15 Can’t-Miss Spots When Cleaning
Whether you have a spring cleaning checklist or you’re new to this annual routine, we’ve included tips for tidying up 15 household areas that are often forgotten.
1. Houseplants: Indoor greenery can collect dust — give houseplants a gentle spring cleaning by wiping a dust cloth over the foliage.
2. Remote Control: Wipe your remote control using a little disinfectant spray and a paper towel (don’t overwet) for germ-free channel surfing.
3. Laundry Hamper: If your hamper has a cloth liner, launder it right along with the dirty clothes it holds. If it’s metal or plastic, wipe it down with water and white vinegar.
4. Vents: First, turn off the heat or air conditioning. Vacuum or dust your vents before removing them from their frames. Then, wipe them clean with warm water and a bit of dish soap, or soak them in hot water.
5. Toaster: Safety first — unplug the toaster and make sure it has completely cooled. Remove the crumb tray (most toasters have one located at the bottom) and empty all of the crumbs. No tray? Hold it upside down over the trash bin to empty it.
6. Throw Blankets and Pillows: Living room throw blankets and pillows get a lot of use and deserve regular cleaning. Be sure to check the care instructions first, but most throw blankets do well in the washer and dryer. As for pillows, you can toss them into the dryer for some fluffing up.
7. Window Screens: While you’re washing your windows, don’t forget to pop the screens out as well. You can use a dish soap mixture (a solution of very hot water and just a drop of dish soap) to clean them. Just be sure to rinse well after and allow them to dry before securing back into the window frames.
8. Condiments: When was the last time you bought ketchup and mustard? Check out the various condiments in your fridge to ensure you’re adding fresh (not expired) flavors to your dishes. Here’s a quick guide for how long common condiments actually last:
- Barbecue sauce: 4 months
- Ketchup: 6 months
- Mustard: 1 year
- Soy sauce: 2 years
- Hot sauce: 5 years
9. Spice Rack: Sort through your spice rack, noting duplicates and tossing any spices that have passed their expiration dates.
10. First-Aid Kit: Ensure you have all the proper components of a first-aid kit, including: first-aid instruction manual, adhesive tape, nonstick bandages, absorbent compress dressing, antiseptic wipes, instant cold packs, disposable nonlatex gloves, aloe vera gel, calamine lotion, antihistamines and pain relievers. Throw away any expired or damaged items.
11. Garbage Disposal: You can clean your disposal a few different ways. Run cool water while grinding ice and coarse salt through the disposal for a deep clean, or simply grind up small citrus slices (lemon works well) to eliminate bad odors.
12. Coffee Maker: Fill the water reservoir with 4 cups white vinegar. Place a coffee filter in the basket as you normally would, then set the coffee maker to brew. Stop the brewing process halfway through and let the vinegar sit 30–60 minutes before turning it back on and allowing the brew cycle to finish. Run two additional brew cycles with water rather than vinegar using a clean filter each time.
13. Laptop or Desktop Computer: Use a screen cleaner to wipe your screen, keyboard and mouse or trackpad. This is a great time to back up the hard drive as well.
14. Refrigerator Drip Pan: The drip pan at the bottom of a fridge can end up catching a lot more than evaporation! Consult the owner’s manual to learn the best method for removing your fridge’s drip pan. A cleaning solution of water and white vinegar serves as an effective, gentle cleanser.
15. Shower Curtains and Liners: Most cloth shower curtains and plastic liners do well in the washer. You can wash a shower curtain like you would a typical load. For a shower liner though, wash using hot water and a cup of bleach, then allow to air-dry.