It’s time to start thinking about getting your home ready for the holidays. Whether you’re hosting any gatherings or not, this is a great time to begin getting your house in order.
Most homeowners do a deep clean in the spring and tackle different rooms as needed throughout the year. This approach generally works for keeping your home livable and presentable, but there are lots of spots that tend to get missed. When left for too long, they can have an excessive buildup of dirt and grime.
Village Media Content Studio spoke to Gord at JL’s Home Hardware Building Centre in Guelph to learn exactly what these 15 areas of oversight are and what it takes to keep them clean.
#1: Your dishwasher
Your dishwasher is probably the most heavily used appliance in your home. To keep it in top condition, it should be cleaned at least once a month. Here’s how:
- Clean out the cylindrical filter that is underneath the bottom rack. It’s a catch-all for leftover food and grease, and it should be emptied and cleaned by hand
- Clean the inside of your dishwasher using water with bleach or white vinegar
- Run a full cycle using special dishwasher detergent or rinse aid. This will help to remove soap scum and hard water deposits
#2: Your range hood
Grease can build up very quickly and significantly impact the performance of your range hood. Give it a good, thorough cleaning at least once a month—and not just by wiping down the outside. You also need to clean the filter and the underside of your range hood.
- Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands
- Use a microfibre cloth and a good grease-cutting cleaner to wipe down the outside
- Use your degreasing cleaner and a soft, no-scratch brush to scrub the underside
- Fill your sink with hot water, dish soap and baking soda
- Remove the filter and let it soak for at least 15 minutes—more if it is really dirty
- Scrub away all of the loosened grease and grime until the filter is clean
- Make sure the filter is dry before you reinstall it
If your filter is damaged or you’re not able to get it clean, it should be replaced with a new range hood filter.
#3: The rest of your kitchen
These areas can also be easily overlooked. Do the following:
- Sweep away any food scraps or other debris from under your fridge and stove
- Clean the kickplates on your fridge and stove
- Spot-wipe your cabinet doors
- Dust or vacuum the tops of your cabinets
- Wash out your under-sink garbage can
- Clean the inside of your microwave
- Clean and polish all of your small appliances
#4: Your living room
Living rooms tend to be high-traffic areas with lots of activity. Kids and pets seem to constantly create messes and we’re all guilty of snacking in front of the TV. These tips can help:
- Pull the couch away from the wall and vacuum underneath
- Remove all of the cushions and vacuum thoroughly, deep into the cracks
- Use wet wipes or cleaning spray on hard surfaces, like coffee and end tables
- Thoroughly clean all high-touch items, such as your TV and remotes
#5: Your bedrooms
It’s easy to overlook our bedrooms as they tend to be quieter spaces, but they require regular maintenance too.
- Pull out your nightstands and vacuum behind them. Dust accumulates here and it’s not healthy to be breathing it in
- Now that all sides of your nightstands are accessible, polish them
- If there are any coffee and drink stains on the walls behind your nightstands, wipe them away
- Dust your lamp shades
- Vacuum under the bed
- If your pillows are machine washable, wash them every 3-6 months to remove mould, bacteria and odours
#6: Your bathrooms
We tend to keep the main elements pretty clean—the sink, shower, tub and toilet. But you should pay attention to these other areas too:
- Clean the walls around the toilet
- Give your light fixtures a thorough cleaning to remove dust
- Scrub your grout in the floor tile and tub tile with a good grout cleaner
- Remove the grill from your exhaust fan and clean it thoroughly
- Wash your shower curtain with laundry detergent and baking soda; this will remove spots and soap scum
- Spray all surfaces with a good disinfectant and scrub them clean
#7: Your laundry room
Your washer and dryer are expensive appliances. They require special cleaning and maintenance.
- Remove damp clothes from your washer immediately; if they linger, mould and mildew can grow
- Clean the rubber door seals of your washer. Use a solution of: one cup bleach, two cups warm water
- Fill the bleach dispenser with bleach and run a complete cycle with hot water—but without any clothes
- Clean the dryer lint screen after every load
- Get your dryer’s exhaust duct cleaned by a professional once a year
The rest of your home
These elements are found throughout your home, yet it’s easy to forget that they need to be cleaned too.
#8: Light switches: Light switches are high-touch areas; they should be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis.
#9: Light fixtures: Dust collects very quickly in pendants and other hanging lights. They need to be wiped regularly with a damp cloth.
#10: Baseboards: Vacuum your baseboards first, then run a damp cloth along them to remove any surface dirt.
#11: Doors: Give the doorknobs a good cleaning, wipe any scuff marks from the doors and check the bottoms of your doors for toe marks.
#12: Doorframes: Dust can build up here unnoticed. If you have trouble reaching the high spots, use a feather duster.
#13: Ceiling fans: Give your fan blades a good dusting. You can use a step ladder to reach them.
#14: Window treatments: Wipe down blinds and vacuum your curtains. Dust can collect on these very quickly.
#15: Walls: It’s best to spot-wipe new marks as they happen; over time they get harder to remove.
For more handy cleaning tips, visit JL’s Home Hardware Building Centre or call 519-822-8230.
This article was sponsored by JL's Home Hardware, a 2023 GuelphToday Reader Favourite.