Every homeowner knows the basic spots of the house that needs to be kept clean. You may even have a weekly cleaning schedule that keeps your home sanitary and looking presentable, as well as a periodic deep clean to get into those nooks and crannies. However, no homeowner is perfect, and there may be a few things in your house that you are forgetting to clean.
Here are some of the things that people always forget to clean but definitely need to:
1. Air ducts
Air ducts are used in HVAC systems to deliver and remove air throughout the house. In general, they have to be cleaned every 3 to 5 years to prevent mold growth and keep your indoor air quality good. The fact that cleaning is far and few in between is the main reason why people keep forgetting that they have to call a professional air duct cleaning service, and then eventually suffer from the negative effects of dirty air ducts.
2. Dishwasher
You’d think that an appliance that cleans dishes will keep itself clean. However, dishwashers need regular cleaning to prevent germs from building up and maintain the overall efficiency of the appliance.
3. Underneath appliances
Don’t just clean the insides and exteriors of your appliances. Be sure to clean the space underneath them, too. There’s bound to be a buildup of dirt, dust, and debris there.
4. Shower curtain
Just because a shower curtain makes regular contact with soap and water doesn’t mean it’s clean. Quite the opposite is true, really, as soap scum and mildew can easily accumulate on the surface. Clean your shower curtain at least once every two weeks to keep it hygienic.
5. Coffee maker
You can’t see it, but your coffee maker has mineral buildup from all the water that passes through it. Descale your coffee maker every once in a while by running a vinegar-water cycle.
6. Keys
You use them every day and yet, they are rarely cleaned, if they are even cleaned at all. Give them a good wash every now and then with some dish soap. If there is rust on your keys, soak them in vinegar and water mixture for at least 20 minutes.
7. Can opener
Food residue can stick to the blades of a can opener. Rinsing it with water may not be good enough to get rid of the food stuck between its nooks and crannies, so toss it in the dishwasher after every use.
8. Remote controls
Remote controls are touched almost every day by different people in the house, making it the perfect conduit for germs. Wipe them down with disinfectant to keep them from transferring germs to every person that uses them.
9. Toys
When was the last time you cleaned your children’s toys? If you’re like any other homeowner, it was probably a long time ago–or never at all. But keep in mind that children don’t always wash their hands as often as they should and generally like to touch dirty things, so make it a point to clean their toys at least once a month.
10. Reusable bags
These reusable bags have probably accumulated a lot of germs during the course of your shopping trip. After all, they’ve been in a lot of places–your car, the supermarket, the floor, the kitchen counter. Throw them in the washing machine with the rest of the laundry at least once a week to keep them clean.
11. Indoor plants
Both real and faux plants can collect a lot of dust over time. Keep them clean by removing dust with a microfiber cloth or a duster.
12. Cleaning tools
Your mop, vacuum cleaner, broom, rags, and other cleaning tools need periodic cleaning, too. Otherwise, you’re just spreading germs from one place to another.
13. Toaster
Think of all the crumbs that are settling at the bottom of your toaster. Aside from attracting pests, letting crumbs linger can facilitate the growth of bacteria on your toaster and have that bacteria transfer to your food.
14. Ceiling fan
When you don’t clean your ceiling fan regularly, you are essentially spreading dust all over the room. Don’t skip on this chore because it’s extremely easy–just use a pillowcase or a dryer sheet to get rid of the dust in no time.
15. Toothbrush holder
Your toothbrush holder is likely laden with bacteria and mold from constant moisture. Wash it once in a while to prevent illness-causing germs from transferring to your toothbrush.
Are you forgetting to clean one or more of these things in your house? Fret not, it’s not too late to add them to your regular cleaning schedule.
