We all have our own definition of the word clean. To some people, clean is the smell of their favorite disinfectant. To others, it’s fresh linen and a nicely made bed. And to yet others, it’s the lack of Legos and Barbie Dolls on the floor.
What if we told you that no matter your definition of clean, you still missed a spot? There are places that need to be cleaned you probably walk past every day, without blinking an eye. But hey, you’re human! So read on, we’re guessing even the best of cleaners have missed at least one!
1. Light Switches
What is the first thing you do when you walk into a room? Turn on the light? What’s the last thing you do when you leave the room? (The thing our kids should do but often forget.) Turn off the light.
When we were hit with the pandemic, we all got a refresher course on high-traffic areas to clean regularly. We made regular hand washing and sanitizing more of a ritual than a habit. And many of us started disinfecting doorknobs, hard surfaces, and other high-traffic areas. Like doorknobs, light switches are also touched regularly, yet often go unsanitized.
Use your favorite disinfectant spray, a sanitary wipe, or an all-purpose cleaner on a microfiber cloth to hit those switches every time you clean. Soon, it will become part of your normal cleaning ritual.
2. Throw Pillows
And you thought we were going to talk about your baseboards. Most throw pillows come with that little tag on them that we are oh-so-anxious to cut off right before we plop them down on the couch. It says “spot clean only.” So you rip that tag off and hope you never have to throw them into an actual washing machine.
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Throw pillows not only look pretty, but they attract dust, dirt, dog hair, allergens, and skin cells. Yes, we said skin cells. So even though that tag you cut off says you cannot put your pillows into the washing machine, you still need to clean them regularly.
Use the attachment on your vacuum cleaner to start by removing hair, dirt, and other particles. Clean any stains using a cloth or follow these instructions. And finish them off using a little baking soda or an odor-removing spray to freshen them up.
3. Remote Controls
If you have electronics in your house, you’ve participated (willingly or not) in the age-old fight over the remote control. Your teenage daughter (who bites her nails) gets home from school and grabs it to start streaming Netflix. Your spouse (who has allergies) gets tired of those shows and steals the remote. Then your youngest child (who is always sticky) was promised 20 minutes of his favorite YouTuber before bed. And if you’re lucky, once everyone is tucked in nice and tight, you finally get to watch the latest episode of Grey’s Anatomy.
Odds are, you didn’t take the time to sanitize the remote every time it switched hands. Remote controls, cell phones, and other handheld devices collect more germs than many other places in your home. And they should be one of the top areas to clean in a house.
You can use a disinfectant spray to get the job done quickly or to remove the sticky substances your child left behind, use a sanitizing wet wipe for a full clean.
4. The Air
Bet you didn’t see that one coming! A large portion of Americans suffers from allergies. In fact, allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. Many of the things people are allergic to can actually be found in your home. The air is what carries them, but because we can’t see it, it’s one of the least mentioned places to be cleaned.
Start with what you can see. Regularly wipe down air vents in the floor and ceiling to keep them from collecting dust. Next, tackle those ceiling fans that are redistributing all that dust and allergens back into the air. You can use the inside of an old pillowcase to clean your ceiling fans. Place the blade fully inside the pillowcase and use it as your rag or cleaning cloth. Tighten it around the blade, and pull. Repeat for each blade of the fan once monthly.
Finish with what you can’t see. Change your air filters regularly, and if you suffer from many indoor allergies, consider a hypoallergenic filter or run an air purifier in higher traffic rooms. If someone in your household has been sick, you can also use an air disinfectant spray throughout the house.
5. Your Cleaning Tools
Yes, that’s exactly what we meant. Clean your cleaning tools. After so many uses, mops, sponges, microfiber cloths, and even your vacuum cleaner brushes become dirty and contaminated. Then you find yourself clean with dirty tools, ultimately spreading more germs than you’re picking up.
Sponges that have possibly collected mold should be thrown out. Microfiber cloths and mop heads can be washed using hot water in your washing machine. Dusters and brooms should be taken outside and shaken off regularly. Use antibacterial soap and water to scrub any brushes and let them air dry. Just like a car needs to be continually cared for to stay running, the tools you use to clean need to be taken care of as well. Don’t neglect your cleaning supplies, or you could be just adding fuel to an already hefty fire.
These are just five places that need to be cleaned…five of a much longer list. At The Maids, we have a 22-step cleaning process to ensure we hit even the most missed spots. We pride ourselves at being the experts in all things clean. Leave the cleaning to us. Find the closest location to you and get started today.
