We all know how to clean our home, but there are actually easy to overlook tasks within the home, which are often missed when cleaning. Dust builds up where you might not think to look, and small maintenance jobs might slip your mind. Here are some hidden cleaning jobs you might want to consider adding to your cleaning routine.
Places Dust Loves To Linger
Dust likes to build up, and settle in out of the way places, and often only shows up when you shift any furniture, or change up your pictures on the wall.
Ceiling fans accumulate a lot of dust, with the dust clinging to the tops of the blades, which we can’t see from the bottom. This dust drops into the room whenever the fan is turned on.
Light fixtures are also a problem area, especially around light bulbs and inside light shades where the warmth encourages the dust to gather.
Check areas that “frame” a room, like your baseboards, as they collect dust and grim along the edges and in any detailing.
Window sills and window ledges pick up outdoor grime, pollen and pet hair, especially if you often have your windows open. Plus, air vents, as a build-up of dust within your air vent, will just blow the dust back into the room, and will end up settling on your surfaces.
Under Appliances And The Fridge Grille
Dust and grime collects under larger appliances, and behind the fridge grille. These problem areas collect a mix of dust, crumbs, and sticky residue.
With your fridge, make sure you switch it off, and unplug it from the wall, and remove the grille at the bottom, and vacuum around it, using the brush attachment on your vacuum.
If you can (safely) reach the coils, give them a gentle clean too. It is just a small job, but it’ll help your fridge to run more efficiently.
Use the crevice tool on your vacuum, a slim feather duster or long-handles brush, and pull out all of the debris from under your fridge and cooker.
Then, follow up with a microfiber cloth and an all-purpose cleaner to wipe along the floor edges, and any greasy patches.
Washing Machine Drawer And Rubber Gasket
Your washing machine might *look* clean from the outside, but the drawer and the rubber seal holds onto leftover detergent, fabric softener residue and damp grime. Over time, this buildup leads to mildew, and will make your washing smell damp and not as fresh as it should.
Start off by removing the detergent drawer, as far as it’ll go, then take it out completely. Soak the drawer in hot and soapy water for a few minutes, to loosen any sticky residue, and then scrub along the corners, and channels, where the residue tends to collect. Rinse it well, and allow it to fully dry before slotting it back in.
The most important job is the rubber gasket around the door of your washing machine – it collects so much grime, and can end up smelling pretty bad.
Gently pull it back, and wipe inside the folds around the whole door, removing lint, hair and trapped debris. Clean the seal with a mild bathroom spray, or a diluted vinegar mix, to ensure all of the build-up has been removed and cleaned.
Mattress Seams, Bed Frames And Under The Bed
When cleaning your bedrooms, you might forget the mattress seams, bed frames, and the spaces under the bed. They collect a steady mix of dust, dead skin, and crumbs, whenever the bedding is moved.
If you regularly wash your bedding, the grime still builds up in the piping and tufts of the mattress, making it harder to see.
Use your crevice tool on your vacuum, and run it along every seam on your mattress, especially around any buttons, tufts or stitching. Using a mattress protector will protect your mattress from collecting dirt and grime, and you can chuck it in your washing machine to easily clean it, which you obviously can’t do with a mattress.
Occasionally, lift the mattress from your bed frame, tighten any loose screws, straighten any slats, and give the area a proper clean. Pull out any under-bed storage, vacuum the floor, and wipe along the skirting boards under the bed, to stop the dust from building up.