Cleaning up around the house is an important task, and some areas require more cleaning than others. Some spots are probably not getting the attention they need, especially those that fall into the “out of sight out of mind” category that don’t get cleaned as often as the more visible, higher-profile areas that get cleaned more regularly. While the specifics of your home cleaning schedule will vary depending on your home and what you have in it, here are a few common areas to consider if they are getting enough attention.

Interior Cleaning

Most of the time when you think of cleaning the house, you likely think of dusting, vacuuming, and other common cleaning tasks. Here are a few places to clean that are probably not getting nearly the attention they need:

• Washer & Dryer – You should clean your washing machine every week or two, or if used less frequently, once a month. The dryer should also be cleaned once a month and be sure to take a vacuum to the lint trap and suck up some of the lint that may be stuck in there.
• Blinds – Not only do blinds get dusty but they also collect dirt and grease which can stick and even stain the blinds. Even if they don’t look like they need it, it is a good plan to clean the blinds at least once a month.
• Refrigerator – The coils on the back of your fridge need periodic cleaning, but while you’re at it, the grill, and shelves and other internal locations could use a good clean as well. This keeps buildup from stopping airflow and helps prevent food contamination.
• Furniture – If your furniture is upholstered, you should try and vacuum them once a month. This will get rid of crumbs and dirt while cutting down the amount of dust, dander and other allergens that can plague you throughout the year.

This is obviously not a comprehensive list that you will need to hit when you’re cleaning, but these are the most commonly overlooked. Other appliances and features of rooms that are used frequently might need to go on the list as well when thinking of what to clean.

Exterior Cleaning

There are also a lot of outdoor areas that are overlooked when you are thinking of cleaning as well. This will vary significantly based on where you live and the features of your yard. The most common are:

• External HVAC components – If you have central heat and air, you likely have an outdoor unit that gets cleaned once, maybe twice a year. If you use a window unit A/C, they may get even less attention. It is best to check components 3 to 4 times a year if not more often to remove leaves, dirt, dust and other potential hazards that would harm the efficiency of your system.
• Patios & walkways – Leaves, cut grass and certain types of dirt can have a negative effect on walkways, stone work and even wooden features like decks and patios if left alone. They can cause unsightly stains to chips and even decay. Clean these outdoor features once a month and possibly even more in the summer when there is more mowing and falling leaves to keep them in tip top shape.
• Garage doors – You likely clean your garage a couple times a year but what about your garage door? Not only do the tracks need periodic cleaning to keep things running smoothly but you may also want to add lubricant to the rollers once or twice a year.
• Gutters – If your home has gutters, you likely clean them once or twice a year when the leaves are falling. Other times falling seed pods, pollen, even dirt and dust that washes down your shingles can all have a negative effect on your gutters. Try to clean them once per season if possible.

Other Considerations

There are a lot of tasks around the home when it comes to cleaning and some might not even consider. To help make sure that you get everything you can even hire a professional cleaner or home maintenance professional a couple of times a year to help you tackle everything. If you need help connecting with a professional please let us know.