While most homeowners know the value of keeping their houses clean, no one is ever perfect at following through. As a result, we often overlook some areas or objects during this process. That’s why we made a list of some of the most forgotten things to clean around the house. Whether you’re a compulsive cleaner or only do it every once in a while, you’ll want to ensure you don’t skip over these items.
Ceiling Fans and Light Fixtures
If you’re a seasoned house cleaner, checking ceiling fixtures might have become a regular part of your routine by now, but many people tend to forget to look up when they’re cleaning. Ceiling fixtures—fans, in particular—get filthy very easily. Dust can reach quite high up into the air, and these fixtures are the only surface it can land on up there.
Fortunately, once you’re aware of it, these lights and fans are pretty easy to clean. The most challenging part will be reaching them if they’re too far from the ground. A stool or a duster with an extension rod will help you accomplish the task.
Air Vent and Filter Grates
For the same reason that a ceiling fan can accumulate tons of dust, air vent and filter grates can get dirty as well. Vents are usually more noticeable unless furniture obscures them, so we tend to clean them more often. However, the grates over the air filter are much harder to notice, so we often neglect them.
If it’s been a while, you might need to bring your grates outside and take a hose to them. However, once you get into the habit of cleaning them, a simple dusting will do the trick.
Propane Tanks and Appliances
While many people forget to clean the top of the refrigerator or behind the washer and dryer, none of these are more important than cleaning gas appliances and the tanks that supply them. You need to do a lot to care for these items properly, but keeping them clean is vital to ensuring their longevity.
As long as you give them a gentle scrub every few months, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Of course, it’s also a good idea to be more careful about creating the mess in the first place.
The Inside of Trash Cans
We’ve saved the best for last in this list of the most forgotten things to clean around the house: trash cans. Most people just assume that it’s okay to leave the inside of a trash can a mess, especially if it’s the one that you take outside every week for the trash collectors to dump. Think again. The object that collects all your waste should be the thing you clean most often. All kinds of germs can form in them, which could very easily get you and your family sick.
Make sure to clean them out regularly, either with a hose or, if it’s gotten really bad, some soap and a sponge. In extreme cases, it might be better just to throw it out and buy a new one.
