Like a birthday, this time comes around every year. Dreaded as it may be it serves a very useful purpose, to clean the house of built up dirt and allergens that has amassed over the months. A clean home can go a long ways towards clearing one’s mind and improving the overall mood in the household. Basic cleaning is always good to keep in mind but it is easy to forget those hard to reach spots that accumulate dirt and grime as well.
Remember the Hard-to-reach Areas
Behind, under and inside furniture can often get overlooked. These spaces trap unwanted debris as much as the open areas and can easily be forgotten.
- Light Fixtures
- Behind televisions
- Ceiling corners
- Behind and under dressers, beds, and side tables
- Behind and under shelves
- Under couch cushions
- Ceiling fans
- Air filters/ ceiling vents
- Above kitchen cabinets
Large Appliances Attract and Gather Dust
Large pieces of equipment, like the refrigerator and washers and dryers are magnets for dust. It accumulates in and around them and they need to be tended to as well to ensure their efficiency and to possibly prolong their life expectancy. Many of the larger appliances are wheeled to make access to them easier and safer.
- Snake the dryer for excess lint
- Atop, below, inside and behind the refrigerator
- Behind, inside and below the stove/range
- Television screens and around the edges
- Computer monitors and desktops
- Around stereo equipment and speakers
Corners and Ledges
Insects like spiders, earwigs, and centipedes love to climb in niches and make themselves at home. A thorough sweep of these areas ensures that even the most elusive critters will not go undiscovered.
- Window screens and sills
- Above doorways and windows
- Along floorboards and chair railings
Do Not Forget the Basics
The main areas of the home do not get disregarded often but with a task like spring cleaning the job can seem overwhelming. A small reminder may be needed to ensure these spots get tended to as well.
- Lamp shades
- Curtains/draperies
- Turn mattresses if needed
- Garbage disposal (lemons and ice)
- Inside and around fireplaces
- Window blinds
Remembering to get the built-up grime under and behind large appliances may prolong their life and increase their efficiency. Without gunk blocking the circulation to and from their engines and fans the risk of overheating is reduced and energy needed to function is reduced. Cleaning in the easy to forget and hard to reach areas reduces the amount of allergens in the home and rids the homes of pests such as cockroaches, spiders and earwigs that like to live in those spots.
Cecilia Williams - I'm a Licensed PTA and I have background experience as a Physical Therapy Specialist with the US Army. Many times I've been asked to ...
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