17 Spots You're Forgetting To Clean In Your Home

Don't overlook these sneaky spots during your next cleaning session.

While you may have a daily, weekly, or even monthly cleaning routine, there are some places in your home that get overlooked. Dust and grime can end up underneath, on top, or in between all kinds of nooks and crannies that are typically out of sight, out of mind.

Whether you're spring cleaning or just hitting a good Sunday reset, having a set list of places to clean can improve the hygiene to make it look, smell, and feel better. These nine household spots are hidden sources of dust, grime, and—worse—harmful germs. Here's where you need to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

In the Kitchen

Under the Fridge

Though you may clean the inside of your fridge on a regular basis, many people overlook the area under the fridge, where dusty coils can cause a refrigerator to run inefficiently or stop working altogether. To address this issue, first invest in an inexpensive refrigerator-coil brush (available at most hardware stores for less than $10). Make sure the fridge is unplugged, and use your brush to gently scrub the coils under the fridge, removing any dust or debris. Finally, use the hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner to suck up any remaining dust.

Stove Grates

Remove your stove grates and let them sit in a sink full of warm, soapy water for about 30 minutes. If there are still any sticky or greasy spots, use a non-abrasive sponge to scrub your grates with a mixture of baking soda and warm water. Rinse clean.

Utensil Drawers

During your yearly spring cleaning, pull out your utensil organizer and check the back, sides, and corners of the drawer for crumbs or dust; then, wipe out the drawer with a disinfectant wipe or damp cloth. Allow to air dry before replacing the utensil organizer.

Reusable Grocery Bags

Most people use these handy bags for more than just groceries, so be sure to launder them a few times a year. For canvas totes, simply toss them in the washer; for plastic or nylon bags, flip inside out and wash with warm, soapy water, leaving them in your dish drainer to air dry.

Coffee Maker

Mold and mildew thrive on the inside of coffee makers if not cleaned on a regular basis. If your coffeemaker has a self-cleaning cycle, run it once every two weeks; if not, run your coffee pot with a full pot of hot water mixed with vinegar. Rinse by running a second cycle with just hot water.

Ice Maker Bucket

Clean out your freezer's ice bucket every few months to rid it of any crumbs, dust particles, or crusty ice buildup. Simply turn off the ice maker, dump ice into your sink, and either run the bucket through the dishwasher or hand wash with warm, soapy water. Be sure to let the plastic dry thoroughly before putting it back in the freezer.

Kitchen Disposals

At least once a month, run your sink disposal with a handful of ice, a few shakes of baking soda, and a few citrus rinds. This will help clean and sharpen the disposal blades, as well as eliminate any lingering odors.

Trash Can Interiors

Admittedly, they're not the easiest items to clean, but the inside of kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom trash cans are often the source of lingering, stinky odors. Take each can outside, and spray the interior with a disinfectant cleaner; let it sit for about 10 minutes, and then rinse.

Top of the Fridge

Although you don't cook on top of the fridge, its closeness to the stovetop means it harbors all kinds of of grease and dust. Clear off any items stored on top and cut through the grease with a sponge soaked in distilled white vinegar. Wipe it down with water and dry off when you're done and you're good to go.

Place Mats

Place mats are great for protecting wood tables, but they can get dirty quickly. Rinse plastic or vinyl place mats with warm water and soap, throw fabric mats in the laundry machine, and hand wash anything embroidered.

In the Bathroom

Toothbrush Holders

You may not want to know what's lurking at the bottom of your toothbrush holders—but trust us: They must be cleaned on a regular basis. Throw your holders on the top rack of the dishwasher at least once a month.

Top of the Toilet Tank

Though you may be cleaning the inside of the toilet on a consistent basis, don't forget about the outside. Specifically, the top of the toilet tank build up a ton of dust and germs. Take a disinfectant wipe and get remove any grime.

Throughout the House

Baseboards

Because they're jutted out from the walls, baseboards get the brunt of dust and grime and the walls. Mix a bowl of warm water, dish soap and vinegar, and soak sponge or cloth in the mixture to scrub the baseboards. Use a melamine sponge to get off any extra tough spots.

Candles

Candles add a lovely warmth and scent to your home, but their waxy structure allows for dust and grime to stick into it. When it's fully solid, gently rub the candle with a piece a soft or slightly dampened cloth to remove any dust.

Window and Door Tracks

Because they get so much use both inside and outside, window and door tracks accumulate a significant amount of grime. Take a flexible sponge soaked in a vinegar and water solution and take a clean swipe down the track to remove the dirt and grime.

Light Switches

While they may not be visibly dirty, most light switches are touched everyday and harbor a variety of germs brought in from outside. Carefully take a paper towel or microfiber cloth dampened with a disinfectant cleaner and wipe.

Faucets

Because faucets are constantly pushing out water, they can build up mold fast. Pour a vinegar and water solution into a plastic bag and tie it to the faucet head so it soaks for at least 15 minutes to remove mold and other buildup.

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