32 Unexpected Places You Should Be Cleaning In Your Home
1. Lampshades
They can collect dust like nobody’s business and dim your lamp’s light output. Make a few passes with a lint roller about once a week to de-fuzz them and brighten the room.
Get a five-pack of disposable lint rollers from Amazon for $15.53.
2. Kitchen utensil drawer organizers
Take special care with ~adjustable~ organizers like this one because they’re prone to dirt falling into their nooks and crannies. Once a week, wipe them out with any all-purpose cleaner you use on the rest of your kitchen surfaces.
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
3. Knife blocks
Those slots that protect your prize knives are also a prime spot for dust. Once a month, remove the knives and use the crevice tool on your vacuum cleaner to suck out dust. Don’t have one? Blast it with your hairdryer on High or use a long pipe cleaner. Sanitize it by rinsing the block in hot soapy water, then soaking in a solution (1 tbsp. of bleach to 1 gallon of water) for 1 minute. Dry on a towel with slots-side down.
Get it from Amazon for $21.36.
4. The tops of ceiling fan blades
Halt an allergy storm before you need a seasonal indoor breeze. Use an old pillowcase to sweep off — and contain — the dust. Read the full tutorial on WikiHow.
5. Dishwasher
It’s always important to clean the things that clean your things. Get the instructions on One Good Thing by Jillee.
6. Cookie sheets
No, but like, really clean them. Check out our two-step trick here.
7. Wood cutting boards
Obliterate the aftermath of raw chicken breasts with vinegar and hydrogren peroxide. Check out more Clever Vinegar Tricks That’ll Make Cleaning So Easy.
Get the supplies from Amazon: 1 gallon of distilled vinegar for $11.95 and three 24 oz. spray bottles for $11.99.
8. Clothes iron
Annihilate rust from your hard-working iron with vinegar and baking soda. Get the full how-to on Thrifty & Chic.
Get 13.5 lbs. of baking soda from Amazon for $17.73. (It can be used to clean lots of other stuff on this list, too.)
9. Hairbrushes
Loosen hair strands and mix up a batch of hot water and baking soda for a good soak. Get the deets on Passion for Savings.
10. Flat irons
Styling products and hair oils can build up into a gross residue. This works for curling irons, too! Read the full how-to on One Good Thing by Jillee.
11. Jewelry
Spiff up everything from your eyeglasses to your engagement ring (separately) with this little machine that uses sonic-wave technology to loosen grime and shine surfaces.
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
13. The grooves of sliding-glass door tracks
Brush away debris that can clog up your track with this handy little brush.
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
14. Pet bowls
Wash bowls daily as you would human bowls. It’ll even help with the pet smell!
Get it from Amazon for $3.93+. / Available in four sizes, four colors.
15. Clothing drawer organizers
Give them an occasional wipe down because even though your clothes in storage are clean, dirt can get in from rummaging around to find the right bra.
Get them from Amazon for $10.99.
16. In between blinds
Make the task simpler on the reg with this specially made tool. Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
If you’re dealing with a horror show of dust — and they’re not wood — remove the blinds from the window and dunk them in a bath of hot, soapy water.
18. Around plumbing fixtures
Sometimes you need some tiny tools to get into allllll the crevices.
Get it from Amazon for $5.99. (It’ll work on shower-door tracks, too.)
20. Basically everywhere in your car
Keep this little hand-vac in your car, plug it into the cigarette lighter, and use the slim nozzle to get into every feasible spot. Get it from Amazon for $20.99.
And learn other ways to de-slime your ride with our 23 Genius Solutions To Issues Every Car Owner Faces.
21. Phone and computer screens
Dust, oil from your skin, and every little piece of lint to ever float through the atmosphere ends up on your electronics’ screens. Make a pass with this little roller every day you use them to see a difference.
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
22. Toothbrush holder
All those bathroom germs have to go somewhere. Wipe it down at least weekly during your normal bathroom-cleaning seshes.
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
23. Trash cans and recycling bins
Nope. That smell wasn’t your actual bag of trash. Empty, rinse out with a garden hose (or in your bathtub), and then douse in disinfectant.
Get this easy-to-remove-and-clean set from Amazon for $79.99.
24. Plastic shower curtain liners
Fight off in-shower mildew by tossing your liner in with some towels in the wash. Read the deets on Life at the Drafty Doublewide.
Get it from Amazon for $21.33.
25. Bath mat
Throw it in the wash once a week so you won’t instantly dirty your clean feet post-bath time.
Get it from Urban Outfitters for $29.
26. Bedskirts
Aka dust ruffles. Wash them weekly with the rest of your linens. Or this cat will judge you.
Get it from Amazon for $12.95+. / Available in four sizes, five colors.
27. Toaster (the inside and outside)
Actually crisp toast — not crumbs and debris from toast of yore — by emptying the crumb tray once a week. (Even the cheapest of toasters, like this one, have it.) And give the exterior a good wipe down with a stainless-steel cleaner, too.
Get it from Amazon for $19.96.
28. Pet beds
All the snuggles and treat-gnawing can leave them smelling worse than your actual pet. Remove further traces of your beloved family member with our 23 Tips And Products That’ll Save You From Being Covered In Pet Hair.
Get this machine-washable bed from Amazon for $25.99+. Available in seven colors.
29. Makeup bags
Take some brush cleaner or just good ole hot soapy water to the interior to pick up all matter of powders and liquids.
Get it from Forever21 for $6.90.
30. Throw pillows
They get nearly as much contact as your bed pillows. Remember to clean your pillowcases and inserts as directed on the label so you won’t luxuriate among filth.
Get this pillow case from Amazon for $7.99. / Available in three sizes, eight colors.
31. The bottom of your shoes
A few passes on the welcome mat is NOT ENOUGH to really get in the treads of your footwear. A boot scraper stationed at the door of your mudroom will do wonders for your floors.
Get it from Amazon for $16.97.
Renae Walker ~ Realtor 