I think I might be able to count on my hand the number of people that enjoy cleaning their homes. I love having a clean home, but it is not something I enjoy doing. Today I have the 5 most forgotten areas when cleaning your home. You might think they don’t matter but they are all a big collector of dirt & bacteria.
I have been lucky enough in the past to have a cleaning service come into our home. There is something amazing about leaving in the morning to a “dirty” house and coming home to a sparkling clean house! Well, now I am the “cleaning lady”. Lol! I have developed a system; I will probably do a blog post on that later! If you are your home’s cleaning lady like I am, then you will want to take note of these 5 most forgotten areas!
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1. Base of the Toilet
Can I just say yuck from the start?! This just might be one of my least favorite jobs! But someone must do it, right? This area will collect a whole lot of dust, dirt, urine (if you have guys in your life), and bacteria. It is important to always disinfect this area every time you clean the toilet bowl. I would also recommend trying to get behind the bowl as much as possible.
If there was ever a time to use a Clorox Wipe this would be it! I understand it isn’t very “green” to us a disposable wipe, but they are great for disinfecting and cleaning the area. Another option would be to use an old rag or microfiber towel designated for this purpose and wash it after you are finished. Just be sure not to use that same towel to wipe off your bathroom sinks! Lol!
2. Light Switches & Covers
After we bought our current house, I noticed it looked like the prior owner never wiped down any of the home’s light switches or plate covers. It was something I noticed almost immediately. We ended up replacing almost all the plate covers, but I have incorporated wiping down all our home’s switches and covers into my cleaning routine.
If you think about it, they are always having dirty hands touching them. Whether coming in from being out & about, the first thing you do is turn on the light. Then hopefully wash your hands! The switches in the bathroom are also a must-wipe down. I also typically use Clorox wipes on these, but you can also use a microfiber towel with a little disinfectant spray on it. I use micro-fiber towels to clean almost everything else in our home.
3. Door Handles, Frames, & Doors
Okay, this one kind of piggybacks off the light switch one! Anything that is touched often will harbor germs and bacteria. Studies have shown they can have over 3,000 different types of bacteria.
So don’t only wipe down those door handles when someone in your household is sick but do it on a routine basis. Plus, don’t forget about your exterior door handles! You know, garage door and front door!
Another area that is often overlooked for cleaning is the door frame and the actual door itself. Have you ever taken a good look at them? You should, they often have nice big handprints on them. It is a great idea to on occasion give them a good wipe down! This isn’t something I would per se do every time you clean but it should be in your rotation.
4. Stair Rails
Have you ever seen anyone take their hand and swipe it down the stair rail or banister? I have and all I can think of is the dirt and germs being spread down it! Lol! But seriously this is a commonly missed spot in our homes! You might be surprised if you go clean the one in your house. And don’t get me started on the spindles! At least no one touches them except small children!
This is something that I really recommend you add to your regular routine when cleaning. And especially don’t forget to give this is good disinfecting if someone is sick in your home.
5. Blinds/Shutters
I don’t know about you, but I am a plantation shutters kind of girl. And I love the way they look, and they really help keep out the Florida sun and heat! I find myself dusting them about every other week. Both blinds and shutters can collect dust.
You might be wondering why it’s important to clean and dust your blinds. They will collect dirt, dust, and allergen buildup. If you or anyone in your home has issues with allergies that could trigger them. The more you keep up with them the less time it will take. If you let that dirt and dust buildup, it will be much more time-consuming.
A Few Cleaning Tips!
- Start from the top and work your way down. Aka floors last!
- Try not to shift your clutter around. Just get rid of the clutter! Less is better! If you need any tips on organizing I did a blog post awhile back you might want to check out, My Top 5 Home Organizing Tips! You can read that here.
- Keep all your cleaning supplies together so it is easy to grab, and you aren’t running around looking for them all. (Then you get discouraged/distracted and won’t do it!)
- Don’t do it all at once. Come up with a schedule that will work for you. If you know what to expect you are more likely to get it done. If you plan to “clean whenever” it will never happen!
Are any of these a surprise to you or are they already on your to-do list? If you have any suggestions for us, please share them below in the comments!
To be honest, I frequently fail to remember to clean my window coverings. This article served as a helpful prompt to put something on my list of things to do. The emphasis on green cleaning chemicals is much appreciated, and the advice for cleaning blinds and shades is very useful. I really appreciate the helpful suggestions.
Thank you! I am so happy that you found it helpful!
Great tips. I always carry a small pack of disposable disinfecting wipes to wipe down the handles and switches in hotel rooms too, as well as rental cars (steering wheels especially). Specifically in hotel rooms…. Everything! Toilet handle, door handles, switches and even the headboard. Never been brave enough for the black light test ;). I enjoy your articles and tips!
Thank you so much & thank you for sharing those great tips with us! Definitely helpful!