Places You Should Be Cleaning in Your House

When you clean your house, you’re probably hitting the obvious spots: wiping down kitchen counters and sinks, dusting furniture, and vacuuming or mopping your floors. The truth is, though, this is just scratching the surface. There are plenty of places homeowners forget to clean, and missing these spots can trap allergens in your house or even affect the performance of some of your most expensive appliances.

Next time you get ready to clean, add these places to your list:

Washing Machine/Dryer

Your washing machine and dryer are two of the most frequently used appliances in your house. Unfortunately, they’re also probably two of the most neglected when it comes to cleaning. If you have a front-load washer, you should clean it between cycles to avoid mold and mildew buildup. You can clean your front-loader with a mix of vinegar and baking soda, and you can purchase wipes that will allow you to remove mold and mildew around the rim of the door – or a sponge will do the trick, too.

For top-loaders, a mix of bleach and vinegar will clean the tub and help remove odors.

When it comes to your dryer, you should be cleaning out the lint trap after each cycle, and you need to clean the dryer vents at least once a year. This will remove lint, dust and debris that can cause house fires.

Under Furniture

When you’re vacuuming your floors, you’re probably not thinking about getting under your furniture. However, the space under your couch, bed, media stand or coffee table can easily trap dust and allergens. Use the attachments on your vacuum cleaner, like the extension wand and upholstery tool (for carpeted floors), to reach under these spaces and clean.

Curtains and Carpet

Your curtains and carpet can also trap dust and allergens like pet hair. You can easily give your curtains a quick cleaning with your vacuum cleaner. If you need a deeper clean, check the labels to see if a professional cleaning is required. If not, you may be able to put them in your washing machine.

Vacuuming your carpet helps remove dust and keep your floors clean, but you should consider having your carpets professionally cleaned at least once a year, especially if you have pets.

The next time you clean your house, remember these frequently forgotten spots. If you add them to your to-do list, you’ll help keep your home as clean as possible.

Dishwasher

Like your washing machine, your dishwasher is a warm, moist environment that’s perfect for mold and mildew. You can run cycles with vinegar and baking soda to remove buildup and odors or purchase a store-bought cleaner. And don’t forget about your dishwasher filter. This small device located in the bottom of the appliance traps food and debris during the wash cycle, and if it’s not cleaned properly, you’ll find food particles on your dishes. To clean it, simply twist it and remove it, then run it under cold water to remove debris and replace it.

Refrigerator

Cleaning your refrigerator can help extend the life of this important appliance – which is helpful because it’s easily one of the most expensive items to replace in your home. On the exterior, dust the top and pull the refrigerator away from the wall to give the coils a quick dusting. If you allow dust and debris to build up on these condenser coils, the refrigerator will have to work harder to keep your food cool, and it will break down faster.

On the inside, give your bins and shelves a periodic cleaning with a sponge or paper towel and a household cleaner to remove any bacteria that might be lurking there.