Home cleaning is a necessity that many Australian households undertake regularly. In fact, the Australian cleaning services industry is set to reach $12 billion by 2029, according to IBISWorld. This growth reflects the increasing importance people place on maintaining clean living spaces. Yet, despite the best efforts, many homeowners often struggle with thorough cleaning. This is mainly due to overlooking certain areas, such as behind appliances, baseboards, or light fixtures. Those areas can collect dust, allergens, and harmful bacteria over time. That’s why understanding the commonly missed areas is essential. And knowing how to clean them effectively is indispensable for maintaining a spotless and healthy home environment.
Top 10 Overlooked Areas in Home Cleaning and How to Tackle Them
Take a look at this home cleaning checklist showing the ten most common areas people often neglect to clean along with some deep home cleaning tips.
Ceiling Fans
Your ceiling fan works hard every day to keep the air moving in your home. But it can also spread dust and allergens around at the same time. Since it is up high, we often forget to clean it. But dirty fan blades will push dust from the top of the room down below.
One easy way to clean each blade is by using an old pillowcase. Simply slip the pillowcase over the blade and pull it back towards the fan. This will trap all the dust inside the bag.
After using the pillowcase, take a damp microfibre cloth to wipe down the blades. This will remove any bits of dust missed by the pillowcase. When cleaning ceiling fans, don’t forget to also clean the fan motor and ceiling area around it.
Baseboards
If you take a good look, you’ll find a lot of dust and dirt collecting along your baseboards. It’s common in rooms that get a lot of foot traffic. And just regular sweeping and mopping may not remove all the gunk.
For cleaning baseboards, try using your vacuum’s brush attachment. This is perfect for getting into the edges along the floor. You can also make a mix of water and a tiny bit of mild dish soap. Simply use a damp cloth dipped in the solution to wipe down baseboards. And for really stubborn spots, a magic eraser can really work magic.
Behind and Under Appliances
The areas behind and under your big appliances can collect lots of crumbs and grease. This could be the fridge, stove, and dishwasher. Since these spots are hard to see, they often get missed when cleaning. Areas like behind the toaster, microwave, or coffee maker need checking regularly, too, before messes build up.
So, the next time you have appliances pulled away from the wall, remember to sweep and mop behind and under them. A degreaser spray works great for cutting through built-up grime on the backs and sides.
For inside kitchen appliance cleaning, like microwaves and air fryers, use a mix of warm water and dish soap. It lets you soak stuck-on messes easily. Just let it sit for a bit before wiping it clean. This makes cleaning quick and thorough.
Light Fixtures
Over time, light fixtures and lampshades above our heads collect lots of dust and tiny bugs. This makes lights look darker and can stir up allergens in the air we breathe. Since they are up high, we sometimes skip cleaning them. But tackling what’s on top helps rid your home of dust and pet hair that bothers breathing.
If a light can be safely taken down, pop it off before cleaning. Then, gentle soap and warm water will be enough to tackle the job. For lampshades, go over them with a lint roller or vacuum brush to pull off dust. But you might need an electric duster when cleaning dust high up in harder spots.
Window Blinds
Out of all the cleaning jobs, window blinds seem the dullest to tackle. It’s easy to leave them dusty when rushing around. But over time, blinds collect a lot of gunk just hanging out of view. Cleaning them right can require some effort, too.
So, if you aren’t ready to hassle through it, you can take advantage of our window tracks and blind cleaning services at Eco Cleaning Brisbane.
When DIYing, though, you can close your blinds and wipe each slat with a damp cloth. Blind cleaning tools also work well for stuck-on grime. As for curtains, check the care tags before washing. Or give them a dusting with your vacuum’s brush. An electric duster also lifts dust off in a flash.
Air Filters and Ducts
If you’ve noticed your AC not cooling as well lately, it may be time to the forgotten cleaning spots of your home’s vents and air ducts. Over months, these hard-to-reach areas collect lots of dust and allergens that can harm air quality.
Washing is the easiest way to refresh vent covers. Just use warm water and a little soap. To clean inside vents, you can simply attach your vacuum hose. This sucks out hidden debris.
Also, replacing old filters regularly filters the most dust. While waiting, you can give filters a quick spritz of disinfectant. This removes any germs that could make you sneeze.
Cabinet Tops
Many of us often forget about cleaning the very tops of cabinets, shelves, and tall furniture. Since they’re up high, these areas tend to be out of sight. But your family touches them every day getting things down.
That’s why cabinets as a whole need cleaning even if not on eye level. With a step ladder, it’s easy to tidy what collects dust up high. Use a damp cloth with an all-purpose spray to wipe tops. In the kitchen where grease builds up, a degreaser works wonders.
Behind Toilets
The spot behind your toilet gets messy real fast. Since it is squeezed back there, dust, hair, and gunk can bunch up. After all, bathrooms see a lot of traffic each day, so this area needs some thorough cleaning.
Reaching behind the toilet to scrub can indeed feel tricky. But a long-handled brush often makes it way easier. You can simply spray with a mix of water and white vinegar or bathroom spray to cut through dirt. Also, be sure to disinfect with hydrogen peroxide or Clorox for mould prevention.
Grout
Grout lines between bathroom and kitchen tiles need cleaning a few times a year. Grout is very porous, so it tends to soak up stains without us noticing right away.
It gets dirty fastest in high-traffic spots like showers and backsplashes. Over months, grime builds up there. If you don’t clean it, grout can look really dull.
Cleaning grouts is quite an easy job, though. Simply get a soft brush and scrub grout with a homemade cleaner made of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. But you may need a specialised store-bought remover for bathroom grout cleaning.
Under Furniture
Lost toys, pacifiers, spoons, or remotes often make their way under the couches and beds. And those places are also a favourite spot for huge dust bunnies and cobwebs to gather. Since we can’t see under furniture, this area gets forgotten when cleaning.
But all that dust just piles up over time hiding away. So, the next time you vacuum, don’t forget to move furniture like couches and beds if you can. You can attach a long hose to your vacuum that reaches far under there. But for big furniture that’s hard to budge, you may have to try furniture sliders.
Door Frames and Light Switches
Doors and light switches get used more frequently than you can imagine. And all that handling means lots of germs hiding there. Since we don’t always think to clean these spots, gunk builds up over time.
But keeping doorways and switches clean is important since they get so much action. Give them both a wipe down regularly using disinfectant wipes. You can also use a cloth dipped in a warm water-detergent mix.
Toothbrush Holder
Brushing your teeth twice a day means your toothbrush holder gets messy fast from drips and toothpaste globs. And cleaning it isn’t always fun with all that gunk.
But you can use a simple yet professional cleaning advice. Mix one part bleach with three parts water. Soak the holder to cut through grime. Rinse and flip it upside down to air dry. Using this bleach-soak method regularly keeps your toothbrush holder fresh and hygienic over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should you clean your mattress?
You should give your mattress a good cleaning every 6 to 12 months. The easiest way is to use your vacuum’s upholstery brush to clean the whole top and sides. And if you see any small stains, it’s best to spot-treating them with a clean cloth soaked in warm water and mild soap.
How often should you wash your sheets?
Most people wash their sheets once a week, which is usually enough. But if you sweat a lot at night or have skin/allergy issues, cleaning twice a week may be better.
How often should you clean your pillows?
It’s recommended to wash pillows every 3 months or whenever they look dirty. Lay pillows flat in the tub or outside and scrub each side with a vegetable brush under running water. For extra freshness, you can add 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.
How often should you clean hard floors?
Hard floors like wood, tile, and laminate need sweeping or mopping about 1-2 times a week to keep them fresh. Sweeping daily lifts smaller dirt but mopping weekly with a microfiber mop and cleaner really cuts through stuck-on grime.
Final Word
Cleaning hidden areas with the care they need always makes a big difference. It also significantly improves the cleanliness and health of your living space. And our home cleaning hacks will surely help you tackle these neglected cleaning tasks and ensure cleaning nooks and crannies around your home. However, if you find yourself overwhelmed or short on time, consider calling in professional help. At Eco Cleaning Brisbane, with over 20 years of experience, we can ensure your home is thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom. Whether it’s your next major cleaning project or a general house cleaning, we promise to leave you with the clean home you deserve.
