Cleaning your home takes time, sometimes a lot of time, if you want to do it right.
While you scrub the toilets and vacuum once or twice a week, it’s easy to put the hard-to-reach spots off until a little later. Unfortunately, sometimes that “later” can turn into “almost never” if you’re not careful and don’t remind yourself about doing them.
To combat this potential problem, here are 6 tasks you might have put off that still need to be done. Even though you might have forgotten to clean these places, here are ways you can clean them fast so you might not even want to put the task off the next time.
Behind the Refrigerator
First off, unplug the refrigerator and then roll it out carefully from the wall. Move it out far enough to be able to reach every inch of the floor it’s been covering. Grab your broom and sweep up everything that’s been accumulating there for the last half-century (just kidding!).
Vacuum the floor, wall, and the coils and back of the refrigerator being careful not to dislodge any parts or connections. There are special refrigerator coil brushes available but a soft brush should do the trick to remove built-up residue from the coils.
Be careful not to touch the cooling condenser fins. They have very sharp edges and can cut you. Lightly dampen a rag or small cloth with a mixture of vinegar and water and wipe the back of the refrigerator and the wall behind it clean.
Under the Stove
Pulling out the stove to clean under and behind it every 2 or 3 months can be a big pain but you know it makes you feel better when you do it. Once it’s out, sweep the mess and vacuum up the rest. Don’t forget to wipe down the wall and the back of the stove while you’re there.d
Under the Furniture
It’s amazing the things you will discover that have become trapped underneath your furniture. Sure, dust and crumbs are expected to be there. But, sometimes a lost pen, grocery list, bank deposit, or God knows what else will wind up trapped underneath a piece of furniture that you might have found a lot earlier if you had cleaned there more often.
Get in the habit of moving the furniture around once a month or so. Vacuum underneath to get rid of the accumulated dust that will invariably be lurking there. And, if moving a piece isn’t practical, use the hose on your vacuum and swab it underneath. Put the crevice attachment on the end in case you pick something up you don’t expect. Then vacuum the edges and you’re done for the rest of the month.
Light Fixtures
Everybody forgets to clean out the light fixtures, and they really do need to be cleaned. Vacuuming the ceilings can usually be done standing on a chair if you’re careful. But, sometimes a ladder might be better, especially if you find yourself stretching more than you think you should for safety’s sake.
Once you’re done with the light bulbs, get the vacuum out and us it to pick up any residue that’s fallen to the floor. That will keep it from blowing all over the rest of the house later.
Cabinet Tops
Your kitchen cabinets probably don’t touch the ceiling, and over time, the tops can accumulate lots of dust. Climb up onto the kitchen counter top or on to a chair or ladder at least once a month and wipe away the dust from the tops of your cabinets. Over time, it can build up and wind up becoming increasingly hard to remove. So do it now while you’re thinking about it.
Pay particular attention to areas near the stove where oils from cooking will wind up sticking to the dust and essentially glue it to the cabinets. A wet rag dipped in a vinegar and water solution will usually do the trick and leave things fresh and clean, at least for another month.
Behind the Toilet
Scrubbing your toilet is a regular weekly job, and cleaning behind it should also be taken care of at the same time. Before you start, check to see if something’s in the way. Remove the toilet brush and holder so you’ll have as much room as possible to get your broom back there.
Sweep around and behind the toilet to remove dust and anything else that’s fallen back there. Take a lightly soaked dry rag and dip it into a vinegar and water solution along with a dash of dishwashing detergent. Then, wipe the floor and behind the toilet to make everything fresh and clean.
Keep a record of when you do tasks that you don’t schedule for more than 3 or 4 times a year. It’s easy to forget these when they don’t occur at least once a month. Then keep the note on the wall next to your broom or vacuum cleaner. That way, you’ll have a reminder about each task that’s scheduled for cleaning only every couple of months.
Your busy life demands convenience and simplicity. Tough cleaning tasks like these needn’t be done every week or even every month, but the do need to be done every once in a while. With the proper scheduling, you won’t be waiting too long for these chores to be done, and right on schedule!
We hope these 6 tough cleaning tasks will be a lot easier to remember when you can do them fast and efficiently at exactly the time you schedule them. Let us hear from you if these cleaning tips have been helpful and be sure to let us know what you would like us to write about in the future! Stay safe and healthy!
