Expert reveals a genius spring cleaning hack that saves time and money - we had no idea!

It doesn't matter if you're doing a deep clean or a speedy freshen up, you want to get the job done as efficiently as possible. Avoid spring cleaning mistakes and it'll be over much more quickly - and cleaning expert Lynsey Crombie has shared one error that we hadn't heard of before.

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If you're using a microfibre cloth, you can simply add some water to the cloth and use it to wipe surfaces - and this will kill 99% of germs, no cleaner required.

So whether you're cleaning the kitchen, bathroom or living room, you don't actually need a disinfectant or surface spray in order to remove any nasty bacteria. The cloth does the hard work for you. Lynsey Crombie, known as Queen of Clean on Instagram has previously spoken about how using too much cleaning product can be counterproductive. But we didn't know that when using a microfibre cloth, you can banish bugs and germs by just using water. 

Lynsey explains that thanks to the power of microfibre, a dab of water really is all you need. On the Marigold website, it says, 'Our Let It Shine! cloths can remove over 99% of bacteria with just water, so you can get a thorough, hygienic clean every time.'

'The test methodology included testing on the two most common in-home bacteria (E. coli and S. aureus) on ceramic tile surfaces and laminate countertops. Tested by an independent accredited institute.'

'The biggest mistake people make when cleaning is using far too much product, and I see it all the time,' she says. 'I get people that have layered their floor in so much product it's slippery, it's never streak-free and it always looks grimy.

'That's what product can do. Always follow the instructions on the back of the bottle. If it says to use a capful, use a capful, not a bottle-ful. That's not going to make any difference.'

If you're wondering how often to clean your cloths, it depends on what you're using them for. If you've used one to clean a toilet, that should go straight in the wash. But if you're just using it to clean your laptop for example, you can use the same cloth three times before cleaning it. 

'I've got a small bucket under the sink in my laundry room,' Lynsey says, 'and I put my used microfibre cloths in there when I've finished using them. I've got a little bit of disinfectant in there as well.'

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Once a week, put your pile of dirty cloths in the washing machine at 60 degrees Celsius/140 degrees Fahrenheit. So while we might love the smell of some cleaning products, there really is no need to use an excessive amount - and it could cause floors to become hazardous. For tips on how to clean your home office or workspace, take a look at our guide.