We have the typical things that are cleaned on a regular basis: kitchen counters, floors, dishes. What about the things you use commonly, but don’t think to clean? When is the last time you thought about the upholstery in your home or your walls? Here are some common things that are forgotten among the regular cleaning and how to clean them.
The Walls
Depending on what kind of paint is on your walls, you should be wiping them down relatively regularly, depending on who lives at home. If you have a child under the age of 12, make sure you are looking at the walls at their level. We aren’t saying this from personal experience, but you might be able to see a line of grime right at their hand level across the house. Eggshell finish paint, high gloss, or satin are all able to be wiped down without the paint coming off. If you have flat paint or builder paint from a new project, you do not want to use a wet cloth of any kind to wash the walls. If you’re unsure of the kind of paint that you have, try rubbing a small, discreet spot (like behind the couch or bed) and if paint comes off on your rag, then it is not washable. There is no perfect way to deep clean stains and heavy dirt on non-washable painted walls without ruining the surface, but you can minimalize the damage.
With both types of paint, you want to dust the wall first. Non-washable paint, you can use a dry dirt eraser sponge that can be used without water to rub scuffs and small blemishes. If you have a higher quality paint, use soapy water and a rag to clean the walls. These only need done once every few months, depending on the activity in your home.
The Upholstery
When is the last time you cleaned your sofa and upholstery throughout the house? Depending on the fabric, you can easily clean the items in a variety of ways. If you have a sectional or sofa with removable cushions, take those off and thoroughly vacuum under the cushions. Add any money you find to your own personal self-care jar. Vacuum the cushions as well. If you are able, you can use a carpet cleaner on a low spin setting on the cushions and upholstery, if you aren’t able to do that or don’t have a carpet cleaner, using a rag and soapy water to spot clean will also do the trick. If you do one room at a time, you can rotate through cleaning the upholstery in your house and be happier in a clean house!
The Little Details
Small things like the back of the television, top of your ceiling fans and the top of the door frames can be dusted easily with a duster or rag. Don’t forget to clean your trashcan with soapy warm water every few months to eliminate the stinky smell coming from it. Last thing commonly forgotten is your air filters and vents. Especially if you have pets, make sure you are vacuuming your return ducts and vents throughout the house regularly to prevent build up on the furnace filter.
We can definitely continue this list, so stay tuned for part two of things most forgotten to clean in the coming blogs. Happy cleaning!
Written by: Jessica Cobb
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