We all do it. Every single one of us. We all have our routine cleaning checklist: vacuum the rugs, wipe down the countertops, do laundry, do the dishes, scrub the bathtub, etc. etc.
But there are things in all of our homes that aren’t so obvious and get overlooked.
Just because you forget to clean it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t still need to be cleaned. No one wants to their family to be around mold, bacteria, dust, and germs.
So, we thought we’d give you a little reminder. Here are 15 things you probably forgot need cleaning.
Cleaning Tools
Though you probably didn’t think of it, the things you use to clean with get the dirtiest so you should clean them too. Sponges can be put in the dishwasher, toilet brushes and mops can be soaked in bleach and water, brooms can be spritzed with vinegar or bleach, and dusters can be shaken out.
Lightbulbs
While you probably frequently dust off your lamp shades, you probably forget about the light bulbs inside. They can collect just as much dust. Use a cloth dampened with alcohol to wipe them down.
Kitchen Knife Block
Mold and bacteria can form in those little slots over time so to get your knife blocks clean submerge them in a gallon of water with a tablespoon of bleach for a little bit then rinse. You’ll want to do this at least once a month if you frequently use those knives.
Mattress
When you flip your mattress every six months you can sprinkle baking soda on it and let it sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming it up. The baking soda will absorb oils and smells.
The Couch
There are lots of butts that sit on this thing, including pet butts. To get your couch clean you’ll want to sprinkle some baking soda on it and let it sit for 20 minutes before using your vacuum’s brush attachment to suck it up. The baking soda will absorb smells and stains.
Shower Liners
Lots of us will just toss them out after they get funky but you can actually put your shower curtain liner in your washing machine with some towels to get them nice and clean.
Coffeemaker
Our coffee pots get cleaned regularly, but what about the inside our coffee makers? The part that’s constantly filled with water over and over again. Place a coffee filter where you would normally and fill the water chamber with equal parts water and vinegar.
Run your machine until the chamber is half empty and let it sit for 30 minutes before finishing the cycle. Run your machine again once or twice with just water.
Heating Vents
You can clean this hard to reach spot by placing a cloth over a butter knife and sticking it in between each slat.
Electronics
This includes your remote control, computer keyboards, cell phones, and anything else you touch a lot. Power everything off and take out the batteries, if it has batteries. Use a cotton pad or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean germs away.
Car Steering Wheel
Spray a cloth or paper towel with some disinfectant all-purpose cleaner and use it to wipe down your car’s steering wheel.
Dryer Lint Trap
We know to remove the lint from our dryer traps but rinsing the lint trap with warm soapy water and letting it dry overnight every six months will help your dryer last longer and improve its performance.
Door Knobs and Switch Plates
Rub this down with a cloth or paper towel soaked in white vinegar.
Exhaust Fan
Use a can of electronic dusting spray or the brush attachment of your vacuum to get the exhaust fan in your bathroom clean.
Washing Machine
Pour two cups of vinegar and run your washing machine without clothes or detergent. The vinegar will help to clear out any detergent gunk that’s built up.
Trash Cans
For a good cleaning, you can fill up your garbage can with hot water and bleach, let it sit for a bit before your rinse it clean and dry. You can spritz your can with all-purpose cleaner in between those cleans to keep it fresh.
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featured image credit: HouseBeautiful
