We all have spots in our homes that just never seem to get clean. Use this list to reach those all-but-forgotten spots.
The solution to this quandary is to remember them often enough that they don't get out of control. Many of these spots can go for several years without much attention. So here they are: 30 spots to clean every five years.
1. Box springs. You probably never think about your box springs, but they can get dusty and collect things that have been thrown into the air from the vacuum cleaner. Take the top mattress off and using a brush attachment, vacuum the top, sides, and underside of your box spring. You just might sleep a little better knowing it's clean.
2. Refrigerator coils. Your refrigerator will run more efficiently if its working parts are not quite so dusty. Pull the refrigerator out from the wall and then, using your brush attachment again, vacuum the dust from every crevice you can find. Detach the vent from the front and vacuum there, too.
3. Floor beneath refrigerator. While you have the refrigerator pulled out, vacuum the floor underneath it and collect all the magnets that have fallen under there. Then wash and dry the floor before you push it back to the wall.
4. Floor vents. Floor vents collect a lot of dust. Pull them up from the floor and wash them in warm, soapy water. Make sure you dry them thoroughly before putting them back.
5. Window screens. Take the window screens out of the window frames and hose them down on a sunny day. Make sure you wipe the window frames before you put them back.
6. Down spouts and rain gutters. This job should probably be done seasonally. Brush all the leaves and gunk out of the gutters and flush the down spouts. You could end up with a leak somewhere in the house if these get too stopped up.
7. Clothes dryer. Take the lint screen out and vacuum the area beneath (or behind) it. Give the entire outside of the dryer a good scrub. Also, disconnect the tube that leads from the dryer to outside and give that a good vacuum, too.
8. Washing machine. Minerals from your water can build up in a washing machine just like they do on your bathroom fixtures. Use a vinegar solution to wipe down the inside of the washing machine, and don't forget the receptacles that hold the detergent at the beginning of the load.
9. Laundry room floor. Move your washer and dryer and thoroughly clean the floor underneath.
10. Attic. Take a broom up with you and get rid of cobwebs and dust. Throw out anything you have stored up there that really should go.
11. Books. Books should be cleaned from time to time. The dust can make the paper deteriorate faster, and they collect a musty smell. Using your ever-handy vacuum attachment, vacuum the tops and sides of the books.
12. Polish/wax bookshelves. While you have the books off, give your bookshelves some TLC. Polish or wax the wood and give the shelves a little breather (and time to thoroughly dry) before replacing the books.
13. Range. Hopefully, you're cleaning your stove and oven more than every five years. But pull that thing out from the wall and give the back and underside a good scrub.
14. Floor beneath the range. Vacuum and wash and dry the floor before replacing the range.
15. Air ducts. You'll probably need to call in a professional for this job. Get someone to clean all the air ducts in your house, especially if you have allergies.
16. Furnace. A routine furnace inspection can save you a lot on your heating bill. While the furnace technician is making sure everything is okay, he'll clean up the furnace as well.
17. Chimney. If you use the fireplace often, you'll have to do this job more often than every five years to avoid creosote fires. If you use it only occasionally, though, you can go for much longer.
18. Linen closet. Take everything out of the linen closet, throw out unused linens, and give those shelves a good scrub. Make sure the shelves are dry before you put the linens back.
19. Fence. Check all of the joints of your fences. If there has been settling in the posts, correct any strange angles. If your fence is stained or painted, re-stain and re-paint as needed.
20. Deck. Check deck for splintering wood or nails that stick out. Sand as necessary. Pressure wash the wood and then re-stain.
21. Broom. Brooms do an awful lot of dirty work. Once in a while, wash your brooms with soap and water to keep things under control.
22. Silver. Pull out the silver and give it a good polish. If you use it regularly, silver won't need as much maintenance.
23. Entertainment center. All those cords back there get pretty dusty. Pull everything out from the wall, vacuum up the dust, wash the cords (after you've unplugged them), wash the baseboards, and arrange the cords so they're not a tangled mess. Then push the unit back to the wall.
24. Fire extinguisher. Check your fire extinguisher to make sure it works and replace it if it doesn't.
25. Ceilings. Lay down drop cloths as if you were going to paint. Mix a mild detergent with water in a bucket and have another bucket filled with water close by. Wash a couple square yards at a time and then rinse that area before moving on. If your paint can't tolerate such treatment, just paint the ceiling.
26. Walls. Use the same technique for washing walls as you did for the ceilings.
27. Wallpaper. Vacuum wallpaper. If it's really dirty, test an inconspicuous place before you wash with soap and water as water can make the wallpaper peel off in some cases.
28. Curtain rods. Take down the curtains during one of their regular cleanings and then wash the rods.
29. Shower curtain. If it's a vinyl curtain, wash with a cleaner that kills mold and mildew, such as bleach. Most cloth curtains can be washed in the washing machine.
30. Toilet brushes. If you've had your toilet brush for five years, yuck, just throw it away and get a new one.
