All homes need to be kept clean and sanitized, especially in the present times of the COVID infection crisis. Ideally, it is good to have professional cleaners take care of this task. However, even if you are fortunate to have professional help, sometimes areas get overlooked. While most overlooked areas don’t need cleaning as often as the main areas, such as appliances, floors, counters, and bathroom fixtures, the areas mentioned below need attention. Looking at often overlooked places in a home that needs cleaning, we find:
Kitchen: Because of food preparation, eating, and often frequent congregating of family members, a kitchen is a room needing a lot of clean-up attention. Under the sink and behind and under appliances are sometimes great gatherers of dirt and small debris. When cleaning under the sink, it is best to take everything out, wiping down such items as bottles and containers as you do. Then, using a damp cloth with your favorite cleaning solution (hopefully homemade and environmentally friendly), wipe sides, top, and floor areas. Leave the area open to air-dry for at least a half-hour before returning items. This is a good time to organize under the sink items as well. When possible, appearances should be moved out from the wall, and the outsides thoroughly wiped down. Sweep and wash the floor under appliances as well as washing the wall behind the appliances. Again, let air-dry before moving appliances back.
Bathroom: Here is a room where germs love to grow. And, unfortunately, a bathroom has some hard to get at places to clean. For example, behind the toilet, there are pipes and toilet indentations just waiting for germs to settle. You will need to get down on the floor to reach around to thoroughly clean this area using a disinfectant cleaner applied with a soft, wet cloth. Let air-dry. Continue wiping down all baseboards and getting into the corners and crevices of floors, tub, and shower. A good under the sink cleanout is required in this room as well.
Bedroom: As one might guess, under the bed is a key hide-away place for dust bunnies and germs. Remove anything stored under the bed. Vacuum, if you can, and then disinfect the floor according to its covering, i.e., carpet, tile, hardwood, etc. Closets should be emptied of their contents and floors, walls, hanging bars, and storage shelves cleaned and disinfected according to their surface requirements.
Laundry rooms: Similar to the kitchen in that appliances and storage areas for supplies need a thorough cleaning and disinfecting.
Areas in general:
- Ceiling fans: dust and wipe with a damp cloth
- Under large furniture: vacuum and clean when surfaces are cleanable
- Baseboards: wipe with damp cloth and disinfectant
- Tops of doors, both inside and outside doors: wipe with damp cloth and disinfectant
- Mirrors and glass tabletops: use glass cleaner. Vinegar and water is best
- Picture frames, both the frames and the glass: glass cleaner and damp cloth on frames
- Windowsills and window ledges: damp cloth with cleaner and disinfectant
- Vents of all types, both floor, and ceiling: Some floor vents can be removed, and the area underneath vacuumed and wiped clean, and the vents washed.
- Washing of scatter rugs, curtains, and furniture throws
- Wiping down entrance doors and doors of cupboards, storage areas, and entertainment centers with a damp or dry soft cloth
- Rungs of chairs and tables: soft cloth, damp when possible
Each home is different, and you will likely have other areas not mentioned here, which need occasional cleaning. It is important to remember you don’t have to clean everything at once. In fact, the best way is to tackle one room or project at a time, spacing it out over several days or even weeks. Airing your home (if no one has allergies) at least once a week will help eliminate unwanted germs. You can also spray areas inside with a disinfectant spray when persons are out of a room for a while.
