Cleaning

13 Things You Haven't Cleaned in 6 Months

January 13, 2010 /

Some things just never get cleaned.  Either they’re in hard to reach places, places you can’t see, or they are hard to clean. Maybe they’re just such everyday objects that you don’t think about cleaning them at all.  Whatever the reason, I bet there is more than one item on the list below that you haven’t cleaned in at least six months, and it’s probably pretty dirty by now!
Don’t be embarrassed!  We all have places we forget about and neglect when cleaning.  Print this list out now and get started on checking these items off as you clean and sanitize.  Find out how to clean each item below, then put them into your cleaning schedule for this week.

13 Things You Haven’t Cleaned in 6 Months

1.  The top of your refrigerator.  No matter what you keep up there, from kitchen appliances to lunch boxes to hot dog buns, chances are that the top of your refrigerator hasn’t been cleaned and a long time!

2.  Under the bathroom sink (kitchen sink too). How much stuff is under there, and how old is it all? Probably pretty old. It is especially helpful to have a clean, organized area underneath your sink in case an emergency ever arises, such as a broken pipe.  (Thanks to my sister-in-law Jennifer for this reminder.) A clutter-free cabinet will leave much less of a mess for you to clean up from water damage.
3.  Your keyboard. Many of us type on them all day long, transferring germs from everything else we touch. The particles that accumulate under the keys can be pretty disgusting as well.  See for yourself -just turn your keyboard upside down right now and watch everything that falls out. Don’t worry, though!  You can get your keyboard up to par with the following tutorials:

4.  Your mouse.  Ever think about how many germs you pick up from touching things that get transferred to your mouse? Learn how to clean a computer mouse.

Since one of our most frequently asked questions is how to become a better housekeeper, it’s clear that many of us like little tips and tricks that give us the edge on cleaning our houses without spending a lot of time on them. Read How to Ba a Better Housekeeper.

5.  The outside of your trash can.  Food splatters are only the beginning of what can cause bacteria to grow on the outside of a trash can.  Keeping it clean will provide a much more pleasant smelling kitchen!
6.  The inside of light fixture covers (lamps, wall lights, ceiling lights, etc.).
7.  Your kids’ backpacks.  Chances are that your kids’ backpacks haven’t been clean since the first day of school!  Those backpacks have gone from place to place collecting dirt and germs for months.  Depending on the material and construction of a backpack, the method of cleaning will be different.  It will either have to be hand washed or machine washed, and this guide for how to wash a backpack explains how to do both.
8.  Picture frames hanging on walls.  They look great showing off your family and friends, but picture frames collect all the dust and particulates from the air inside our homes.  Watch a video that shows how to clean picture frames (for you visual learners) or read how to clean a picture frame here.
9.  The drawer under the oven/stove.
How to clean this often-forgotten storage space:

  • Pull out the drawer completely.
  • Remove all items from the drawer.
  • Using your vacuum cleaner hose, vacuum out all food particles, crumbs, dust, etc.
  • Spray inside of the drawer with anti-bacterial cleaner or vinegar. Allow to sit for a few minutes, then wipe clean with a damp sponge.
  • Leave the door open to air dry.
  • Once dry, replace the contents of the drawer and close.

10.  The tops of your bookcases.
How to clean the tops of tall bookcases:

  • Find a step stool, small ladder, or sturdy chair to help you reach the top of the bookcase.
  • Remove any plants, knickknacks, or other items that might be on top of the book shelf.
  • Dust the top surface with a feather duster or dusting cloth.
  • Spray the surface lightly with an appropriate furniture cleaner, then wipe clean with a cleaning cloth or dish towel.
  • Replace all items.

11.  The produce / crisper drawers in your refrigerator.  It’s not difficult to learn how to clean refrigerator drawers, see for yourself. I take mine all the way out and wash them in the dishwasher. But then again, I sanitize almost everything in the dishwasher! Here are some surprising things you can wash in the dishwasher.
12.  Your purse or handbag.  The amount of E. coli and other bacteria found on the surfaces of purses is astonishing!  According to Nelson Labs in Wisconsin, 25% of all purses tested were carrying E. coli bacteria. If you’re ready to be disgusted, horrified, and mortified into cleaning your purse immediately, read this. The main reason for the large amount of bacteria found on purses is because they are transferred from place to place and set on the floor often.  Learn how to clean your purse, no matter what kind of fabric it is constructed from, and NEVER put your purse on a table or kitchen counter!
13.  The steering wheel, gear shift, and radio surface in your car.  This video shows you how to do it all.

13 Things You Haven’t Cleaned in 6 Months was originally published on January 29, 2009.

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21 Comments

  • Kate

    January 29, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    Great list! I have to be honest and say that I don’t know if I’ve cleaned a few of these things in the last year, let alone the last 6 months. You can be sure I’ll be scrubbing down the outside of my garbage can tomorrow! 🙂

  • Kara-Noel

    January 30, 2009 at 11:48 am

    So true!! Some of those I’m great at (stearing wheel… inside fridge… under sink) some have never crossed my mind… I just looked at the top of the fridge and it had about an inch of dust! Thanks for the post!

  • Home Ever After

    January 31, 2009 at 10:58 am

    @Happy Housewife: Most of this list was generated from the items that are frequently passed over in my house as well, so don’t feel bad!
    @Joy: If I didn’t have so many checklists, there are a lot of things I’d forget to do for years! lol Thanks for the comment!
    Barbi

  • Home Ever After

    January 31, 2009 at 11:00 am

    @Kate: Of course my big one won’t fit in the dishwasher, but I like to wash my small trash cans in the dishwasher. That’s the only way I feel that they’ve really been sanitized well enough. Thanks for stopping by!
    Barbi

  • Amanda @ The Mom Crowd

    February 5, 2009 at 4:47 pm

    I just cleaned out the crisper drawers in my fridge. I at least got one. 🙂 The keyboard one makes me think of the movie ‘Gattica.’ We have one of those power air sprayers for all of our keyboards. I should probably check the top of the fridge and bookcases now… :o)

  • Deborah

    March 21, 2009 at 11:08 pm

    I can think of a few other places. I know that my stove, fridge, and washing machine all pull out…when was the last time I cleaned the floor under those? Or the couch for that matter?

  • Carrie

    May 13, 2009 at 2:14 pm

    another thing that doesn’t seem to ever get clean is the top edge of the fume hood over the stove. my stove is original to the house which is 30 years old, i’m renting, and it looks like no one has cleaned it ever.

  • Susan

    January 15, 2010 at 11:30 am

    I really enjoyed this post! I am proud to admit that I have recently cleaned my purse, top of fridge, garbage can, and steering wheel. It looks like I have some work to do!

  • eve

    January 18, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    A couple there I really need to do but I started thinking. My curtains could use a good wash and so could my ceiling fan blades. We live on the Coast so they go most of the year. It isn’t until it gets cold that I actually noitce them. I have at least four that needs cleaning. And my exercise bike,,good grief..when was the last time I wiped it down. The bathroom shower curtain…don’t even ask!

  • Christy

    August 30, 2010 at 1:06 pm

    Well, I’m not failing too terribly… need to clean my mouse and stearing wheel, but it hasn’t been 6 months! Everything else, I’m kind of OCD about!!! 🙂

  • NCN

    March 28, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    We do these things once or twice per month. You might add the cabin filter in your automobile and under couches, chairs.