Add these often-forgotten items to your cleaning checklist to ensure a tidy home.
Washing Machine Agitator
You might be asking: “What even is an agitator?”
A washing machine agitator is a large spindle in the center of many top-loading washing machines.
Credit:Adam Albright
Agitators have fins or blades that help move clothes around the machine to better clean them.
and can start to smell after a while.
Soak this piece in hot wateror bleachwhile you fill your washing machine with water by running a normal cycle.
Credit:Jason Donnelly
Locate the filter by checking the washing machine’s manual.
Once located, remove the filter and wipe around the filter’s housing.
Return the filter back to its housing and run a short wash cycle.
Credit:Kim Cornelison
Jason Donnelly
3.
Baseboards
We clean our floors often, but what about the baseboards?
There aremany ways to clean baseboards, from using a telescoping dusting tool to microfiber brushes and dryer sheets.
Credit:Nathan Schroder
Walls
Walls get dirty too, and cleaning might be even more necessary if there are visiblescuffs and stains.
Check thetype of paintthat your walls are painted with to ensure you clean them correctly.
For example, flat or matte paint is less durable and should only be wiped down with warm water.
No matter what you clean your walls with, verify to dry them with a microfiber cloth.
Kim Cornelison
5.
Curtains and Blinds
Window treatments gather lots of dust and allergens over time.
Tumble dry on low or let them dry on a line outside.
If youhave blinds, dust them with a microfiber cloth and use a soapy cloth for a deep clean.
A vacuum dust brush attachment also works well for routine blind dustings.
Keyboards
Computer and laptop keyboards collect a lot of dust, crumbs, and bacteria from everyday use.
To clean a keyboard, unplug it before brushing away any debris with a soft-bristled brush.
you could also use a vacuum attachment or compressed air to help remove any remaining dust or crumbs.
Dampen a lint-free cloth withrubbing alcoholand carefully wipe down the larger areas of the keyboard.
Use an alcohol-dipped cotton swab to reach the small crevices, like the keys.
Dirt and grime quickly build up on light switches.
To clean them, gently wipe them down with a cloth dampened witha cleaning solution.
Be sure to never spray directly on the light switch to avoid liquid reaching any electrical components.
Nathan Schroder
8.
Door Handles
Door handles are also used daily but not cleaned often enough.
This is especially true for any handles in the bathroom, which can carry lots of bacteria.
Trash Cans
Many don’t think abouttrash cans needing to be cleaned, but they do!
To clean your trash can, empty it and remove any trash bags.
Rinse it out (outdoors if possible) and spray with a disinfectant or all-purpose cleaner.
