Experts want you to avoid these 'old-school' cleaning hacks

Grandmas have plenty of practical wisdom to share when it comes to running a household. But some of her vintage cleaning hacks may not hold up to modern homes. These are the old-school cleaning tricks experts say to stop using in your home.

Modern appliances and fabrics are often more delicate than the items your grandmother was cleaning. That means certain ingredients or methods that grandma used to use — like using vinegar to clean practically everything — are ineffective or even damaging.

Zapping curtain static with hairspray.

Sure, you might use hairspray to control your flyaways. But that same sticky feeling that happens when you spray too much on your head? That will happen to your curtains, leaving them feeling stiff and tacky, according to Carolyn Forté, Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director. Instead, opt for anti-static spray instead.

Soaking your shower head in vinegar overnight.

Grandma isn't completely wrong here. However, we'd like to offer a modification to the process of cleaning your shower head with vinegar.

"Overnight is a bit long, and I think it may damage some high-end fixture finishes. It's best to just scrub the head with a brush dipped in vinegar," says Forté.

Storing linens with waxpaper.

Creating a wax paper barrier between linens might sound like a good idea to prevent color from transferring. However, any exposure to high temperatures, and there's a chance the wax could melt and transfer to your linens. If you're concerned about color transferring, try acid-free tissue paper instead just to be safe.

Running air vent covers in the dishwasher.

Wiping down windows with newspaper.

While using your recycling for good is commendable, it's probably not the best choice when it comes to cleaning windows. Forté warns that the ink could run, leaving messy marks on your hands and windowsills. Instead, try using microfiber cloths.

Soaking clothes in salt water to prevent color fading.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab has tested the theory that soaking clothes in salt water or vinegar can prevent color fading. Unfortunately, the results were not in grandma's favor. According to Forté, if your fabric color runs, it's probably because the item was not finished properly.

Using club soda to remove stains.

In Good Housekeeping Lab tests, club soda did not work any better than plain water in removing stains from clothing. If you're looking for the best products to remove stains, check out our Lab-tested winners.

Cleaning wood floors with vinegar.

While vinegar is definitely a versatile cleaning product, there are some things that should never be cleaned with the solution, including wood floors. Vinegar can strip the shine away from wood surfaces, leaving them dull. Try one of our GH lab-approved hardwood floor cleaners instead.

Vacuuming ruins carpets.

If grandma has told you too much vacuuming can ruin your carpet, don't worry. "Regular vacuuming removes the gritty dirt that can abrade carpet fibers and helps fluff the pile and remove dust," says Forté.

Running vinegar through your iron to clear clogged holes.

While relying on trusty-old vinegar to unclog holes in your iron may sound like a safe bet, our cleaning experts don't recommend it. "Putting anything other than water inside an iron or garment steamer can damage the internal parts," says Forté.