Your house might look great after a quick cleaning, but that doesn't mean your house is really clean everywhere. It's easy to overlook certain features and areas of your home that you don't use often. Sure, it's easy to think about cleaning your Keurig coffee maker or washing machine, but are you also thinking about cleaning that delicate space between your oven and kitchen cabinets ?
Hidden germs and dirt can linger in unexpected places, but I've listed nine spots in your home that you may have overlooked that you should put an effort into next time you deep clean. (See How to Clean Workout Clothes and How to Clean a Yoga Mat for more cleaning tips .)
1. Microwave Blanket
Microwaves get a lot of spatter, and even if you clean the sides and glass top regularly, you might be missing another important part: the roof.
Vera Peterson, President of Molly Maid, said the best way to cleanse this delicate area is to add 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 cup water and microwave the solution for three minutes. The walls inside the oven become coated in hot, acidic moisture, so you can simply scrub away stuck food with a sponge.
2. Dryer openings
You may know that you should empty the lint trap after every load of laundry you dry, but did you know that you should also give your dryer vents a thorough cleaning at least once a year? Scott Thomas, systems manager at Dryer Vent Wizard, says you need to take an extra step if you use dryer sheets frequently.
"Dryer towels leave a wax buildup on the lint filter and can start fires," Thomas said.
The vents are best cleaned with warm, soapy water and an old toothbrush. Thomas recommends cleaning the air vents every three to six months.
3. TV screen
Many people watch TV every day but don't consider it part of their weekly dusting routine. Peterson recommends keeping your TV cleaning routine simple: just quickly run a feather duster or microfiber cloth over the vents, speakers, and other crevices.
If the screen itself needs additional cleaning, use a mild cleaning solution labeled safe for electronic screens. Also pay attention to the amount of cleaning solution you use.
"Your television is an electronic [device], so it should never be overloaded with products," Peterson said. "Always spray onto your cloth, never directly onto the device."
Many people watch TV every day but don't make it a part of their weekly cleaning routine.
Emilie Manevska/Getty Images4. Space between your oven and cabinets or walls
Because it's usually quite small, most people are unaware that the space between the oven and kitchen cabinets or walls can create a huge mess. Because you cook and prepare meals in this area, crumbs, spills and splashes can quickly accumulate, which can lead to odors.
5. Ceiling fan blades
You only have to look up to see the dust and dirt that can collect on your ceiling fan blades. However, there is a simple solution.
Simply disconnect the power supply to the fan and place a ladder or step stool underneath. Slide a pillowcase over each sheet in turn, using the top to clean the sheet and the bottom to catch dirt. Then use a lint-free cloth sprayed with an all-purpose cleaner to remove any remaining dirt and wipe the base and lamp.
Read more: Take extra care of your ceiling fan. could save you money
If you regularly use small kitchen appliances like a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder, you know how difficult it can be to clean every nook and cranny. This set of cleaning brushes is designed to get into even the hardest-to-reach places on virtually any device you own. As a bonus, you can also use them for general cleaning in the bathroom or kitchen.
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6. Cutlery drawer
There are many surfaces in the kitchen where heavy dirt can accumulate. Your cutlery tray may seem like a surface that stays clean since you only place freshly cleaned cutlery on it after rinsing, but that's not really the case.
Peterson says that many utensils are not completely clean after a wash, which in turn soils the cutlery tray.
The good news is that you only have to take care of this task once a month. Simply remove all your cutlery from the tray and dispose of the waste in your bin or sink. Using a mixture of two parts water and one part distilled vinegar, dampen a clean cloth and wipe down the bowl. If the tray is dishwasher safe, you can also run it in a cycle.
Many utensils are not completely clean after a wash cycle.
Saint Isra/500px/Getty Images7. Mosquito nets
Dirt can easily transfer from a dirty window screen to your glass and make your window dirty no matter when you've cleaned it.
"A clean window's worst enemy is a dirty screen," said Ken Fisk, Window Genie Technical Services Manager.
However, you don't have to do much to clean a screen. Remove the screens, use a dry brush to remove any obvious dirt from the screen, then simply rinse with a hose. Allow the screens to dry by spreading them out on a towel in your yard, then reinstall the screens on your windows.
8. Remote Controls
A remote control is used so often in most homes that it doesn't get a chance to collect dust. However, frequent use is exactly why you should clean them frequently, as remote controls can pick up germs from your hands. Try to clean it with disinfectant wipes at least once a day or as needed.
9. Sides of the refrigerator
The front and sides of your refrigerator should be cleaned regularly. Germs outside the fridge can easily get onto your hands, which then touch the foods you eat.
To clean the outside of a fridge, simply close the door and wipe the outside of the fridge with a sudsy cloth. If you have a stainless steel appliance, use a store-bought stainless steel spray to remove fingerprints and dirt.
Peterson recommends a nifty trick if you don't have a stainless steel sprayer: apply baby oil to a microfiber cloth and wipe in the direction of the grain. And as a bonus, baby oil costs next to nothing compared to store-bought cleaning products.
Baby oil is a practical alternative to stainless steel cleaner.
s-cphoto/fake picsFor more tips on cleaning your fridge, read what foods to throw away when you give your fridge a deep clean and how often you should clean it.
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