Do you scrub and scour your home yet still feel it’s not as clean as you’d like? No matter how much effort you put in, some areas almost inevitably get overlooked when you clean. Implementing helpful home cleaning tips can help tackle these neglected zones.
In this article, we’ll highlight eight frequently forgotten areas and how to deep clean them properly so your home stays fresh. You’ll learn just where to target your efforts for a comprehensive clean. We’ll also discuss when professional cleaning services can be useful to periodically tackle a whole-home deep clean, restoring your spaces to a pristine condition.
Top 8 Things in Your Home Often Forgotten
According to a recent survey by the American Cleaning Institute, there are at least 8 common items in most homes that homeowners overlook and forget to clean regularly. These hidden hotspots can harbor dirt, germs, and allergens if not properly maintained.
1. Fridge
When it comes to cleaning the fridge, it’s easy to focus solely on the shelves and drawers and forget the other areas needing attention. According to food safety experts, refrigerators need a thorough cleaning to prevent cross-contamination from raw meat juices and the growth of mold, bacteria, and other pathogens in expired or spilled foods.
Start by removing everything from the fridge and sorting/organizing the contents. Check expiration dates and discard any spoiled, expired items. Throw out old leftovers and wipe up any spills or sticky residues on shelves. Then tackle a top-to-bottom deep clean. Remove glass shelves, drawers, and bins and wash separately with warm water and mild dish soap. Use a soft cloth to wipe up dust and debris that have accumulated underneath. Scrub the interior walls and compartments with a baking soda paste. The abrasive paste lifts stains and kills odor-causing germs. Disinfect door gaskets and handles too.
Finish by replacing the clean drawers, shelves, and food items in an organized manner. Storing raw meats on the bottom, produce in crisper drawers and leftovers designated on shelves keeps things sanitary. Regular house cleaning habits like fully clearing out, washing, and disinfecting the refrigerator interior help maintain this high-use appliance in a fresh, hygienic state as part of keeping your overall home clean.
2. Vacuum Cleaner
It’s easy when vacuuming flooring to overlook the vacuum itself as a place that collects dirt and needs regular cleaning. To keep your vacuum in prime cleaning condition after each use, start by using scissors to snip away any hair, fibers, or threads that have tangled around the rollers, wheels, and brush.
Empty all dust bins and canisters fully to avoid debris accumulation. Then periodically wipe down the exterior body, hoses, and tubes using a damp cloth to remove dust and dirt buildup. It’s also important to replace filters as needed since clogged filters greatly reduce suction power.
For a deep clean, use a disinfectant spray or baking soda scrub on the interior bins and crevices. And don’t forget to check the attachments and handheld pieces. All these steps will improve performance and keep your vacuum-sucking strong.
3. Windowsills
When washing windows, most people’s efforts focus solely on cleaning the glass panes. But it’s also important not to neglect the windowsills themselves during your cleaning routine! Start by using the hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove all dust, pet hair, lint, and debris that have collected on the sills and in window tracks.
Then mix an all-purpose cleaner with warm water and use a scrub brush to tackle any grime and stuck-on dirt. Disinfect windowsills with an EPA-registered product to kill germs and bacteria. Finally, it’s crucial to completely dry the sills after cleaning to prevent any soap scum rings or water stains from developing. Clean windows and fresh windowsills make your view much more pleasant.
4. Garbage Bins
It’s easy to simply empty the trash day after day but never fully clean the bins. To keep your garbage cans fresh, start by removing any garbage bags and disposing of them properly. Then use hot, soapy water and a microfiber cloth to scrub and wash plastic or metal bins, lifting dirt and debris stuck to the bottoms and sides. Disinfect them thoroughly with EPA-registered products like Lysol or bleach solutions, rinsing away any soap residue completely.
Finally, sprinkle baking soda into the bottom before replacing it with a new garbage bag. The baking soda will help absorb odors. This routine also applies to reusable fabric shopping bags – wash them periodically in hot water to kill germs. Proper bin cleaning is key to a fresher-smelling home.
5. Oven
While ovens are heavily used for cooking meals, the interior oven surfaces often get overlooked when it comes to cleaning. Start oven cleaning by removing all racks and washing thoroughly with dish soap, using an old toothbrush to tackle baked-on stains. Next, make a paste of baking soda and water and use a scrub brush to scour the oven interior, spraying with vinegar during scrubbing to help lift grease. Let the paste sit for 15 minutes before rinsing clean.
Don’t forget the oven door window in your cleaning routine – mix dish soap with warm water and use a plastic scouring pad to cut through greasy buildup. Rinse and dry with a lint-free cloth. Finally, use a damp microfiber cloth to gently lift and access the top heating elements so you can vacuum away any debris that has accumulated there over time. These steps will leave your oven sparking clean.
6. Behind the Toilet
One of the most forgotten areas that needs regular disinfecting is around the toilet. Start by lifting the toilet seat and using a toilet brush and bathroom disinfectant cleaner to scrub away any dirt, stains, or grime built up underneath. Also, remove the tank lid and scrub the interior tank walls with bleach or EPA-registered disinfecting solution.
Use a multipurpose cleaner and scrub brush on the exterior toilet base, bowl, and flooring surrounding the toilet. Soap scum and hard water stains will lift away with some elbow grease. Don’t forget to also wash bath mats frequently in hot water to kill germs. Let them air dry completely to avoid mold growth. Proper toilet cleaning keeps this high-use area sanitary.
7. Ceiling Fans
It’s easy to overlook what’s right over your head when cleaning your home. But ceiling fans attract and collect dust rapidly. Start by turning fans off and using a microfiber cloth dampened with an all-purpose cleaner to wipe down each blade, removing built-up dust and dirt. Run the cloth along the edges and undersides as well. Dampen a cloth with cleaner and attach it to an extendable duster to easily access the motor housing and light fixtures, cleaning away grime.
Finish by using the hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner to suction away any cobwebs that have gathered in corners where the ceiling meets wall mounts and rods. Keeping ceiling fans dust-free will improve air circulation and breathing comfort.
8. Pillows
For fresher sleeping, don’t forget to regularly clean pillows in your cleaning routine. Wash removable pillow covers frequently in hot water to eliminate odor, drool stains, makeup stains, and skin oils that accumulate over time. For poly-fill pillows, machine wash the whole pillow twice a year using hot water and regular laundry detergent.
Add a couple of tennis balls to the wash to fluff and re-plump the filling during cleaning. To disinfect foam pillows, generously sprinkle baking soda all over, let sit for 30 minutes, then vacuum away. The abrasive baking soda scrubs away oils. Also periodically air out pillows in the sun to naturally freshen and dry. Don’t forget these key items you sleep on!
Efficient House Cleaning Tips
Staying on top of housecleaning can be a challenge with so many areas to cover. It’s easy to accidentally overlook certain spots that should be part of your regular cleaning routine. Follow these efficient housecleaning tips to remember some of the most forgotten and overlooked areas that need regular maintenance:
Make a Comprehensive Cleaning Checklist
First, make a comprehensive cleaning checklist that covers every room, surface, and household item. Include less obvious items that you may not think to clean. Having a checklist reminds you to hit every must-clean hotspot and prevents important areas from slipping through the cracks.
Clean What You Typically Avoid
Second, clean items you actively avoid or forget about. For example, dust ceiling fan blades, wash pillows and cushions, clean inside kitchen appliances, wipe down walls, sanitize garbage cans, and clean baseboards, and doorframes. Set calendar reminders to tackle these unappealing chores.
Move and Lift Items to Clean Underneath
Third, move and lift items to clean underneath. Vacuum under furniture, clean behind appliances, and dust behind picture frames. Germs and dirt accumulate anywhere out of sight.
Use Specialized Cleaning Tools
Fourth, use microfiber cloths and vacuum attachments to easily reach tricky areas. Use telescopic dusters for ceiling corners, crevice tools for appliance crevices, and microfiber cloths for lighting fixtures.
Place Visual Cleaning Reminders
Finally, if you repeatedly forget certain areas, place visual reminders. Post sticky notes on your washing machine to remind you to wipe it down. Set a cleaning hat on top of ceiling fans to remind you to dust the blades. Create regular habits to clean forgotten spots.
Final Thoughts
Implementing a thorough cleaning routine focused on these often-forgotten areas can make your home brighter, fresher, and healthier. However, hiring professional cleaners periodically can be helpful as well. With the right tools and techniques, they can tackle even the most neglected spots to restore your home to a pristine, deep-cleaned condition. Consistent cleaning habits along with regular professional services can keep your home looking it’s sparkling best for years to come.
