There's usually no mistaking the mess in a room upon first glance. The kitchen sink is overflowing with dirty dishes, pots, and pans, or there is a mountain of unfolded dirty laundry waiting. But do you neglect the rest of the room once you clear the clutter?
Areas You Are Neglecting to Clean in Your Home
Here are seven overlooked areas of your home that could use a good cleaning.
The undersides of furniture
It's not uncommon to find a few dust bunnies scurrying under a bed or sofa; these can quickly sweep up with a vacuum or dust mop. Nonetheless, did you remember to check the piece's legs? What you find stuck to your bed, chair, and table may surprise you.
At least twice a year, get out of the vacuum or dusting wand and get rid of the spider webs, spider eggs, dust, and grime.
Tops of picture frames, doors, and cabinets
Take a break from cleaning to admire the sky. You may confront with more grime than you'd like. What lies beyond our line of sight is often disregarded. Door frames, kitchen, tall storage cabinets, picture frames, and ceiling corners should be cleaned regularly.
Look at the ceiling fans and lights while you're up there. If you want to get rid of dust and spider webs, the best tool is a disposable duster with an extended handle. If you don't have a microfiber cleaning cloth, you can use a rubber band to attach a clean cloth to the grip of a broom or mop.
Wardrobe Floors
Your closet needs to be clean; it's obvious. When you open the door, things will fall on you from the overcrowded shelves and crammed closet.
To that end, when was the last time you scrubbed the floor of your closet? The dirt on people's shoes can make a mess of a closet floor, even a carpeted one. Mold, mildew, and insects like carpet beetles love to make a home in carpets, where they can feast on your favorite clothes.
It's a good idea to clean out your closets and storage areas at least once per season. The time is right to sort through your belongings, donate what you don't need, and put the rest in their proper places.
Indoor Plants
Both natural and artificial houseplants can gather a surprising amount of dust over time. A quick rinse under the showerhead is suitable for most plants. You can clean each leaf with a microfiber cloth or a disposable duster if they are too heavy to move.
Cleaning preserved flowers or silk plants is also recommended. A microfiber or feather duster works well for dusting preserved flowers like the Venus ET Fleur Eternity Roses. You can wipe silk plants with a feather duster or take them outside and use a hairdryer set to the relaxed setting to remove the dust. Place each stem of silk foliage or flowers in a paper bag with a generous amount of table salt or baking soda to brighten them. By shaking the bag, you can keep most of the dirt in the salt or baking soda. To complete, use an excellent hairdryer to remove any remaining dust before displaying.
Baseboards and Walls
It is not just flat surfaces that attract dust and dirt, but also vertical ones. Once you throw open the drapes and turn on every light, you may be surprised to see how fluffy your walls are. Dust accumulates even more on textured wallpaper.
Dust the wall from the top down using a dusting tool that collects dust and debris. Final touches include wiping down the light switches and doorknobs to remove any lingering marks or body soil.
Take care of the baseboards as the final step in cleaning the walls. Those little ledges can collect a surprising amount of dust. Moistening a cloth and wiping down the baseboards is especially helpful in high-humidity areas like bathrooms and kitchens, where the dust has become soil that sticks to the surface.
Vents and filters
If you have central heating and cooling in your home, ductwork runs from the system to the various rooms. Vents release the heated or cooled air, looping back through the ventilation system.
Dust and pollen are recirculated back into the living space if the air isn't filtered to remove them. There is a wide price range for filters, from high-end HEPA models to more budget-friendly mesh. No matter the variety, they all require periodic replacement or cleaning to function correctly. Clean the vent grates while you're at it while changing the filter. There will be less dust in the air and on your belongings. Clean the filters and vents on single window units just as carefully.
Tools for Cleaning and Vacuum Cleaners
If you haven't cleaned any of your cleaning supplies in a while, you might as well keep using them. When was the last time you examined your vacuum cleaner, mop, and scrubbing brushes?
Sure, you take out the trash and use the vacuum's disposable bag. Yet, once a month or so, you need to give the cup a good washing and scrub. Most things can be cleaned with hot, soapy water and then dried naturally.
There are likely filters that need to be cleaned or replaced, too. If there are any knots in the strings or hair, check the rotary bars and brushes to untangle them. The dust will be less of an issue, and your cleaning results will improve.
After each use, rinse the mop heads, scrub the brushes in hot water, and disinfect the cleaner. Dry sponges completely in between services.
