19 Unexpected Things in Your Home You Should Be Cleaning More Often

Living Room

Under the couch: Let's be honest — the real reason you don't want to clean under the couch is because you're probably afraid to find what's under there. From crumbs to missing toys to dog hair, it's like the black hole of rooms. That's why it's a good idea to clean under the couch at least once every other month.

Remotes: You hold your remote every day, sometimes holding it after being outside without washing your hands. And because it gets handled by literally everyone in the family, it's probably the filthiest gadget in the house. Use cotton swabs and alcohol to clean the surface and get the dirt out between the buttons. Your hands will thank you.

Throw pillows: Although you probably wash the pillows on your bed every week, the pillows on your couch are often forgotten about. But just because they're decorative pillows doesn't mean they don't get dirty. Make sure you're throwing these in the washing machine or cleaning with a damp rag at least bi-monthly.

Kitchen

Oven hood: If you're not cleaning your oven hood regularly, chances are it's probably coated with layers of grease, dirt, and dust. Not a good look. Make sure to scrub your hood with a powerful degreaser spray every month.

Under the oven: Like the couch, most people neglect the oven, fearing what hides beneath. But if you want to make sure you're not leaving out bait for mice, make sure to clean under the stove at least four times a year.

Coffee maker: Just because you run hot water through it every day doesn't mean your coffee maker is clean. In fact, all the water can lead to build up, which makes it even filthier. Make sure you're using a coffee cleaning solution to clean the inside of your machine monthly. If you have a Keurig, follow these instructions.

Dish rack: For something that's supposed to hold your clean dishes, it can get dirty pretty fast since it's always wet. Make sure to rub it down with soap and water every week. If you're feeling extra lazy, simply throw the whole thing in the dishwasher.

Bathroom

Toothbrush holder: Considering you put your toothbrush in your mouth every day, you should definitely be cleaning its holder more often. Although it gets neglected, you should scrub it with soap and water weekly.

Bath mat: Your mat soaks up all the dirty water that runs off your body after taking a shower. Because it gets wet so often, you have an interesting medley of dirty combined with mold that makes the bath mat especially filthy. Chuck this thing into a washing machine at least bi-weekly, possibly more if you have kids.

Faucet/shower heads: Most people never think to clean their shower or faucet heads, but don't skip them. Shower heads especially can carry calcium build-up that can only be scrubbed away. Make sure to do that everytime you clean your bathroom.

Decorative pieces: When was the last time you cleaned your glass jar of potpourri? Never? Although they're there merely for aesthetic purposes, they still attract dust and dirt. Make sure to give them a good wipe down with a soft cloth at least once a month.

Bedroom

Fan blades: We get it — a ceiling fan is high, out of reach, and inconvenient to clean on a weekly basis. But clearly you can see the dust up there. Buy a duster with an extended handle and clean your blades at least once a month.

Light switch: Most people never think to clean their light switches, but you should. With so many dirty hands coming in contact with it daily, you should give it a gentle wipe down at least once a month.

Doorknob: Like the light switch, your doorknob is in contact with dozens of dirty hands daily. You should definitely disinfect your knobs at least once a week.

Office

Light bulbs: Don't underestimate your bulbs just because you rarely see them. They get incredibly dusty and need to be cleaned at least four times a year. Simply wipe the bulb down with a dry soft cloth. Remember to wear gloves so that you don't get oily fingerprints on it.

Plants: Sure, your large fern looks great in the corner, but it attracts a lot of dust and insects if you don't clean it regularly. Use a bottle of warm water and spritz your plants monthly. For especially filthy plants, wipe down the leaves with a soft cloth or paintbrush.

Keyboard: Out of all the things in your home office, your computer keyboard is probably the filthiest. Dip a cotton swap in alcohol to clean the exterior surface. To clean deep down within the keys, use a can of compressed air and blast the dirt away.

Back Yard

Patio cushions: Just because your patio furniture was made to get wet doesn't mean you can skip on cleaning them regularly. Combine warm water and detergent in a bucket, dip a sponge in the solution, and give your cushions and covers a good scrub down. Rinse off with the hose when you're done.

Window exteriors: The outside of your windows need cleaning, too. Make sure to wipe them down with window cleaner at least four times a year.