When it comes to maintaining cleanliness in your home, most of us follow a standard checklist. We typically vacuum the floors, wipe down countertops, and scrub the bathroom. However, even the most diligent individuals can overlook certain areas that accumulate more dirt and dust than we realize. Professional cleaners, with their trained eyes and expertise, know exactly where to uncover these hidden trouble spots—and trust us, they’re likely not in the places you’d expect. Keep reading to uncover the commonly forgotten areas people neglect to clean, along with valuable advice from cleaning experts on why paying extra attention to these spots can significantly impact your home’s cleanliness and overall well-being. So grab your vacuum and cleaning supplies and begin addressing these sneaky overlooked areas.
1. Your Mattress
When was the last time you cleaned your mattress? While many believe that changing their sheets equates to cleaning their bed, it’s crucial to go a step further. “Even if your bed appears clean on the surface, it could be harboring dust mites, sweat, and dead skin cells that go unnoticed,” notes Jade Piper, operations manager at Better Cleans. Replace this old habit with a new one by investing in a mattress vacuum cleaner equipped with a UVC light feature that replicates the sun’s UV rays to eliminate dust mites and bacteria. “Address stains first by blotting them with a mild detergent and water mix before vacuuming the mattress surface to remove loose dirt and pet hair, especially along seams and edges.”
2. Inside The Closet
Organizing your closet is crucial for maintaining a tidy home—and this involves more than just arranging your clothing. “Closets can easily become a haven for various contaminants, including dust, mold, allergens, and bacteria,” explains Justin Carpenter, founder of Jacksonville Maids. Over time, dirt and germs can accumulate in this space, impacting your health and comfort. Start by emptying your closet and wiping down shelves and rails with a microfiber cloth and disinfectant cleaner. After vacuuming dust and lint from the floor or bottom of the closet, neatly return your items while decluttering unwanted belongings. Make this a monthly routine for a fresh, healthy, and aesthetically pleasing wardrobe.
3. Walls and Baseboards
While walls don’t require the same frequent cleaning as floors, they can accumulate dirt over time, particularly in households with pets and children. Dust, cobwebs, and grease buildup can diminish indoor air quality, prompting Piper to recommend cleaning walls biannually and baseboards monthly. Use a soft-bristled brush or vacuum to remove dust or cobwebs, then wipe down walls with a mixture of mild detergent and warm water using a sponge or microfiber cloth. For stubborn stains, consider a specialized cleaner, testing it first on a small area to prevent damage. Opt for washable paint for future wall painting projects, allowing for easy maintenance.
“Make sure to remove any marks or stains without causing harm to the paint,” she advises.4. Areas Above Eye LevelDon’t overlook cleaning spots above eye level. Often forgotten areas include the tops of doors and door frames, picture rails, hanging light fixtures, ceiling fans, the upper surfaces of refrigerators, and kitchen cabinets. These areas are challenging to see and reach, making them easily neglected and requiring extra effort if they have been ignored. Despite being out of sight, they accumulate dust and allergens just like other areas, so it’s important to use a ladder to dust, vacuum, and wipe down these spaces at least once a month.5. Inside the Range HoodHow clean is your range hood? An accumulation of grime and dirt on the hood can reduce its efficiency and lead to unpleasant odors or decreased air quality in the kitchen as pollutants escape into the air. Even if you clean the filter regularly or replace it as recommended, there is one part often missed.”While people focus on cleaning the filter surfaces, the back edges are frequently overlooked,” says Evie Graham, a professional cleaner and founder of Waste Direct. “Our recent study of 50 homes found that these edges trap 40% of airborne grease and have higher bacterial levels than bathroom surfaces.” To properly clean your range hood, follow Graham’s recipe: Mix 2 tablespoons of citric acid powder with 500ml of warm water and use the solution to clean the hood. “An important step is allowing the solution to sit for exactly 8 minutes,” she advises. “Our research in 50 commercial kitchens proved that timing is crucial.”6. Handles, Knobs, and Switches”Hands are significant carriers of germs, and surfaces like doorknobs, cabinet handles, and light switches are constantly touched by everyone, collecting whatever they come in contact with,” Piper explains. These high-touch areas accumulate dirt, bacteria, and viruses, making them some of the dirtiest spots in the house. Regular cleaning is essential to minimize germ spread and maintain a safe home. “Simply wipe them down quickly using a surface cleaner or disinfectant wipe,” she suggests. “Do this daily or a few times a week for cleanliness.”7. Under-Sink Water Line ConnectionsGraham highlights another often overlooked spot for cleaning: the under-sink water line connections. “Our analysis of wastewater revealed that pipe connections under sinks harbor significant bacteria,” she reveals. “Recent scientific tests showed these areas maintain higher humidity levels than the surrounding spaces, even in well-maintained homes. Cleaning these spots regularly in 20 test homes improved the overall kitchen air quality by 30%.” After learning about these findings, we will always remember to clean the under-sink water line connections. To enhance your home’s air quality, Graham suggests mixing ten parts white vinegar with one part tea tree oil and using a soaked microfiber cloth to wrap the connections. “Leave the cloth on the connections for 10 minutes, then
Following journalistic ethics is crucial in maintaining the integrity and credibility of the news media industry. Adhering to these principles ensures that reporters, writers, and editors provide accurate and unbiased information to the public. By upholding journalistic ethics, media professionals can build trust with their audience and fulfill their responsibility to deliver news that is fair, impartial, and free from personal biases.
One of the core tenets of journalistic ethics is to strive for accuracy in reporting. This means that journalists must verify the information they present to the public and cross-check facts from multiple sources to ensure its reliability. Accuracy is essential in upholding the credibility of the news and preventing the spread of misinformation.
Another important principle is objectivity. Journalists should strive to report the news in a neutral and impartial manner, without allowing their personal opinions or biases to influence their work. Objectivity ensures that news stories are presented in a fair and balanced way, allowing readers to form their own opinions based on the facts presented.
Transparency is also a key aspect of journalistic ethics. Journalists should be open and honest about their sources of information, potential conflicts of interest, and any biases that may affect their reporting. Transparency helps to build trust with the audience and allows readers to evaluate the credibility of the news they are consuming.
Journalists must also respect the privacy of individuals and avoid sensationalism in their reporting. This means refraining from publishing private information without consent and avoiding the use of inflammatory language or images to manipulate readers’ emotions. Sensationalism undermines the integrity of the news and can lead to the spread of misinformation and distortion of facts.
Furthermore, journalists should seek to provide context and perspective in their reporting. By placing news events in their proper context and providing background information, journalists can help readers better understand the significance of the story and its implications. Contextual reporting promotes a deeper understanding of complex issues and encourages critical thinking among the audience.
Additionally, journalists should be accountable for their work and be open to feedback and criticism from the public. Accountability ensures that journalists take responsibility for their reporting and are willing to correct errors or inaccuracies when they occur. By holding themselves accountable, journalists demonstrate their commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.
Overall, following journalistic ethics is essential for maintaining the trust and credibility of the news media industry. By adhering to principles such as accuracy, objectivity, transparency, and accountability, journalists can fulfill their role as gatekeepers of information and serve the public interest. Upholding these ethical standards is crucial in a democratic society, where access to reliable and unbiased information is essential for an informed citizenry.
