When it comes to deep cleaning, even after doing our best, there are some spots in every home that often get overlooked in the daily or weekly cleaning routine. Corners and crevices where dust and grime can build up without you even realizing it. Although there are many professional home cleaning services available nowadays, yet we sometimes feel like doing it ourselves.
This article uncovers some of the most commonly neglected areas in homes and provides tips for giving them a deep cleaning. Get ready to roll up your sleeves, grab your cleaning caddy, and uncover the hidden dirt in your living space as we delve into cleaning behind and under furniture, ceiling fans, air vents, windows, baseboards, appliances, drawers, light switches, and more. Your home is about to get a refresh in places you didn’t even know needed it. Let’s get started!
1. Deep Cleaning Behind and Under Furniture
Move the sofa, loveseat, chairs, and tables away from the walls. Vacuum up cobwebs and dust while you’re at it. Wipe down baseboards and spot-clean any marks on the walls or flooring.
Pull the bed away from the wall and clean under and behind the headboard. Vacuum up dust and debris under the bed frame and mattress. Mop or wipe the area to disinfect.
Don’t forget dressers, cabinets, and shelving units. Remove everything from the top and sides so you can slide the furniture out and clean behind. Wipe them down before putting everything back.
A deep cleaning behind and under furniture should be done at least once a month. Your space will feel so much fresher, and your allergies will thank you. A clean home starts with cleaning the spots you can’t see every day. For this you do not need any special tool or home cleaning services. You can follow a routine for deep cleaning these hidden corners will always stay sparkly.
2-Reaching High for Ceiling Fan and Light Fixture Cleaning
Start deep cleaning by vacuuming and dusting the blades, bulbs and exterior of the fixtures to remove surface grime. For stuck-on messes, wipe each blade with detergent and water, or disinfecting wipes.
Next, unscrew any globes or covers and soak them in a tub of soapy water. Scrub off hard water spots and polish with a soft cloth. Rinse and dry completely before reassembling.
3- Not Ignoring Air Vents and Ducts
- Use a vacuum with an extension hose or crevice tool to suction out any loose debris from vents and the outer duct openings you can access for deep cleaning.
- For ducts, you may need to unscrew vent covers to get inside. Use a duct brush, vacuum and damp cloth to wipe them down.
- Change or clean filters in vents, heaters, and air purifiers since they help trap particles before they enter the ducts.
- Wipe down vent covers and grates with an all-purpose cleaner or degreaser before putting them back on.
4- Window Sills & Tracks: Must be Done Cleaning
Get into the corners and edges where dust likes to gather. For stuck-on debris, use an old toothbrush.
Twice a year, give your window tracks and sliders a deep clean. Use a vacuum with an extension hose or crevice tool to suck out built-up dirt and cobwebs. Then, dampen a cloth with cleaner and wipe down the entire track. For sliders, pull the panels out and wipe both sides, in the track, and all around the edges.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to clean the window panes and screens. Dirty windows and screens make a room seem dingy even if the sills and tracks are clean. Do a quick wipe down of both sides of the glass and wipe or hose off screens.
5- Appliances Cleaning: Deep Cleaning Forgotten Areas
For deep cleaning, use a vacuum with an extension hose or brush to suck up dust and debris underneath and behind. For stuck-on messes, use an all-purpose cleaner or degreaser and hot, soapy water. Scrub off residue with an sponge or scrubber. Once you’ve cleaned the surfaces, mop or wipe away excess liquid.
Make a routine to clean the insides of your fridge once or twice a week (depending upon your usage). Nobody likes a smelly fridge in which the fresh food is hidden behind the oiles of expired and dead food.
Getting into unseen and sometimes inconvenient corners of your home will make a big difference in your indoor air quality and overall cleanliness. Set aside time for a deep dive behind and under major appliances at least 2-3 times a year or if you start to notice excess dirt or odors. Your home and family will breathe easier!
6- Inside Drawers and Cabinets- Decluttering is also Deep Cleaning
Go through each drawer and cabinet one by one. Remove everything and wipe down the inside with an all-purpose cleaner or disinfectant wipe. Look for crumbs, spills or sticky spots and clean as needed. For stubborn messes, use a degreaser spray. Vacuum out any dust or debris in the tracks and runners.
As you go, sort through items and purge anything expired or that you do not use. Donate or throw away chipped or mismatched containers, old linens, and half-used bottles of cleaning products. Group together items that belong together. Add drawer dividers or bins to keep everything organized.
Once everything is cleaned and decluttered, put items back in an organized fashion.
7- Air Purifiers and Filters: Best Efficiency and Health
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For the health of you and your family, it’s important to keep the filters in your air purifiers clean. Dirty, clogged filters can’t properly clean the air in your home, reducing efficiency and potentially re-circulating contaminants.
Make a habit of checking your air purifier filters monthly. If the filter looks visibly dirty or the purifier seems to be running louder, it’s probably time for a change. Replace HEPA filters every 6-12 months for the best performance. Activated carbon pre-filters may need changing more often, around every 3-6 months.
8- Ventilation Fans: Need more Care
Exhaust fans pull moisture, grease, and pollutants from the air in your home. After a few months of use, dust and grime will build up on fan blades and grills, reducing efficiency.
Clean exhaust fan grills at least once a season by wiping them down or vacuuming to remove built-up grease and lint. For stubborn grease splatters, use a degreaser spray and scrub with an old toothbrush. Remove fan grills and soak them in warm, soapy water if needed.
9- Mattresses & Pillows: Improving Sleep Hygienically
To freshen up your bedding, start by vacuuming your mattress to remove surface dirt and debris. Then, sprinkle a thin coat of baking soda and let it sit for at least 4 hours or overnight. The baking soda will help absorb odors and moisture. Vacuum up the baking soda and consider renting a carpet cleaning machine to steam clean and sanitize your mattress.
For pillows, wash or replace them every 6-12 months. Machine washable pillows can be laundered and then fluffed in the dryer. Non-washable pillows should be replaced regularly. Allergy sufferers may want to consider hypoallergenic pillows and mattress protectors.
Take Away
So there you have it, a deep cleaning checklist to uncover those overlooked corners in your home. Take it section by section and give your place a refresh. Once you’ve tackled the spots you usually miss, your home will feel fresher and you’ll breathe easier – literally – knowing those dust bunnies and grime gremlins have been banished. A clean home is a happy home, so grab your supplies, turn on some tunes and get cleaning – your sparkling space will make all that elbow grease worthwhile!
