Here’s the thing… Even if you clean your house on a regular basis, there are just some places that, even though they’re easy enough to clean, get overlooked daily. From the dishwasher to the fireplace, these hard-working areas need as much attention when cleaning as anything else does, especially when you’re trying to prevent things such as mould, dust, mildew and other nasty substances from getting too out of hand.

So…

Here are the top 10 things people tend to forget to clean:

Dishwasher. It may have your dishes sparkling, but your dishwasher isn’t self-cleaning, I mean just imagine all the food that’s been splattering around whilst on it’s cycle… If it’s been a while since you cleaned your dishwasher, you may need to dedicate some time to scouring the filters and loosening up old food and grime. Just turn your dial to the hottest wash setting and add a strong cleaning agent, such as baking soda, we’ve even seen some people use white wine vinegar or lemons too!

Outdoor furniture. Outdoor furniture weathers nature every day, and can easily become caked in dust, dirt and water spots over time. We recommend hosing down outdoor furniture with water outside, then using dishwashing liquid and microfibre cloths to gently remove dirt. For harder to clean spots use a stiff bristled brush if your furniture will allow and slowly scrub at the tougher stains

Lampshades. Lampshades are a magnet for dust and dirt. But because most people don’t think to clean them, all that gathered dust may be affecting the quality of your light and air. We recommend using a slightly dampened microfibre cloth and gently rubbing your shades down. If you don’t want to dampen your lampshade try using our microfibre hand duster that will attract the dust easily with it’s noodle appearance. 

Throw pillows. From pet stains to food stains, throw pillows attract a lot of unpleasant odours and stains over time. Make sure you throw the covers in the washer every other week or so, and if your decorative pillows are not machine-washable, try a gentle hand-cleaning process instead.

The Bin. Our bins take on a lot waste, whether it’s food, drink or toiletries. However, like everything else. they can also be prone to mould, decay, and extremely bad odours. Give them some attention every week by pouring in hot water and equal parts vinegar and baking soda and letting it sit for five minutes before giving it a good scrub outside. If you don’t want to get too close and personal to the bin you can always try out telescopic bathroom cleaner to do the job as you’ve seen before with Mrs. Hinch! Once dried, put it back in place and pour in a few drops of essential oils to help combat the bad odours next time.

Door knobs and handles. Our hands and others are always touching door knobs and handles, so it’s important to rub those down often! Give them a thorough wipe with damp microfibre cloths and all-purpose cleaner every now and again to keep them sparkling.

Toothbrush holder. That’s right – even your toothbrush holder needs to be cleaned! I mean, saying that should that not be obvious? Imagine all that left over toothpaste making its way down your toothbrush to the bottom of the holder… It’s home to all kinds of bacteria and debris, and that’s why your holder and other bathroom accessories desperately need regular cleaning. If your holder is dishwasher safe, just run it through a cycle on the top rack.

Light switches. Much like door knobs and handles, light switches have the tendency to collect bacteria from our hands. Make sure to spray your all-purpose cleaner onto a microfibre cloth first, taking care to avoid spraying the lighting hardware.

Fireplace. Fireplaces can make your space feel cosier, and of course bring warmth into your home, but they can also accumulate ash, dust, and soot, and can make life very difficult for people with things like asthma or allergies. However, the way you clean your fireplace will vary depending on what type of hearth you have. We do have tools for the job though, check out our hearth companion brushes here!

Cleaning supplies. Does cleaning your cleaning supplies sound like overkill? Maybe a little, but it’s still an important (and often missed) step in the cleaning process. From throwing out old sponges to disinfecting your toilet brushes, keeping your supplies clean will prevent the spread of dangerous germs.