When I think about how I clean my own home, I focus most of my attention on the floors, furniture, and fixtures that get the most traffic. By hitting the living/dining room area, the kitchen, and the hall bathroom often, I’m making sure that grime and germs aren’t building up somewhere unseen—or at least that’s what I thought!
But after some recent research, I discovered that there are some infamous germ infested and dirty spots that completely slipped my mind during my normal cleaning routine! And in fact, I’d bet most people are guilty of neglecting at least one or two of the most critical areas of their home!
So today I’m going to share a list of 7 messy places in homes that are often overlooked or ignored. Especially when Spring cleaning is on the horizon (or fall cleaning!), will hopefully serve as a reminder to all of us to make sure these spaces don’t get left in the dust—literally! 🙂
7 dirty places in your house you forget to clean
1. Kitchen counters
It’s common to set your stuff on the kitchen counter after coming home, especially if you’re coming back from the grocery store. Combine that with the potential for food contamination (especially from raw meat), and it’s no wonder that most kitchen counters are more serious than we might think!
Aim to clean your kitchen counters frequently (no more than once a day) and disinfect them as needed, such as after handling packages of raw meat being opened, or after unloading groceries. (Need a refresher on the difference between cleaning and disinfecting? Brush up here.)
2. Sponges
A kitchen sponge looks like prime real estate for bacteria, and you use that sponge to clean your dishes, not a good combination!
Familiarize yourself with 1-1-4 rule (Scroll down to #3) to know how often to clean your sponge and when it’s time to throw it away.
3. Dishwasher and washing machine
As surprising as it may sound, the machines that clean your dishes and clothes also need to be cleaned from time to time! Your cleaning Dishwasher And Washing machine Helps remove grime buildup and detergent residue that may be lurking in the inner workings of your appliances.
Cleaning your main appliances regularly—I try to do it once a month—is an easy way to ensure they continue to work efficiently and effectively.
4. Coffee makers and water dispensers
Hard water buildup, mildew, and mold are not things you want in your coffee or drinking water, but they can easily become problems if you’re not careful! To prevent such problems, it is important to regularly clean all reservoirs like your coffee maker, water dispenser, etc.
For general cleaning, wash water reservoirs with warm soapy water and then allow them to air dry completely with the lid or cap closed. (If hard water stains or mineral deposits are a problem, soak them in equal parts water and white vinegar for half an hour or more before washing.)
How often you need to clean your reservoirs will vary depending on your climate and how often you use the item in question, but once or twice a month is a good starting point!
5. Faucet
As for hard water buildup, it can also affect faucets in your kitchen and bathroom. Most of us in the US have hard water, which contains minerals like calcium that can clog our faucets and fixtures and form crusty or discolored deposits over time.
To keep these deposits to a minimum, scrub your faucet weekly with soapy water and a stiff brush or toothbrush. To remove particularly stubborn mineral deposits, try This method Use white vinegar.
6. Bath mats
It’s very easy to move your bath mat to the side while you clean or mop the bathroom floor, but it’s important to resist the temptation! Your bath mats and bath rugs also need to be cleaned, as they constantly collect dust, hair, makeup, hair products, and anything else that lands on your bathroom floor.
An easy way to keep them clean is to toss them in your washing machine once a week with your towel. (For this reason I always recommend choosing machine washable bath mats and rugs!)
7. Keyboards and Remotes
When was the last time you checked the spacing between the keys on your keyboard? They are especially prone to collecting crumbs if you like to snack while you work like I do!
Keyboards and other “touch points”—things or places that multiple people touch each day such as remotes, light switches and banisters—need to be cleaned more often than other surfaces around the home. An easy way to keep them clean and sanitized is to lightly spray alcohol on a clean cloth, then use it to clean your keyboard, remotes, and other touch points. (Be sure to clean all sides and get into any nooks and crannies too!)
Are there areas in your home that you neglect to clean?
