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Professional House Cleaners Name 30 Things People Really Need To Clean In Their Home But Don’t
Interview With Expert
If you want to have a nice place, you need to look after it—and not everyone knows the right way to do so. Luckily, in a viral Reddit post by user Mature-Sensible-Name, professional cleaners have revealed the most commonly overlooked areas and items in our homes that desperately need attention. From things we come in contact with every day, such as mattresses, to more hidden details, like dishwasher filters, continue scrolling to see what was mentioned and check if you're doing a good job yourself.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Clean your light switch’s and door knobs they are always gross and people rarely clean them.
RELATED:
#2
Here's one people NEVER do but really should: vacuum your mattress. No, I'm not kidding. When you change your sheets you should vacuum that b***h so you can suck out whatever dead skin and c**p have made their way down there. Also, we all know to wash the fitted sheet. But below that, mattresses sometimes have another removable cover, please wash that too.
Marcos Valencia 2 months ago
Good to know. At home, we use mattress covers that are regularly washed, but I never vacuumed a mattress in my life...
To learn more about the topic, we contacted Sergio Licea, whose company, EDGE Cleaning Service, offers a range of services for homes in Washington State, including regular cleaning, deep cleaning, and move-in/move-out cleaning, among others.
"In my experience, people are generally good at cleaning large surface areas like tables, countertops, sinks, and shower floors," Sergio told Bored Panda. "That's probably because they are the most visible.
"However, what most people tend to miss are the hidden areas that aren’t noticeable at first glance but actually accumulate the most bacteria and grime."
#3
Please empty your toaster crumb trays. I have found crumb trays so full that some of the crumbs were BLACK from being burned. That's a fire hazard!!!
#4
Something I didn’t notice until I sat on the floor the other day; places your pets(cats in particular) rub against.
My door jams and walls were very dirty at cat level.
I didn’t see this mentioned: lighting fixtures and hood vent. Baking soda is a very good friend of mine!
Groundcontroltomajortom 2 months ago
My couch, my dog likes to rub himself along it when I take his harness off
#5
Clean the things you use to clean other things.
Replace your kitchen sponge at least twice a month. Wash your towels weekly. Leave the door to your washing machine open after each cycle so it doesn’t mildew. You get the idea. If these things aren’t clean, it can manifest in big ways. Ever met one of those people who has a faint musty/sour smell even after showering? Chances are they’ve been using the same nasty bath towel for weeks/months and don’t notice the smell from it anymore.
Groundcontroltomajortom 2 months ago (edited)
I always leave my washer door open and take out the drawer, stops any smells in my clothing but winds my partner up when he's trying to cook (In the UK we have our washers in the kitchen)
The 2024 National Cleaning Survey results showed that for 70% of Americans, having a clean home gives them a sense of accomplishment, another 66% get a mood boost out of it, and 63% feel more productive.
However, people don't enjoy every part of the process. 49% said they dread and/or avoid cleaning places that are hard to reach (e.g., behind or underneath furniture or appliances), and 38% can't stand cleaning places that can get filthy (e.g., bathrooms, vents, basements, etc.).
#6
Coming from someone who is taller than average I’d like to mention that many people only clean to their eye level.
Verena 2 months ago
Special challenge in (older) houses in the Netherlands:Windows open to the outside. In Germsny the open to the inside, so safely cleaning all windows is easy. In NL you have window washers who come at your hozse, with water and sponges/squeegies on long sticks and clean the outside up to the 4th ((US: 5th) level.
#8
The toothbrush holder, your spit and saliva drips down the bottom of brushes into the cup, nasty.
Groundcontroltomajortom 2 months ago
I put my toothbrush heads (detachable electric toothbrush heads) in a glass with mouthwash that gets changed every few days. Keeps them clean and germ free.
#9
When I did housekeeping during college, I noticed that many people neglect to take down their shower curtains periodically for washing.
That's the accumulation of body oils, fluids, etc that has splashed off your body. You can disinfect and make a bathroom sparkle, however, the stench off the ripe curtain...ick.
"In kitchens, I often see extreme amounts of mold buildup in sink drain covers and splash guards, as well as grime accumulating in cabinet corners," Sergio explained.
"And in bathrooms, I frequently encounter mold buildup in the corners and crevices of showers, along with clogged drains. These not only cause unpleasant odors but also harbor large amounts of bacteria."
#10
Their fans.
Mfs be having the DUSTIEST ceiling fans in the world. How do y’all sleep with those things spinning? It’s like snow.
keyboardtek 2 months ago
Having dry eye syndrome, I have removed the fan in my bedroom. I even would rather deal with heat and humidity than keep the air conditioning vent open. Any draft makes my eyes burn worse. In the winter I have to run a room humidifier.
#11
Not a professional and a little off topic but have you ever cleaned your steering wheel? My god, the stuff that shows up on a Lysol wipe...
Marcos Valencia 2 months ago
Of course I've ever cleaned my steering wheel. Every time I clean (or take it to be clean, actually) the interiors and the dashboard.
#12
I never understand why people don't use pillow protectors between their pillows and pillowcases. They help extend the life of your pillow. I have seen some really nasty pillows. Remember, you spend the night drooling on your pillows.
#13
Garbage disposal flaps, black mold under there. Dishwasher filters, grossest things ever.
Jan Rosier 2 months ago (edited)
How about, getting rid of these garbage disposals al together, and learn how to separate your trash?
To make cleaning more efficient, Sergio recommends:
- Learning about the right cleaning products and how to use them.
- Cleaning consistently and focusing on one area/item at a time. This approach makes the task feel less overwhelming in the long run.
- Cleaning as you go. This prevents mess and grime from accumulating throughout your home.
- Not neglecting specific items. Tackling things like lamps, chandeliers, ceiling fans, air vents, and windows may not be a priority for some, but maintaining them is key to keeping a home truly pristine.
Hopefully, that helps!
#15
This is for all the video gamers out there, please clean your gaming equipment.
* Get some disinfecting wipes and clean down your controllers.
* Clean your keyboard about twice a year, if you eat at your computer clean it once a month.
* Clean your mouse about twice a year.
* Disinfect your mouse and keyboard once a month, it will help you get sick less.
* Dust your electronics once a month, it will help keep them from overheating and last longer.
* Clean your headset once a month, your hair oil is slowly sticking to it and that allows it to grab dust, it gets really gross.
* At least once a year, remove your gaming electronics from their tables and shelves to dust and clean down the area.
I have found even the most crazy of clean freaks for some reason neglect their gaming equipment.
#16
This will probably get buried, but I haven’t seen it. Clean out your cabinets people. Take everything thing out and wipe them down. You have no idea what you’re putting your “clean” dishes in...especially if you turn your cups upside down.
#17
The fan heaters. I unplug mine and use a skinny crochet hook to yank the hair and dust out of ours.
I have seen one catch fire. Clean them, it's important.
Groundcontroltomajortom 2 months ago (edited)
I use a dust pan brush, take it outside and give it a good brush!! Gets all the dust out.
#18
Unscrew and clean your faucet aerator. Especially if you live in a hard water area.
#19
Not a pro but the one that always gets neglected is the extractor fan hood over your cooker. There are filters on there that need replacing (or just cleaning depending on the type) and if you don’t after about 6-12 months they turn into a fire hazard because they get saturated with grease. If you put your hand onto the flat underside of your extractor hood and it feels greasy and gross, that’s because it is. Clean that s**t once in a while folks.
#20
Toilet brush and toilet brush holder. These just become a stew of poop particles if ignored.
#21
Not a house cleaner but...
When my guy and I first started living together he didn’t understand that couches need cleaned! Underneath and inside. He will still try to get away with vacuuming and not moving the couch. We have two cats and a dog, it gets disgusting under there. One of the cats is a hoarder too and likes to hide things underneath so it’s always in our best interest to move the couch around to find her treasures.
#22
Does vacuum filter count? I’m a carpet laying apprentice and sometimes we use the customers vacuum to tidy up. Usually they’re a useless sack of s**t and you have to empty it and clean the filter, then they’re good as new.
#23
People who are busy but wonder how it looks different when I do it, the finishing touches they miss are polishing or wiping down their kitchen bin, kettles and other shiny things on their counters.
One job I struggle with is removing hair from a plug hole and as I rule, I don’t do it because i’ll spend the day heaving. People forget to clean their taps, door handles and light switches, yet they are probably the most used item.
Lost Panda 2 months ago
One good way to get hair out of the drains, take a wire hanger and break it down, then wrap a rubber band around one end. Stick it in the drain while wiggling it around, and it will bring out the hair. Repeat as necessary.
#24
Vacuum the tops of your curtains, they are a major source of dust! Also I’m not a pro cleaner I just like cleaning 🤷♀️.
#25
Your keyboard. The amount of hair and dry skin flakes that accumulate in there over time is pretty disturbing. Give yours a good shake and you'll see the mountain of repulsive substances.
#26
Nobody had mentioned vacuuming the lint off the refrigerator coils. Pop the lower cover off, no tools needed, then use a brush and vacuum brush to take the hair and stuff off. Especially if you have pets. Your fridge will run less and last longer.
#27
I used to clean luxury apartments in the Upper East Side in college, and no matter how "clean" the apartments looks there were a few places people will often forget to clean
1- Microwaves
2-Behind the stove (yes, food falls down there) I once cleaned someone's stove and there was popcorn kernels from 2010!! This guy had a strict diet, so he was able to remember the last time he ate popcorn
3-Window blinds (the guy had white blinds, and with time dirt it looked yellow/dark white)
4-Behind the fridge and clean inside the fridge!!
I used to clean apartments from doctors & lawyers and their places would be dirty!! They would always be amazed how I was able to find "hidden" garbage.. They would always appreciate my work, and always gave me a tip or bonus.
Groundcontroltomajortom 2 months ago (edited)
I don't get how people have such dirty microwaves!! Keep your food covered if possible and give it a good wipe down if there's potential food splatter (baked beans and soup are the worst culprits!)
#28
Along the baseboards and corners while vacuuming.
#29
The dish drying rack. I've never seen anyone with one that wasn't f*****g horrific looking.
#30
Chef here. The filters in your air-condition and your vents gather a ton of dust and grime. Clean them for a better performing a/c
The waterlock under your sink. It can really fill up with some nasty a*s s**t if not emptied.
The bottom of cutlery drawers... No need to explain that one.
What do you think ?
Ge Po 2 months ago
This post actually makes me feel good about my cleaning rutines. I always kind of defended myself with stating that maybe my house is not as tidy as it could be all the time, but that I do clean what needs to, when it needs to. Turns out I may have been telling the truth more than I believed myself. So I'll just be taking another cup of coffee now and feel good about myself.
Spannidandoolar 2 months ago
Exactly the same here, it could so with being tidier but I do clean all of these things regularly (except the back of the fridge, I know it needs doing but I just haven't got to it recently).
Load More Replies... Ge Po 2 months ago
To clean it every week or even month, I would agree. To clan it every season, every year, twice a year, once every second year, that would be basic maintenance for most.
Load More Replies... Black Cat 2 months ago
This is probably an unpopular opinion but who has time and energy to do all this cleaning? If you're working 40,50,60+ hours a week when I get home I don't want to spend all my time cleaning. Where's the quality of life in that? Pretty said if your life is just working and housework. Personally I'd rather live in bit of a pigsty and actually enjoy life. Otherwise what's the point? Come at me!
Nimitz 2 months ago
Keep up basic cleaning like vacuuming the high traffic areas, flat mop with a spray bottle to clean in just a few minutes, wash your dishes, and keep the stove/microwave clean. About 30 minutes a week, then do a proper clean/dusting once a month, maybe an hour. Then spend 3-4 hrs doing a deep clean for spring and fall. Wash the walls/ceiling/baseboards, vacuum your mattress, wipe out the cupboards, clean the stove. Your place will look pretty much clean and things won't get carried away. Like 20 hrs cleaning per year and you're good
Load More Replies...
Ge Po 2 months ago
This post actually makes me feel good about my cleaning rutines. I always kind of defended myself with stating that maybe my house is not as tidy as it could be all the time, but that I do clean what needs to, when it needs to. Turns out I may have been telling the truth more than I believed myself. So I'll just be taking another cup of coffee now and feel good about myself.
Spannidandoolar 2 months ago
Exactly the same here, it could so with being tidier but I do clean all of these things regularly (except the back of the fridge, I know it needs doing but I just haven't got to it recently).
Load More Replies... Ge Po 2 months ago
To clean it every week or even month, I would agree. To clan it every season, every year, twice a year, once every second year, that would be basic maintenance for most.
Load More Replies... Black Cat 2 months ago
This is probably an unpopular opinion but who has time and energy to do all this cleaning? If you're working 40,50,60+ hours a week when I get home I don't want to spend all my time cleaning. Where's the quality of life in that? Pretty said if your life is just working and housework. Personally I'd rather live in bit of a pigsty and actually enjoy life. Otherwise what's the point? Come at me!
Nimitz 2 months ago
Keep up basic cleaning like vacuuming the high traffic areas, flat mop with a spray bottle to clean in just a few minutes, wash your dishes, and keep the stove/microwave clean. About 30 minutes a week, then do a proper clean/dusting once a month, maybe an hour. Then spend 3-4 hrs doing a deep clean for spring and fall. Wash the walls/ceiling/baseboards, vacuum your mattress, wipe out the cupboards, clean the stove. Your place will look pretty much clean and things won't get carried away. Like 20 hrs cleaning per year and you're good
Load More Replies...
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