Report

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Meanwhile, Gazzo believes that cleaning without a plan is the most common mistake. ”You start going around everywhere and don’t really finish cleaning anything. Besides, it’s frustrating not knowing what to do next and you need to make decisions on the spot. Create a plan first and you will jump from A to B to C. It’s easier and more organized, and you will have a more precise time estimate for cleaning.”

#16

I Was Emptying The Dishwasher And Found This “Clean” Glass Break

I Was Emptying The Dishwasher And Found This “Clean” Glass Break

Louismagooo Report

#17

After A Long Flight We Decided To Wash And Dry The Pillows. We Brought And Made Our Laundry Room Look Like A Bird Horror Movie

After A Long Flight We Decided To Wash And Dry The Pillows. We Brought And Made Our Laundry Room Look Like A Bird Horror Movie

Ellacod Report

#18

I Was Washing The Dishes When The Sink Decided To Fall Out Of The Counter. First Time My Strange Habit Of Hoarding Large Bath Towels Has Proven Itself Useful

I Was Washing The Dishes When The Sink Decided To Fall Out Of The Counter. First Time My Strange Habit Of Hoarding Large Bath Towels Has Proven Itself Useful

leave_it_to_beavers Report

He also notes that elbow grease doesn’t always fix everything. “You don’t need to tire yourself out cleaning for hours and spending unnecessary energy. Let cleaning agents act on the surface for 10–15 minutes, and then wipe. You avoid getting tired, and you also protect surfaces from scratching, for example.”

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#19

I Was Cleaning The BBQ... And Turned Around For 30 Seconds

I Was Cleaning The BBQ... And Turned Around For 30 Seconds

KaczkaJ*baczka Report

#20

What Could Go Wrong When Neighbor Cleans Fireplace Into Recycle Bin

What Could Go Wrong When Neighbor Cleans Fireplace Into Recycle Bin

jakemailme123 Report

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Candid Panda
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Mom once accidentally set a garage truck on fire by doing this. The embers stayed in the garage bin and when the truck came and emptied the bin the air must have ignited the garage and set the truck ablaze.

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#21

My Dad Cleaned My Cat's Litter Box With My Spatula While I Was Out Of Town

My Dad Cleaned My Cat's Litter Box With My Spatula While I Was Out Of Town

My dad is living with me at the moment. I was out of town for several days and came home to a spatula next to my cat’s litter box. The actual litter scoop was in the small closet in plain sight. He didn’t call or ask about the location.

a_n_v_s Report

For some cleaning do's, Avery recommends having a plan before going into it. “Always try multitasking: while you’re leaving your toilet cleaner act on your toilet for 15 minutes, wipe your sink and your mirror in the meantime,” he adds. “Try alternating your tasks so you don’t get bored. Look for house cleaning services online that have blogs with cleaning tips, so you can learn from the best. They have refined their cleaning techniques many times and will help you work easier.”

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#22

I Hear Screaming Coming From The Living Room, Only To Find My 5-Year-Old Daughter On The Floor With Her Hair All Sucked Up & Tangled In Our Ilife Robot Vacuum

I Hear Screaming Coming From The Living Room, Only To Find My 5-Year-Old Daughter On The Floor With Her Hair All Sucked Up & Tangled In Our Ilife Robot Vacuum

tabithadudley Report

#23

Moved 15 Times Over 30 Years With An Antique Vase My Grandma Gave Me. Today I Cleaned It For The First Time And It Slipped Out Of My Hands

Moved 15 Times Over 30 Years With An Antique Vase My Grandma Gave Me. Today I Cleaned It For The First Time And It Slipped Out Of My Hands

Badiland Report

#24

Can't Argue With Dyson Ads, It Does Have A Lot Of Suction

Can't Argue With Dyson Ads, It Does Have A Lot Of Suction

One taste of my iPhone cord, and in seconds, it was ripped from the wall and all wrapped up in. Thank goodness Dyson makes it easy to unravel this love triangle.

psquared_28 Report

Gazzo’s professional tip is to create a cleaning calendar and put aside 15 minutes to tidy up a different room each day. “By the end of the week, your entire home will be decently clean and tidy. If you have more family members, include them on your checklist. If you have kids, make sure their tasks are age-appropriate and easy to carry out. This will give them a sense of responsibility and accomplishment once they finish.”

#25

Shower Door Didn't Like Being Cleaned

Shower Door Didn't Like Being Cleaned

Mafra357 Report

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#28

Cleaning Your Toilet With Dishwasher Detergent

Cleaning Your Toilet With Dishwasher Detergent

ChrisAllmeid Report

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Stephanie Did It
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Holdup...what goes into one neighbor's toilet can end up in the other residents' toilets also? Including but not limited to--soap?

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#29

My 3-Year-Old Thought It Would Be A Good Idea To Spray The TV With Water To "Clean" It

My 3-Year-Old Thought It Would Be A Good Idea To Spray The TV With Water To "Clean" It

mavwubb Report

#31

I Appreciate Your Drunken Late Night Attempt To Clean, Random Party Guest, But Wooden Cutting Boards Do Not Go In The Dishwasher

I Appreciate Your Drunken Late Night Attempt To Clean, Random Party Guest, But Wooden Cutting Boards Do Not Go In The Dishwasher

FriscoDingo Report

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Data1001
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never liked cutting boards made from multiple sections of wood for that very reason. Often they look nice because the pieces are stained in alternating light and dark colors, but they're only held together with wood glue. Give me a solid piece of wood any day.

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#32

I Cleaned My Glasses But Apparently There Was A Small Stone On The Cloth

I Cleaned My Glasses But Apparently There Was A Small Stone On The Cloth

Defight556 Report

#33

My Mom Was Just Finishing Cleaning The Kitchen And Then Spilled A Bag Of Chia Seeds On The Ground

My Mom Was Just Finishing Cleaning The Kitchen And Then Spilled A Bag Of Chia Seeds On The Ground

Streetcar21 Report

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#34

Spent Literally 6 Hours Yesterday Hand-Scrubbing, Soaking, And Vacuuming This Couch. Left My 2-Year-Old Alone For 5 Minutes In The Living Room

Spent Literally 6 Hours Yesterday Hand-Scrubbing, Soaking, And Vacuuming This Couch. Left My 2-Year-Old Alone For 5 Minutes In The Living Room

farmyfarmguy Report

#35

Vacuumed Disposable Cutlery Under My Kid's Bed

Vacuumed Disposable Cutlery Under My Kid's Bed

surfh2o Report

#36

So That's How You Empty The Dust Container In A Vacuum

So That's How You Empty The Dust Container In A Vacuum

buttermuffinWX78 Report

#37

Props To The New Roommate For Cleaning The Whole Kitchen, But She Scrubbed The Microwave Oven So Hard, All The Ink Came Off The Dials

Props To The New Roommate For Cleaning The Whole Kitchen, But She Scrubbed The Microwave Oven So Hard, All The Ink Came Off The Dials

nochinesecrawfish Report

#39

I Was Cleaning My Glasses And Then This Happened

I Was Cleaning My Glasses And Then This Happened

jeslmcm Report

#40

Put My Remotes On My Heater While Cleaning And Forgot. Then Got Chilly

Put My Remotes On My Heater While Cleaning And Forgot. Then Got Chilly

reddit.com Report

#41

I Spent An Hour And A Half Cleaning The Kitchen. When I Finished I Thought I'd Make Coffee

I Spent An Hour And A Half Cleaning The Kitchen. When I Finished I Thought I'd Make Coffee

Friendly_Flytrap Report

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#42

Wife Tried To Clean My Cast Iron. How Much Alimony Should I Get?

Wife Tried To Clean My Cast Iron. How Much Alimony Should I Get?

SecretlyHiddenSelf Report

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ZGutr
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

NOTHING she did not manage to destroy it ...... zero harm done . this is so easy to fix.

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#43

Woke Up This Morning To My Plant Falling Off My Shelf Onto My Head… And While Cleaning It Fell From The Same Place Again

Woke Up This Morning To My Plant Falling Off My Shelf Onto My Head… And While Cleaning It Fell From The Same Place Again

meatboy89 Report

#44

Failed Attempt To Clean The Bathroom For Hubby

Failed Attempt To Clean The Bathroom For Hubby

GlitterAllie Report

#46

I Broke My Boyfriend's Tempered Glass While Cleaning Up His PC, Time To Pack My Bags Because I'm Gonna Be Single When He Gets Back Home

I Broke My Boyfriend's Tempered Glass While Cleaning Up His PC, Time To Pack My Bags Because I'm Gonna Be Single When He Gets Back Home

Darly-Mercaves Report

#47

Got Reminded By Myself That Ceramic And Glass Aren’t A Great Idea To Put Together. Tried To Clean My Pepper Grinder And It Fell Down Directly Into My Washing Machine Door

Got Reminded By Myself That Ceramic And Glass Aren’t A Great Idea To Put Together. Tried To Clean My Pepper Grinder And It Fell Down Directly Into My Washing Machine Door

BloodyRoar87 Report

#48

Soaked My Blinds, In The Tub, To Wash Them. Hung Them Up To Dry Last Night. Come Downstairs This Morning, And They Are Like Tubes

Soaked My Blinds, In The Tub, To Wash Them. Hung Them Up To Dry Last Night. Come Downstairs This Morning, And They Are Like Tubes

LankySquash4 Report

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#50

It Turns Out My New Roomba Is Perfectly Tall Enough To Absolutely Obliterate Itself On The Bottom Of My Swivel Chair

It Turns Out My New Roomba Is Perfectly Tall Enough To Absolutely Obliterate Itself On The Bottom Of My Swivel Chair

I know the damage is basically just cosmetic, but I would like my expensive shiny things to stay shiny (for as long as possible) especially if they're expensive.

vectorYee Report

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