Eleven Things that We Need to Clean–but Forget

Whether your cleaning routine is just the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry or you keep a file of certain chores to do throughout the days, weeks, and years, there are likely some things that you miss along the way.

I know I’m certainly guilty of only cleaning what’s really right in front of me, instead of tackling whole sections at a time. Let’s be honest. Who really thinks to clean their baseboards every week? I’m sure there are a few, but most likely, you just do the chores you need to get you through the week.

And although this isn’t a bad strategy, some things can get neglected for too long and can become a hazard to your health. I read that Americans spend almost 90% of their time indoors. I didn’t want to believe it, but know that it’s true. So, the best thing that we can do for ourselves is to make our indoor air as clean as we possibly can by cleaning every inch of our home the best way we can.

I know you already know how to clean the basics, but today’s blog is to help you identify and tackle those forgotten tasks. To help you do this, I’ve compiled a list of 11 things that we need to clean, but often forget about:

1. Light Fixtures: Everyone has them somewhere in their home, but they often get neglected and collect dust and dirt. Spritz a small amount of a  general cleaner, such as vinegar, and wipe off your fixture.

2. Air Conditioning Vents: These areas can get pretty dirty, and are often right in front of us, just waiting to be cleaned. This is an easy clean as well. So just spray your all-purpose cleaner, swipe, and you’re good to go.

3. Ceiling Fans: This was always the one thing I forgot to do when I moved out of apartments and sometimes got charged for it. Take a paper towel or a feather duster and swipe the dust off before you breathe it in!

4. Headboards: Depending on what type of headboard you have (whether it’s upholstered or iron) you should clean it at least seasonally. Try to vacuum your upholstered headboard every other week to avoid dust, and then schedule a professional upholstery cleaning to get it nice and sparkling. Iron and wood headboards can be wiped down with a general cleaner to eliminate dust and dirt.

5. Computer Keyboards: The first place we go when we get home from work is often toward the computer. Our computer keyboards can contain a little bit of everything from food crumbs, sticky drink spills, and thousands and thousands of germs. There are several different types of keyboards out there, so make sure that you’re using the right kind of cleaning agent for your computer. Also, make sure your computer is turned off when you’re cleaning a piece of it.

6. Draperies/ Curtains: Drapes or curtains can hold a ton of dirt and dust, and they often get overlooked when it comes to cleaning. Most of us don’t want to bother with them because it’s such a hassle to get them all down and put back up. Lucky for you, Kiwi Services hangs the drapes right where they hang!

7. Reusable Shopping Bags: We often use these bags for groceries or miscellaneous shopping trips, but many of us never wash them. Make sure to wash these bags in a hot cycle and dry according to the instructions.

8. Shower Curtains: The bathroom is one of the dirtiest places in our home. And the shower curtain, well, it can get pretty disgusting. You can put all cloth and most plastic curtains right in your washing machine. Add one cup of white vinegar in your cycle and hang up to dry once clean.

9. Shower Heads: Again, cleaning every possible inch of your bathroom is advisable. Plus, you can do this in your sleep! Just pour a liberal amount of white vinegar into a large Ziploc bag and tie around your shower head with a rubber band or two. Let the shower head soak over night and rinse off the next morning for a clean and beautiful shower.

10. Trash Cans: Although trash cans should be replaced periodically, you can wash them to eliminate germs. Place small trash cans in the dishwasher, and hose down your large cans outside with a general cleaning mixture or in the bathtub. If you clean your trash can in the bath tub, don’t forget to clean it afterwards!

11. Welcome Mats: Your welcome mat is intended to catch dirt and germs, so it too, needs a cleaning once in a while. If your mat has a rubber based back, then you can just throw it in with the wash. If the mat has a vinyl backing, consider taking it to the car wash and scrubbing it off. And, if you can’t figure it out, it might be time to buy a new one.

Happy cleaning!