The dirtiest spots in your house that are most likely to be missed

If you find it difficult to remember all the areas that need cleaning in your home, creating a schedule can help you stay organized. Sparkle and Shine suggest starting by making a list of tasks for each room. Consider how often each task needs to be done based on your lifestyle. For example, if you have pets, you may need to vacuum more frequently. Prioritize the tasks based on your preferences and cleaning goals. Decide if you prefer doing a little bit each day or tackling everything at once.

Once you have gathered all the necessary information, you can create a personalized cleaning routine. If you need assistance with the first step of listing tasks for each room, here are 30 often forgotten places in your home that you can add to your schedule. These areas are divided into three categories: general spaces, kitchen items, and bathroom or laundry room tasks.

General Spaces:

1. Light switches: Take a moment to wipe down your light switches, which are touched daily. Add this task to your schedule for every room.
2. Door handles: Similar to light switches, door handles are frequently used but easily overlooked. Clean them regularly to maintain hygiene.
3. Trash cans: Washing your trash cans with soap and water can eliminate grime and unpleasant odours.
4. Indoor plants: Dust can accumulate on plant leaves, affecting their health. Regularly wipe them with a dry cloth, including faux plants for a cleaner and more realistic appearance.
5. Baseboards: Wipe down baseboards as they collect dust and dirt from shoes, furniture, and airborne particles.
6. Reusable shopping bags: If you use reusable shopping bags, clean them by either washing them in the machine or giving them a quick scrub to remove dirt and residues from unwashed produce.
7. Art and picture frames: Dust off picture frames and artwork regularly, as they easily collect dust.
8. Walls: While often overlooked, walls can get dirty. Consider cleaning them periodically, especially if you’ve noticed accumulated dirt or before painting.
9. Candles: Give open candles a quick swipe with a damp cloth to remove dust and dirt that may have accumulated on the wax.
10. Tops of doors: Dust can settle on the top of doors and door trims. Clean this area using a damp cloth or fluffy duster.
11. Remote controls: Clean your frequently used remote controls regularly since they come into contact with hands and can harbour germs and dirt.
12. Throw pillows: Don’t forget to clean your throw pillows, either by washing them in the machine or wiping them down with a damp or dry cloth, depending on the material.
13. Lamps and light fixtures: Wipe down the surfaces of light fixtures and table lamps regularly, as they tend to collect dust.
14. Behind pet food bowls: Scrub the wall behind your pet’s food bowls to remove any splatters or stains caused by their messy eating habits.
15. Fan blades: Dust and clean the fan blades to prevent the circulation of dust particles in the air, which can worsen allergies.
16. Soap dispensers: Since soap dispensers are used when hands are dirty, they can harbour germs. Regularly clean them to maintain cleanliness.
17. Leather furniture: Vacuum, dust, or wipe down the surface of leather furniture to keep it well-maintained and extend its lifespan.
18. Vacuum cleaner: While the vacuum cleaner cleans your floors, don’t forget to clean the appliance itself. Rinse the filter regularly, wipe down the exterior, and remove trapped hair or dust.

Kitchen Items:

19. Small appliances: Remember to clean smaller appliances like toasters, which have crumb trays that should be regularly emptied. Wipe down the exterior to remove dust or oil splatters.
20. Inside the refrigerator: Although it can be inconvenient, regularly clean the inside of your fridge to prevent odours from forming.
21. Above the cabinets: Clean the area above your kitchen cabinets to remove dust bunnies that accumulate in these often-neglected spaces.
22. Chairs and stools: Wipe down chairs and stools in your breakfast nook, island, or bar area, as they frequently collect crumbs or spills.
23. Dishwasher: Don’t forget to clean your dishwasher, including locating and cleaning the filter, which is usually found under the bottom rack.
24. Automatic coffee maker: Clean the exterior of your automatic coffee maker and run vinegar through a few cycles to keep it fresh and free from residue.
25. Backsplash: Add cleaning the backsplash to your schedule since it can accumulate oil or food splatters that may go unnoticed.

Bathroom and Laundry Room Tasks:

26. Laundry baskets: Clean your laundry basket regularly, especially if you use it for both dirty and clean clothes.
27. Washing machine: Clean both the inside and outside of your washing machine. Wipe down the exterior with a suitable cleaner and cloth, and use baking soda and vinegar to clean the inside.

28. Shower heads: If you have hard water, mineral build up can affect water flow. Wipe down your shower head frequently to prevent this.

29. Shower curtain liners: Regularly clean your shower curtain liner, as the humid environment can lead to mould growth. Simply throw it in the washing machine for cleaning.
30. Bath mats: Don’t forget to clean your bath mat, either by washing it in the machine or scrubbing it by hand, to maintain cleanliness and prevent odours.

By including these often-forgotten areas in your cleaning schedule, you can ensure that your home is consistently fresh and tidy.

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This post was written by kirstyrickett