If you think you are finished cleaning your home. You might want to think again. There are several places in your home that are often overlooked on cleaning day. Worse yet, the places that are overlooked are often some of the germiest places in your house!
To help you make sure you’ve done a thorough job, we’ve put together a list of the 6 things you forget to clean but shouldn’t.
Refrigerator
Before you pull that apple out of the fridge and take a big bite, you might want to give it an extra good rinse. According to NSF International’s 2013 Household Germ Study, two of the germiest places in the kitchen are the vegetable and meat compartments in refrigerators. Yuck!
That’s why your refrigerator is the number one thing on our list that you should never forget to clean. Wipedowns to avoid cross contamination should happen regularly, as well as, discarding old leftovers or expired foods. Think at least once a week. Deep cleanings should happen seasonally.
Under Appliances
Speaking of your refrigerator, it’s also a good idea to pull it out and clean underneath it. Give the sides and top a good wipedown too. Do this for your stove and any other appliances you have. Don’t forget small appliances on your counter. It may have been a while since that toaster has moved. Under appliances are prime places for old food and bacteria to hide.
Kitchen Drawers and Cabinets
It may surprise you, but kitchen drawers and cabinets need to be cleaned too! It’s easy for food bits to slip off your counter and into drawers. And dust and food particles make their way into your cabinets more often than you’d think. Clean the inside of your cabinets and drawers quarterly. As for the outside? Those should be wiped down every week or two depending on how often you cook. Many cleaning companies will do this for you.
Door Knobs and Light Switches
All knobs, handles and switches in your home get touched regularly and therefore should be cleaned regularly. Use a disinfecting wipe or spray and clean them at least every two weeks. If you or someone in your home is sick, clean them daily. Same goes for your remote controls.
Dishwasher
To prevent soap buildup and remove grime and odors, you need to clean your dishwasher. After all, your dishwasher can’t effectively clean dishes if it’s dirty! You have a couple of options for cleaning your machine. Check your grocery store for dishwasher cleaner. It’s usually kept by the dishwasher cleaning detergent. Prefer a more natural route? Run a cycle on hot with a cup of white vinegar on the top rack. This will help remove hard-water deposits and soap scum.
Throw pillows
If you’re like us, you like to take naps on the couch. Or maybe you’re a snuggle up with a good book kind of person. Either way, those throw pillows on the couch need some freshening up. Dust, dirt, old skin and oils from your skin all end up on your throw pillows. Some pillows can be thrown in the washing machine. For those that can’t, spot clean them with baking soda. You can also use an odor-eliminating product like Febreeze to remove bad odors.
