Refresh your home this spring by partaking in the annual season of “spring cleaning.” While you should focus on the entire home, there are some areas of the home that get particularly grimy throughout the year and because of this, are often overlooked. But should we skip these spaces? No, of course not! To help you ensure your home is sparkling this spring cleaning season, don’t forget these six things you never clean, but should!
Refrigerator Coils
When dust and dirt build up on your coils, your fridge has to work harder to cool the food – therefore shortening its lifespan. To ensure a long life, vacuum them with a crevice or upholstery tool and then push a duster or coil brush between the coils to remove stubborn items that cling. You can access the coils at the bottom or behind the machine.
Ceiling Fans
Your ceiling fan blades are a magnet for dust and dirt. To clean these blades, climb a ladder and wipe the blades with a microfiber cloth or old pillowcase. Once done, shake the case outside or throw in the laundry to make sure the dust leaves the house. As it is now winter, while you’re up on the ladder consider reversing the blade direction to create a cooling breeze during the warmer months.
Baseboards
Throughout the year, your baseboards will build up with dust and scuffs. While this is not the most glamorous task, it can go a long way to refresh your home this spring. A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser will take the scuff marks right off while your vacuum should easily get rid of the dust build up. For a thorough clean, take it one step further by running a Q-tip over the top and ridges of the baseboards.
Pillows
Even though you clean your pillowcases regularly, many often neglect the pillows themselves – which should be cleaned at least once a year. To do this, just follow the care labels for your particular pillow. However, here’s what you can do: machine wash synthetic pillows on a short, gentle, warm cycle and handwash down- or feather-filled pillows in a basin with a little detergent. To remove the remainder of the water, place the pillows in the washer on the spin cycle and then in your dryer on medium heat for an hour or so.
Shower Heads
Mineral deposit can build up on your shower head throughout the year. To remove it, just fill a small plastic bag with white vinegar and attach it with a rubber band to the shower head. Let it sit there for about an hour or two, remove and then scrub the shower head with a toothbrush. For more delicate metals, use a soft cloth and warm water to remove the residue.
Interior of Appliances
Over time, your appliances can get quite grimy. Here’s how to get each clean:
- Dishwasher – Fill a bowl with white vinegar and place on the top rack of your empty dishwasher. From here, run a hot water cleaning cycle. If this doesn’t do the trick, sprinkle baking soda at the bottom and run another cycle.
- Washer – To remove mold from your washer, add a cup of bleach to the dispenser and run a hot, long cycle. In addition to this, also consider scrubbing any removable parts.
- Dryer – Grab your vacuum and clean out the drum and lint screen. For a deeper clean, unplug the machine, remove the exhaust hose and pull out any lint you can reach.
Cleaning these often-overlooked spots, along with your usual spring cleaning list, will ensure a fresh space to start the spring season.
Do you have any questions about homeownership? Give us a call today.
