Spring cleaning time always seems to come around, whether we like it or not. And even though organizing our closets and doing a deep clean in the bathroom seem to usually be front of mind, have you ever paused to think about all of the forgotten spots in your home that never really get cleaned?
Unfortunately, dirt and grime don’t just magically clean themselves, and depending on where it’s been building up for years, it can actually start to affect how your appliances work.
We’re going to take you through the ultimate spring cleaning list of places that never get cleaned and may be in dire need of some disinfectant and elbow grease.
Let’s get caught up on the details for a moment and discuss trims and baseboards.
They’re something that you probably walk into and out of approximately 100 times per day: doorways and hallways around your home that are no doubt finished in trims and baseboards. If you think about where your heating and air conditioning vents are located, it makes a lot of sense that dust and dirt can easily accumulate there.
They’re actually pretty easy to get clean, too. All you need to do is take out the long attachment on your vacuum cleaner and do a quick go-around to collect as much dust as you can. Then simply take a solution of water and vinegar and get scrubbing. They’ll be shining in no time!
And while you’re thinking about cleaning up the corners of your home that you don’t often think about, why not get to your window frames and tracks and spruce those up as well?
Let’s think about any of those dangerous electrical home items where a buildup of dirt could cause a fire.
Then there are those places, usually in the kitchen, where you know that you need to take some time and care to clean, but you may need some heavy motivation to do so.
So grab yourself an extra-fancy coffee today, and let’s discuss cleaning out your stove and your range hood. We use our ovens and stoves so much that grease, smoke, and oil often get absorbed into those surfaces, and before you know it, there’s a massive buildup that could actually start a fire.
It may actually be the safest option to hire a professional to come in and check your stove ventilation hood and properly clean it out to ensure that there’s no extensive buildup that could be dangerous to your family. If you want to do it yourself, be sure to take the vent filter out and soak it in your sink for approximately 15 to 20 minutes and properly scrub it before putting it back.
And while you’re thinking of vents that rarely get cleaned, you might as well get someone to clean out the clothes dryer vent as well. And what about the filter on the furnace? The furnace works hard year-round, so it should be properly inspected and cleaned every year or two.
If you’re looking for an easy way to clean your oven, simply spray your oven with a solution of lemon juice and water and use a good scrub brush to help remove caked-on grease and food bits.
The kitchen is often the heart of the home, so let’s keep it healthy and safe by cleaning up any forgotten spots.
How many times have you opened your fridge door only to find old or practically empty bottles of hot sauce or salad dressing in there? That’s the thing when it comes to those places in your home that you use every single day — sometimes things just get away from you or you simply don’t notice the messiness of it all because it’s right in front of your nose and you just get used to it.
When cleaning out your fridge and freezer, it’s always best to be ruthless with really outdated foods that you simply are not reaching for anymore. Just be sure to recycle all the containers you can and use a solution of one tablespoon of liquid bleach to one gallon of water to fully sanitize and degerm all of the shelves, crispers, and drawers. Allow everything to properly dry before putting your food back in.
While you’re in your kitchen, if you have a ceiling fan in there that sits above the kitchen table or a hanging light fixture that needs to be dusted, you might as well check those items off your list, too.
When was the last time you disinfected all of the most-touched surfaces in your home?
Let’s pause to think about each door knob in your home and just how many times per day someone’s hand touches it. Let’s include light switches in this category, and once you start thinking about all the microorganisms of bacteria that are involved, you’ll likely agree that it’s time to get out the disinfectant wipes and go to town.
While you’re at it, it’s probably beyond time that you grab all of the television remotes and controllers and give those a good wipe-down. And if there are certain media devices in the playroom or bedrooms of growing children who don’t always enjoy washing their hands or cleaning up after themselves, get them involved in this as well.
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Lastly, let’s freshen up the forgotten items in your home such as curtains and blinds.
Curtains and blinds are often one of the most forgotten home items that need cleaning simply because they’re up off the ground and doing an important job, like making your windows look pretty or blocking out the sun while you’re catching up on sleep.
Just because they look pretty, though, doesn’t mean that they don’t collect dust and dirt. If you have long cascading curtains, it’s best to get the vacuum out and your favorite attachments and try to collect all of that dust. If you can take down your curtains or blinds, so much the better, because you can actually take them outside and shake them out.
For those who want to put their curtains in the washing machine for a spruce-up, be sure to use a gentle cycle, lukewarm water, and a mild detergent. For blinds, there are cool blind cleaners that you can find at the store, or you take them down and soak them in the bathtub in a gentle solution of water, dish soap, and a little baking soda.
If you’re feeling inspired after the curtains and blinds, you could always opt to scrub your walls and bathroom and kitchen cupboards, as well. There’s no doubt that grease and moisture collect over time, so simply fill a bucket with warm water and some clear liquid dish soap and make your home feel all sparkly again.
