Keeping hard-to-reach places clean and dust-free can sometimes seem like a never-ending battle.
Cleaning blinds
One way to clean blinds is to use elastic bands to wrap a damp cloth around a pair of tongs. By the way, this trick is used by professional house cleaners.
Vacuuming window frames
A great way to clean your window frame is to use a toilet paper tube on the end of your vacuum cleaner’s suction tube. Made of soft cardboard, you can shape it to fit almost any nook or cranny.
Cleaning your keyboard
Use this method when you are at your desk. Simply fold an adhesive piece of paper in half so that the sticky side faces out, then rub it around between your keys to collect all the dust and crumbs.
Keeping your mattress dust-free
Sprinkle baking soda on top of your mattress until it forms a thin layer. Wait 10 minutes, and then vacuum it all up.
Removing hard water deposits from your faucet
Simply use an old toothbrush and baking soda. Faucets accumulate grime and dirt in their crevices. Cleaning them may seem impossible, but it can be done with an old toothbrush and baking soda. Wet the brush and dip in baking soda, scrub all the tight corners and the entire faucet. Rinse down with clean water and your home faucets are as good as new.
Cleaning a showerhead
Mix 1/3 cup of baking soda with 1 cup of vinegar. Fill a plastic bag with the resulting mixture, and wrap it around your showerhead. Use some string to tie the bag around the neck of the showerhead to keep it in place. Leave for 2-3 hours.
Getting rid of stains on linoleum flooring
Using a regular pencil eraser will help you get dark marks off your linoleum.
Cleaning lampshades
Keep your fabric lampshades free of dust with the adhesive lint roller that you usually use for removing pet hair from your clothes.
Clean behind the toilet
This is one of the dirtiest jobs yet, especially when you leave the dirt to accumulate for a long time. This area is hard to reach and your mop won’t fit into this space. To deep clean this area, equip yourself with some gloves, knee pads, sponge, cleaning cloth, and cleaning solution. Spritz the area with the cleaning solution and scrub with the sponge. Rinse the area with a clean sponge dunked in clean water. Finish off by wiping with the dry cleaning cloth. As part of your routine cleaning, always wipe the area with a damp cloth and disinfectant cleaner.
Clean air vents
Almost no regular cleaning tool can fit into the air vents for a good clean. Vacuum the vents to remove any loose dirt and dust. Secure a damp microfibre cloth to a butter knife and use it to wipe between the vents. Add this to your cleaning routine for amazing results.
Dishwasher Filter
Most dishwashers have a filter that catches food particles and prevents small objects from being flushed away. Cleaning the filter regularly is the best way to have both sparkling clean dishes and no bad odors. Check your appliance manual to locate the filter–usually on the floor of the dishwasher–in your model.
For easy access and cleaning monthly, empty the dishwasher and remove the bottom rack. Use a soft, damp cloth to clean around the area. Some filters cannot be removed, only lifted, so be sure to clean under the cap. If you have a removable filter, unscrew and soak in warm soapy water then wipe down with a soft cloth to remove debris before replacing.
To remove any interior build-up in your washer and deodorize, pour one to two cups of distilled white vinegar in the bottom of the empty washer and allow it to sit overnight. Replace the bottom rack and run a short cycle in the morning for a fresh-smelling dishwasher.
Garbage Disposal
With all of that water traveling through, you would think in-sink garbage disposals wouldn’t need to be cleaned. But just one whiff of a dirty one and you’ll know that cleaning is necessary.
Start by using the disposal correctly by running it with a full stream of cold water and allowing the water to run for ten seconds after turning off the disposal to flush all the debris away. If you smell bad odors, either grind some citrus peels while running cold water or add some ice cubes sprinkled with baking soda and grind with cold water.
NEVER place your hand or a scrubbing brush down into the disposal unless the electricity has been turned off–not just the switch–on the electrical breaker. At that point, you can use a stiff scrubbing brush and baking soda to give the interior a good cleaning. Switchback on the electrical breaker and run the disposal with plenty of cold water.
Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans
Staying up high for a minute, let’s tackle your light fixtures and ceiling fans next.
Dust loves cracks and crevices, and we bet your lighting fixtures have plenty of those.
Your ceiling fans, on the other hand, are hiding dirt in the obvious place: on top of the blades. Contrary to everything our logical brains might tell us, dust doesn’t get flung off of ceiling blades every time we turn on the fan.
Those little mites are stubborn creatures.
Like with your ceiling, you should clean light fixtures and ceiling fans before cleaning the rest of your house.
How to Clean Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans
Supplies: Step ladder, duster, kitchen towels
Step 1: Grab a step ladder if necessary and, using a clean duster, wipe down your light fixture or ceiling fan.
Step 2: If there is grime or dirt caked onto your fan or light fixture after you dust it, grab a kitchen towel and spray it with some disinfecting spray. Next, gently wipe down your fan or light fixture. Light fixtures are surprisingly fragile, so be careful when you’re wiping them down.
Cabinet Tops and Tall Furniture
We promise to travel a little closer to the ground after this one.
But first, cabinets.
Until the world accepts the fact that cabinets that extend all the way to the ceiling are the best cabinets, we’re all going to have to deal with cleaning our cabinet tops.
Because those babies aren’t just dust magnets, they also attract grease. That grease attracts toxins. Then those toxins then circulate in your home, getting your kids, pets, significant others, and self sick.
So even if you weren’t a fan of climbing on the jungle gym at recess, it’s time to embrace your inner Tarzan and get climbing.
How to Clean the Tops of Kitchen Cabinets and Tall Furniture
Supplies: Step ladder, microfiber cloth or duster, disinfecting spray or multi-surface cleaner, kitchen towels
Step 1: Grab a step ladder.
We do not recommend climbing on top of counters to clean your the tops of your kitchen cabinets.
Step 2: Using a microfiber cloth or other reusable duster, dust the tops of your cabinets.
Step 3: Next, grab a disinfecting spray or multi-surface cleaner, and apply to the tops of your cabinets. Then rub the cleaner into the tops of the cabinets.
Step 4: Using a clean towel, wipe the cleaner off your cabinets, then wipe with water and leave to dry.
