We all love a clean house. There’s just something about going to bed at night knowing everything’s in order. Not only does the home look and smell amazing but it’s also healthier and safer. Especially if you have little ones running around, it’s important to clean all the nooks and crannies.
But surprisingly, we all miss some very important things. Whether you do all the cleaning, get help from family members, or utilize a professional cleaning service, these are 60 items in the home that shouldn’t be overlooked.
1. Air pods
Stop and think about air pods for a second. The tips of them go inside of ears, which means they get dirty. But when used by teenagers, there’s a good chance they share them with friends. That’s gross. To clean and sanitize air pods, swab the surface with a Q tip dipped in alcohol.
2. Yoga mats
As a way to get and stay healthy, a lot of people have turned to yoga but the mats become disgustingly dirty from sitting on the floor and sweat. To clean and sanitize yours, spray it with a mixture of three parts of water and one part of white vinegar. For extra freshness, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Then, let it air dry.
3. Pillows
Over time, pillows begin to turn yellow…even when covered with a pillow case. Instead of spending money for new ones, you can launder them. For this, wash them in hot water using one cup of powdered laundry detergent, one cup of powdered dishwasher detergent, one cup of bleach, and one-half a cup of Borax.
4. Air vents
To cool and heat your home, air travels through the ductwork, which usually has dust, insect feces, pet dander, and other nasty things inside. Along with having the ducts cleaned, it’s important to clean the vents. After removing them, place the vents in the bathtub with hot water and a few drops of Dawn dish soap. Next, scrub them using a soft-bristle brush, let them dry, and then put them back in place.
5. Bagless vacuum cleaner
Bagless vacuum cleaners are wonderful but dirt and grim build up over time where the canister sits. Occasionally, use soapy water and a sponge to wipe the interior area off, followed by drying it with a rag or paper towels. That way, dirt isn’t blowing into the air every time you vacuum the floors.
6. Bathroom exhaust fan
Not only will a dirty bathroom exhaust fan stop working efficiently but you’ll also notice an unpleasant odor every time you turn it on. Similar to air vents, remove the exhaust fan, place it in the bathtub with hot water and a few drops of Dawn dishwasher soap, scrub, and then let it air dry.
7. Window blinds
Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for window blinds to get dirty from sticky fingers, dust, pet hair, and more. Here’s a fast and easy way to clean them. Mix three parts of water and one part of white vinegar. Then, place a sock over your hand, dip the toe portion into the mixture, and wipe down each slat.
8. Wood cutting boards
Wood cutting boards should always be thoroughly cleaned after every use. To remove residue and disinfect, sprinkle on some coarse salt and then scrub the surface with lemon halves. After rinsing, it’s ready to use again.
9. Window tracks
Since window tracks are so hard to clean, most people just turn a blind eye to the problem. But letting a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar sit inside the tracks for about 10 minutes and then wiping them out will make all the difference in the world.
10. Wicker baskets
Baskets are great to have around the house for holding homemade bread, fruit, toys, knitting supplies, and more but they quickly collect dust. Wipe them down with a microfiber cloth. Follow that up by wiping the baskets off with a damp cloth dipped in hot soapy water. Then, let them air dry.
11. Oven glass
We’re not talking about dirt on the outside of the glass but rather, the space in between. Once something drips down inside, this appliance looks messy. Fortunately, there are some amazing online tutorials like this one that’ll walk you through cleaning the process.
12. Toothbrushes
Once the bristles on toothbrushes start to deteriorate, it’s time to replace them. But in the meantime, it’s essential to clean and sanitize them. A great way to disinfect your family’s toothbrushes is by swishing them in an antibacterial mouthwash for 20 seconds.
13. Toilet bowl stains
The key to preventing stains is to clean the toilet bowl regularly. But if you end up with a stubborn rust or a mineral ring, you can remove it by using a pumice stone.
14. Stove grates and burners
Especially if you love to cook, you know how easy it is for the stove burners and grates to get dirty. Just sprinkle a thick coat of baking soda on each one, followed by drizzling on one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide. Let that sit for 20 minutes and then wipe the mess off.
15. Tea kettle
There’s no better way to relax than with a cup of hot tea. But over time, the inside of your tea kettle gets dirty. To remove mineral deposits and help it last longer, boil a mixture of water and vinegar, then rinse.
16. Stainless steel sinks
Often, it seems like no matter what you do it’s impossible to get a stainless-steel sink to shine. But a mixture of baking soda, olive oil, and vinegar in a spray bottle will solve the problem.
17. Stainless steel refrigerator
With children in the home, you can expect to see fingerprints all over your fridge. But after spraying the surface with a window cleaner, wipe it down with a microfiber cloth and it’ll look new again.
18. Shower curtain liner
With constant use, your shower curtain liner is going to get dirty. Even if it’s made of plastic, you can wash it in your washing machine along with three or four towels. To the water, add one cup of vinegar. Then, simply hang it back up to dry. Never put it in the dryer.
19. Scuff marks on linoleum floors
You might think scuff marks on your linoleum floors would take hours to remove. But all you need is a Magic Eraser and they’ll be gone in minutes.
20. Rubber boots
If you’re tired of your rubber boots looking dull and lifeless, start by washing them off with soapy water. Then rinse. Finally, use a clean cloth to rub a little bit of olive oil on them.
21. Oven range hoods
Every time you cook something on the stove, grease rises where it collects in the filter. Cleaning it will make it look better and reduce the risk of a fire. In a large stock pot, bring water and baking soda to a boil. Then place one end of the filter in the water, allowing it to boil for several minutes. Turn the filter around to clean the other half.
22. Plastic cutting boards
Many people prefer white plastic cutting boards but they stain easily. To make them look new, create a paste out of powdered dishwashing detergent, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda. Scrub the surface and then let the mixture stand for 10 minutes before rinsing.
23. Urine odor
Sometimes, no matter how much you clean the bathroom, there’s a lingering smell of urine. The quickest and easiest solution is to wash surfaces, including the inside of the toilet bowl with undiluted bleach.
24. Glass and mirrors
A perfect way to clean both glass and mirrors is by mixing two cups of warm water, one tablespoon of cornstarch, and one-quarter cup of white vinegar in a bucket. Pour this into a spray bottle. But here’s the secret…after spraying the surface, wipe it down with newspaper.
25. Muffin tins
Even when using non-stick pans and running them through the dishwasher, there always seems to be crumbs left behind. To get your pans incredibly clean, use a bottle brush.
26. Microwave oven
We all use this appliance a lot. But when food splatters, it leaves a mess that’s hard to clean. For this, heat a bowl of water and sliced lemons for five minutes. Not only will your microwave smell great but stuck-on food will wipe right off with a paper towel.
27. Mattresses
Like pillows, mattresses get dirty and begin to smell. To freshen yours, add a couple of drops of lavender essential oil to one cup of baking soda. Sprinkle that on the mattress, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then vacuum.
28. Leather
Whether coats, shoes, or furniture, you can cover up scuffs on leather. How? By applying the same color shoe polish. It’ll blend right in.
29. Lamp shades
Dust always seems to find its ways to your nicest lampshades. If made from fabric, you don’t want to use any type of dusting spray. A much better idea is to use a lint roller. It’ll lift dust right off.
30. Kitchen cabinets
Especially those located above the stove, they become sticky and covered with goo. To remove this, make a paste of baking soda and vegetable oil. Then with a toothbrush, scrub the surface, followed by wiping it off with a damp cloth.
31. Coffee maker
If you’re a coffee drinker then you know a good cup from bad. When you start to notice an off smell and taste, clean your Keurig coffee maker by filling the water reservoir halfway with white vinegar. Then follow that with a cycle of water.
32. Odd-shaped or small-neck bottles
Unique bottles can spruce up any home but they’re hard to clean. Not anymore. Fill them with dry rice and a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap. Place your finger over the top and shake. Rinse and you’ll have beautiful bottles.
33. Instant pot
The invention of the instant pot has saved a tremendous amount of time cooking in the kitchen. But it’s important to clean the ring. For this, put two cups of white vinegar in the main compartment and steam for two minutes.
34. Humidifier
To keep a humidifier working perfectly, run a cycle of white vinegar through it. This will help unclog the holes.
35. Glass shower doors
Stop struggling to get rid of hard water stains on your glass shower doors. Instead, a soft cleanser and a Magic Eraser will do the job.
36. Hairbrushes
Most of us never think about cleaning our hairbrushes but we should. Put shampoo on a Q tip to get between the bristles and then to wash the entire brush.
37. Grout
Grout and mildew go hand in hand, unfortunately. But you can purchase cotton coils, soak them in bleach, and then lay them on light-colored grout lines for about 24 hours. This will make a remarkable difference.
38. Granite countertops
An excellent way to enhance a kitchen is to have granite countertops installed. But even they get dirty. A safe and effective method to clean them is by using a mixture of Dawn liquid dishwashing soap and rubbing alcohol.
39. Glass baking dishes
Although you could soak glass bakeware and get decent results, a much faster way to clean them is by scrubbing the inside with a small amount of liquid dish soap and a ball of aluminum foil
40. Glass cooktop stove
A glass cooktop stove is no different from a regular stove in that dirt and grease build up. To eliminate this, clean it with a mixture of baking soda and liquid dish soap. Gently rub this over the top and stuck-on food will come off with ease.
41. Washing machine
You’d think since a washing machine runs water and soap through each cycle that it’d stay clean. But that’s not the case. Once in a while, you should wipe out the interior using baking soda, vinegar, and a sponge. That’ll freshen it for cleaner clothes.
42. Floors
Especially in the kitchen, there’s not many things worse than getting grease on the floor. You can remove it easily by using a solution of two gallons of warm water, one tablespoon of liquid dish soap, one-quarter cup of white vinegar, and one-quarter cup of baking soda.
43. Rings
If you love wearing rings, you want them to always look clean and shiny. But just by doing everyday things, they get dirty. You can remove gunk by gently brushing your rings with toothbrush and a paste made of baking soda and water.
44. Dishwasher
Similar to a washing machine, we often overlook the fact that the interior of the dishwasher needs a special cleaning from time to time. Wiping down the inside using baking soda and white vinegar works great.
45. Curling iron
A lot of women depend on curling irons to style their hair. But hair products leave a residue behind. Eventually, a build-up prevents the iron from getting hot. All you need to do is wipe the rod down with a piece of steel wool. Tin foil also works just not quite as good.
46. Coffee grinder
There’s nothing quite like fresh ground coffee beans. But to keep your grinder working flawlessly, pulverize dry white rice, one tablespoon of baking soda, or bread occasionally. Wipe it out and you’ll have perfect tasting coffee.
47. Coffee mugs
Most people have that one cup that’s their favorite to drink coffee from. That means it’s probably really stained inside. To make it look new again, scrub it out with a mixture of white vinegar, liquid dishwashing soap, and baking soda.
48. Glassware and vases
You might enjoy collecting vintage glassware and vases but hate that you can’t get rid of the cloudy interior. Well, now you can. Plain rubbing alcohol will eliminate it in no time.
49. Charcoal barbecue grill
If you enjoy cooking outdoors with a charcoal grill, you know that keeping the grates clean can be a challenge. To remove cooked-on food particles, stab a white onion with a fork and then rub it over the grate. Not only will this help clean it but also give your food extra flavor the next time you grill.
50. Grater
When grating cheese, those tiny holes in the grater get clogged up easily. They also become dull. For cleaning and sharpening at the same time, grate a potato. The hardness along with the oxalic acid in this vegetable works amazingly well.
51. Cast iron skillet
If you enjoy cooking with a cast iron skillet, you probably know about the importance of seasoning it. But what about cleaning? The easiest way to clean this type of skillet without causing damage is by scrubbing it with one-quarter cup of kosher salt and a small amount of hot water.
52. Metal pots and pans
Then there are metal pots and pans to consider. For removing stuck-on food, mix cream of tartar, a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap, and baking soda. Rub that over the interior and let it stand for about 15 minutes. Then using something with a hard edge, you can scrape food particles right off.
53. Brass objects
For any brass items in your home, you want them to look shiny and clean. To achieve that goal, cover a half a lemon with salt and wipe that over the surface. You’ll be amazed at the difference.
54. Garbage disposal
Have you ever wiped around the opening to the garbage disposal yet you still can’t get rid of a nasty odor? If so, you’re not alone. More than likely, it’s because you didn’t clean the splash guard. Simply lift up the rubber seal and clean on the underside.
55. Faucets
Sparkling faucets in the bathroom and kitchen make these rooms look clean. But often, hard water deposits form. To eliminate them, soak several paper towels in vinegar and place them over the involved areas. Allow that to sit overnight. The next morning, you can wipe the deposit away.
56. Refrigerator
Yes, it’s nice to have a clean refrigerator on the outside but for health reasons, you want the inside even cleaner. Using hot soapy water and a sponge, you want to wipe down the shelves and doors. Also clean the bins inside and underneath.
57. Showerhead
Especially if you have hard water, it won’t take any time at all before your showerhead becomes clogged. Once a week, fill a plastic bag with vinegar. Then, secure it around the showerhead with a rubber band and allow it to sit overnight.
58. Bathroom floors
This one is for all the ladies out there who use a lot of hairspray. Over time, the mist creates a residue build-up up on the bathroom floor. Make a paste using water and Borax. Then with a soft-bristle cleaning brush, you can scrub it off.
59. Ceiling fans
The problem with cleaning the blades of a ceiling fan is that as you wipe, dust and debris fall on your head. To prevent that from happening, place your arm in a pillow case and then wipe the blades offs. If wanted, you can spray dusting spray on the pillow case first.
60. Pet hair
For a lot of people, a house isn’t a home unless at least one animal lives there. But often, that means dealing with pet hair. An easy solution to remove it from furniture, drapes, and other things is to spray the surface with water and then use a squeegee to pull the hair off.