CLEANING & ORGANIZING (https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/)

(https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/)

Here’s How to Clean the 16 Dirtiest Items in Your Home

Jenn Sinrich (https://www.rd.com/author/sw-24098/)

Areas that are tough to clean—whether it’s because they’re tough to reach or take too much attention to detail—

are often the most in need of a scrub. Here’s how to clean these tough, �lthy spots in your home.

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You probably use your oven several times a week, so it’s essential to keep it tidy—especially since it’s easy for food to spill over the edge and bake

t th � d t l t f k l i S P f d f N t S i (htt // t i k/) “If th ill i ’t

Oven

onto the �oor and generate a lot of smoke, explains Sean Parry, founder of Neat Services (https://www.neatservices.co.uk/). “If the spillage isn’t

cleaned after cooking, repeated use of the oven will further bake on the burnt food, making the problem worse and worse,” he says. Here’s how to

clean your oven: Remove the racks and then mix two to three tablespoons of water with baking soda until you get a paste; coat the inside of your

oven and let it sit for a bit (even overnight), and then wipe it down. Finish the job by spraying on some vinegar (it will foam a bit where it comes into

contact with baking soda) and scrubbing the stubborn spots. And don’t forget to clean the racks, too. Some ovens have a self clean setting, but

make sure you read these 9 things to know before using your self clean oven (https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/self-clean-oven/),

�rst.

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For the hood and screens, Debra Johnson, Merry Maids’ (https://www.merrymaids.com/) home-cleaning expert, suggests placing the screens in a

pan or sink of hot, soapy water. “Lift the �lter up and down under the water to work the suds through and let it sit while you tackle the inside and

outside of the hood,” she says. “Hot, soapy water and a non-scratch scrubby sponge will do the trick or you can use a multi-purpose cleaning spray

if you prefer.”

Oven hood

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Your kitchen stove gets more action than your oven—all the more reason to keep it clean. As with your oven, the high temperatures can bake on

food or liquids, and the problem gets worse the longer you leave it, explains Parry. If you have a glass stove top, says Jennifer Rodriguez, Chief

Hygiene O�cer at Pro Housekeepers (https://prohousekeepers.com/), try using a mix of one part white vinegar to two parts water in a spray bottle.

“Spray the vinegar solution on your glass stovetop and let it sit for ten minutes then wipe away,” she says. Here’s how to clean non-glass stovetops:

She suggests using hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. “Sprinkle the entire stove top with baking soda and add enough hydrogen peroxide until

you notice the gunk �zzling,” she says. “Finally, rinse and dry.” But don’t forget about these 31 places you haven’t cleaned in a long time (if ever)!

(https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/things-you-have-never-cleaned/)

Stovetop

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Another pain-in-the-neck area to clean that gets a ton of action is your kitchen sink. Your �rst course of action should be to avoid leaving gunk

sitting in the sink overnight. Toss the big chunks in the garbage or grind them up in the garbage disposal right after dinner. Using a sponge, start

getting rid of the food stains, water spots, rust and soap deposits. If you’re having a hard time, Rodriguez recommends using baking soda or Borax

powder. “Sanitize the sink by plugging the drain, �lling the sink up with warm water then adding a little bleach,” she says. “Use a sponge to wipe up

in and around the sink including handles and let it sit for �ve to ten minutes before allowing it to drain.” In a rush? Here’s how to basically clean

your kitchen in just 5 minutes (https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/how-to-clean-your-kitchen-fast/).

Kitchen sink

Showerhead

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In areas of the country that have hard water, Parry warns that limescale can build up quickly, leaving white deposits around taps, showerheads and

bath taps. “If these aren’t cleaned o� regularly, the limescale becomes increasingly di�cult to remove and the unsightly white marks get more and

more pronounced,” he says. “If your showerhead is �xed to a ceiling or wall, you won’t be able to do much about this aside from wiping down the

showerhead with a limescale cleaning product. However, if the showerhead is removable or attached to a hose for example, then we highly

recommended putting the shower in a bucket of hot water with white wine vinegar added every so often.” The vinegar, he explains, helps break

down the limescale deposits and improves the water �ow to your shower. Watch out: These traditional cleaning tricks don’t actually work!

(https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/cleaning-tricks-that-dont-actually-work/)

Toilet

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No need to explain why and how this area of your home needs extra attention. Parry explains that, in addition to the obvious ways your toilet gets

�lthy, it can get limescale buildup (just like your showerhead). “Dark marks at the bottom of the toilet bowl are usually due to limescale trapping dirt

particles—and, if a toilet isn’t used regularly or if you’ve been away for a while, you’ll see that these dark marks become more pronounced over

time,” he says. “Usually, if you use a specialized toilet product every few days, this will be more than su�cient to keep on top of any problems.” He

recommends applying the product, letting it sit for half an hour (or overnight if the problem is worse), and then using a toilet brush to break up the

limescale. These everyday items are dirtier than a toilet seat. (https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/germs-toilet-seat/)

Trash bin

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Most of the time, simply taking out your trash will get rid of any unpleasant odors; but occasionally you’ll have to wipe out the bin itself. In fact,

Parry recommends doing this every week or so. “Food can spill out of the bin bag and into the bin itself,” he says. “Although this is a job most people

hate doing, cleaning out any food and wiping the bin out regularly will leave your home smelling fresh and clean!” Don’t miss these 17 other things

everyone forgets to clean. (https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/things-you-forget-to-clean/)

Baseboards

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Dust build-up can be a source of allergies, yet people often forget to dust the baseboards, according to Johnson. To remove dust, she says, try

wiping down baseboards with a dry micro�ber cloth. “Micro�ber cloths are the best material for picking up dust since the �bers in the cloth are split

with open hooks on the end to pick up and hold the dust or soil,” she says. “Always use a dry micro�ber �rst to remove dust and, if needed use a

wet micro�ber to remove spills and stains.” This will ensure no residue is left on the baseboard. You’ll want to steal these cleaning hacks from

professional house cleaners (https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/genius-house-cleaning-hacks/).

Air ducts and AC units

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Clean air ducts are key to maintaining the indoor air quality of your home and the e�ciency of your system, says George Hernandez, VP of

Operations at PuroClean (https://www.puroclean.com/). He says they should be cleaned at least once a year by a certi�ed professional. “As a

homeowner, you can help in between cleanings by changing your air �lter on a monthly basis and making sure the drain line is not clogged,” he

says. “When you change your �lter, you can pour diluted bleach down the drain line to eliminate microbial growth.” In addition to professionally

cleaning your air ducts, he recommends that your AC unit be serviced once a year to ensure that the coils are cleaned; that will allow air to �ow

through more easily. Don’t miss these other commonly overlooked spots during your spring cleaning. (https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-

organizing/spring-cleaning/)

Dishwasher

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Since the dishwasher’s main function is to clean, many people forget that it—like any other appliance—also requires a good cleaning every once in a

while. “Though it might seem counterintuitive, think of all the dirty particles that go in and out of it on a daily basis—it’s no surprise your dishwasher

can smell!” says Johnson. She recommends taking lemons cut into quarters and placing them in a bowl of water. “Put this dishwasher-safe bowl on

the top rack and then run it for one cleaning cycle,” she says. “This will help remove the odor.” It’s a lot easier and safer than using bleach, but here

are 12 times you should be using bleach. (https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/12-smart-ways-to-use-bleach/)

Blinds

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Those slats may seem like a hassle to clean, but they don’t have to be, according to Rodriguez. Close the blinds and then dust them by holding the

bottom with one hand and wiping the slats with a micro�ber cloth. “Use a vacuum with a soft dusting brush attachment and set it to low-suction to

remove even more dust; then repeat on the other side,” she says. For heavily soiled blinds, she recommends using a damp micro�ber towel with

warm water; for wood blinds, be careful not to soak them. “If you’re having a hard time removing grease or old dust stains, try using some soap and

water,” she adds. “The last step is to let the blinds air dry and then vacuum any remaining dust that has fallen onto the window sill area or �oors.”

Check out these cleaning tricks for hard-to-clean household objects (https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/cleaning-tricks/).

Windows

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For your windows to function as intended—o�ering you a view on the world—they must be clean. Johnson recommends dipping a micro�ber cloth

into a mixture that consists of one part water and one part white vinegar. “Spray the liquid lightly on your windows making sure not to over-spray,”

she says. “This can add time to the cleaning process since you have to wipe up the excess product before the cleaning can begin.” Using a dry

micro�ber cloth, wipe o� the solution. “The cloth won’t leave any residue.” For your windowsill, use a small dustpan or vacuum attachment to get

rid of dust, soot, cobwebs, and insects, says Brian Sansoni of the American Cleaning Institute (https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/) (ACI). “You can

use cleaning wipes on plastic and vinyl window frames,” he added. “If you’re using a spray product, put it on the cloth and only use it for the sills, not

the glass.” Without the micro�ber clothes, it is easy to smudge your windows during the cleaning process, just like these 10 cleaning mistakes that

are actually making your home dirtier.  (https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/cleaning-mistakes-making-home-dirtier/)

Carpets

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Hernandez recommends having your carpets cleaned once a year by a certi�ed professional—ideally with hot-water extraction. You should do it

even more frequently if you own pets since carpets will collect loads of debris, dander, and dirt. “By maintaining your surfaces, you help improve

the air quality within your home,” he says. “Maintenance should include vacuuming with a carpet beater and brush to help loosen up surface dirt.”

On a weekly basis, he suggests vacuuming and following the manufacturer recommendations for care based on the type of carpet you have. Try

these homemade carpet cleaners that you probably already have in your house. (https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/homemade-

carpet-stain-removers/)

Bathroom tileReplay Video

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Bathroom tile—and especially grout—tends to attract growth and scum that not only makes it look gross and dirty, but it becomes harder and

harder to clean over time. Prenter says your best bet is to get down on your knees and employ some elbow grease. “Baking soda, when mixed with

warm water and bleach, forms a potent cleaning formula that can scrub away stains and dirt while simultaneously sanitizing your kitchen and

bathroom tiles,” he says. To make the mixture, he recommends combining four parts baking soda, one part bleach, and one part water. “The result

will be a paste which you can put on the grout using a sponge or rubber gloves,” he says. “Leave the mixture for ten minutes and then take a tough

sponge, or a brush if necessary, and scrub the paste into the grout until it returns to its original color.” When �nished, you can remove the

remaining paste and dirt using a damp cloth. These are the germiest spots in your bathroom (https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/most-

germs-bathroom/).

Ceiling fans

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Although you might not be able to see it, the blades attract a great deal of dust, dirt, and grime. To clean your ceiling fans, you’ll need a ladder, a

dust brush, a bucket of hot water, and a micro�ber cloth. “Brush the top of each fan blade �rst to remove loose dust, dip the cloth in the hot water,

and then wipe the blade from the center to the edge,” says Donna Smallin Kuper (https://www.unclutter.com/about-donna/), a certi�ed House

Cleaning Technician, best-selling author, and established organizing expert. “Alternatively, you might want to invest in an extendable micro�ber

duster that can’t be adjusted to a 90-degree angle, allowing you to clean ceiling fan blades without the need for a ladder.” Don’t forget to add these

18 products professional house cleaners always buy (https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/cleaning-products-professional-house-

cleaners-always-buy/) to your Amazon shopping cart!

Keyboards

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Most of us use computers on a daily basis—and sometimes all day long. It’s essential to keep them clean so you aren’t swapping germs with

spouses, kids, and co-workers. Darla DeMorrow, professional organizer, founder of HeartWork Organizing (http://www.heartworkorg.com) and

author of Sort and Succeed (https://aax-us-east.amazon-

adsystem.com/x/c/QqcE7GV4EitsBlzi8JyvvOcAAAFpeQ7IpQEAAAFKAWuBLMA/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079BC6485/?

creativeASIN=B079BC6485&linkCode=w61&imprToken=HahjuDLbuPJGYUViSkbklg&slotNum=0&tag=readerwp-20), suggests turning your keyboard over

and shaking gently. “Keep a small spray bottle of rubbing alcohol mixed with regular water at your desk; lightly spray it on those ubiquitous

micro�ber cloths and wipe your keyboard, mouse, screen, and phone each day (or at least weekly),” she says. “The bonus is that you’ll stop

struggling to see your screen through the �ngerprint and makeup smudges.” Next, make sure you aren’t using the 13 most toxic cleaning products

—here’s what to use instead. (https://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/most-toxic-spring-cleaning-products/)

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