Did you see that meme that said:
Me in 2019 – If I could just have one week at home with nothing else to do, I’d get my place in order.
Me in 2021 – Nope, that wasn’t it.
Cleaning is not often considered the most exciting task, even with Marie Kondo’s help. Though there is a sense of satisfaction to be had when you’ve got it done.
If you’re a master cleaner, then that’s awesome, go you! But for many of us, there may be parts of our homes we’ve forgotten to sort out recently…if at all.
We can get desensitised to our home environments and that is partly what can cause us to miss certain things off our regular schedule.
Get rid of germs and dirt from every nook and cranny with this list of commonly forgotten areas.
Underneath things
Have you checked under your bed lately? Or under your sofa?
Dust and grime can easily accumulate where eyes don’t go. Shift things about and give it a good vacuuming.
It might be a job for more than one person so you don’t hurt yourself (and then you could recreate the famous ‘Pivot!’ scene from Friends – win-win!).
Behind things
When’s the last time you moved things like your TV or pictures on the wall?
The lack of air flow around these sorts of things can cause a dust build up. Electronics in particular cause accumulation of the stuff due to the static and fans they often have.
Use a microfibre cloth to easily freshen up these areas and reduce any allergy attacks. Don’t forget the areas around items like your fridge and freezer too.
Lighting
You might not spend much time looking at your light fittings. You use them to see by, not to look at after all.
If you have wall or ceiling lights, it could well be worth getting the duster out. They easily attract dust and often insects too.
Use a stable stepladder, ideally with someone to help. Make sure the electrics are off so you remove any risk of hurting yourself.
It can be a good idea to put a dust sheet underneath that you can just shake out when you’re done.
Light switches
Switches are used so often that we often forget to clean them as they’re almost unnoticed. With many hands touching them, it’s surprising how they can accumulate ick. Particularly if you’ve got children at home who are still learning how to wash their hands.
Use a microfibre cloth to quickly refresh these parts of your home.
Door handles
Lots of bacteria can live where lots of hands go so just as light switches get heavy use, door handles are the same.
Clean them using the same method as light switches. You could even put them on your schedule at the same time to save time and brain space.
Remote controls
Continuing the theme of many hands make muck, it’s very easy to forget to clean the TV remotes. Games controllers are the same.
We use them to achieve something else, much in the same way we do a light switch, so they almost fade into the background.
An anti-bacterial spray works wonders for removing built-up grime and germs. Remove batteries from electrical items and spray product, like Dettol, onto a cloth so it’s not sopping wet. Take care to wipe gently so the buttons or joysticks aren’t damaged either.
Blinds
Thinking of things that fade into the background, blinds are easy to forget unless you consciously add them to your cleaning schedule.
Don’t forget to clean the head rail where dust and debris can quickly build up too.
For horizontal blinds, wipe a duster along the top and bottom of each section. Or damp cloth if you prefer. You can even get specialised brushes for as little as £2.49 if you find that simpler.
Vertical blinds should be cleaned from top to bottom so the dust falls away. A vacuum cleaner with a gentle brush attachment can also work wonders. Depending on the material, you can sometimes even remove them and soak them in a bath or use a washing machine to get them sparkling.
Curtains may be able to be washed or laundered, you just need to check the label.
Heated towel rails
Heated towel rails in bathrooms are one of my favourite things. There’s nothing nicer than a warm towel when you step out of the bath and it keeps them fresher for longer too.
But because the towels are so often covering the rail, it’s a really easy thing to forget to clean, despite the amount of fluff, dust, and water splashes that they get covered in.
Use a damp cloth on top and underneath each individual rail and on the sides. Be careful it’s not too hot to touch though of course. Use a dry cloth immediately on each section too as this really brings out the shine and helps to prolong the life of the rail from rust.
Loos
As we’re in the bathroom, let’s take a closer look at the loo. More specifically, the base of the toilet.
If you’ve got little (and sometimes not so little) boys in the house this is definitely something you need to be adding to your schedule regularly as it can be an area that gets a bit stinky.
Once you’ve cleaned the rest of the bathroom, you can use the same reusable cloth with antibacterial spray and put the cloth straight into the wash. Alternatively, use paper towels but be aware you can’t then compost them if you’re using antibacterial spray.
Loo brushes
Last but definitely not least, let’s consider the humble loo brush. With possibly one of the worst jobs in the home, this simple implement is one of those things that should really be replaced quite often but is often forgotten about.
Take the loo brush and the holder, leave them to soak in warm, soapy water for at least an hour. Alternatively, you could put them in cool water with a few drops of bleach to really kill off any bacteria.
Leave to dry in the sun as this helps ensure any remaining bacteria doesn’t survive.
By adding all these easily forgotten areas to your cleaning schedule, you don’t need to keep them all in your head. You then know they’re getting done regularly, whether that’s fortnightly or monthly, whatever you prefer.
What other parts of your home do you always ensure you give a quick once-over to every now and then for that ‘deep clean feel’?
