10 Easy to Forget Places When Spring Cleaning

Food is messy, so it makes sense that the room where you keep, prepare, and toss your food out can become covered in residue.

Refrigerators are a common household appliance used most — if not all — days, but thinking about cleaning these parts may come as an afterthought:

Top: You may not be tall enough to see over the top of your fridge, which is where dust can accumulate, so it’s understandable that you might forget to wipe this place down.Inside: It’s hard to keep the inside of your fridge sparkling clean if sauces drip, food residue leaks, and produce spoils. It’s easiest to clean up any mess before the food has the chance to set, but it still shouldn’t be a match for a damp cloth and some soapy water.Behind: If your fridge is movable, dust bunnies can accumulate on the floor behind it. Some vacuum attachments may be able to access this hard-to-reach place to help you avoid straining your body.Coils: First, unplug your refrigerator and, if you can safely, move it away from the wall so you can access the coils. These can collect dust and debris, which may become a fire hazard, so it’s important to spend a few minutes gently dusting or vacuuming them.

Even though trash and recycling typically go into a bag, this won’t completely stop your bins themselves from getting dirty.

Sometimes, food can miss the bag, wind up in the bin, and result in a smell.

These are easy to clean, though. You can spray them with a hose outside (if there’s some grime you just can’t bring yourself to touch) or use a towel and soapy water to wipe them down.

Though “wash” is in the name, dishwasher filters can actually harbor a lot of muck — old food, oils, and hard water minerals.

The filter is likely on the bottom of your dishwasher. To clean it, untwist the filter, rinse it with soapy water, and put it back. You can also consult the manufacturer of your dishwasher.

Like your refrigerator, the dust on the top of and inside your cabinets can go unnoticed.

To avoid injury, consider using a duster with an extendable arm, which can help you get to the hard-to-reach places.

The items in this section are by no means limited to just your living room and bedroom.

Flipping a switch is easy. But it may be even easier to forget about cleaning what the switch powers.

Dust may settle on fan blades, which will redistribute around the room when you turn on the fan. Some dusters are made specifically to clean ceiling fans.

The same goes for light fixtures. They might be fixed above your head, but this doesn’t mean cleaning them has to go over your head.

The next time you open the windows or push aside the blinds to let in morning light, consider cleaning:

Drapes and blinds: Dust loves to hang out on these items. Most drapes likely aren’t machine washable, so you might want to check the care instructions.Sliding tracks: If you have windows that open from left to right, dirt and debris can get trapped in the tracks. The same goes for any sliding doors. A damp cloth may be all you need to restore them.

There can be more to clean than the toilet, tub, and other surfaces in this room.

If you notice your bathroom drains aren’t as efficient at their jobs, it’s probably time to clean them.

It may help to pour a little baking soda and vinegar, followed by boiling water, down them.

Thinking about your shower curtain and liner being “dirty” might go against logic, since you’re technically clean every time you step out of the shower or bath.

But don’t forget that you’re washing off dirt while you’re in there, and some of that may splash onto the liner or curtain.

Hard water minerals may also leave residue behind (on faucets and showerheads, too) once the water dries.

Microorganisms, like bacteria and fungi, thrive in moist environments, which is all the more reason to disinfect and let your liner air dry occasionally.

Your curtain might be machine washable, but be sure to check the label before tossing it in with your next load.

Depending on your living space, some of these items may not be accessible for you to clean.

Air filters are another one of those “out of sight, out of mind” things.

Most, however, likely last between 3 and 12 months (the thicker they are, the longer they last), according to Consumerreports.org.

But it’s recommended to check and change your air filters once a month if you:

have allergies or a respiratory conditionhave a large familyhave petslive in a windy area or an area prone to wildfireshave a fireplacelive on a farm or ranch, or have a large gardenlive near a construction siterun your unit six months a year to year-round

Cars also have air filters. According to Veteran Car Donations, experts recommend changing your engine and cabin air filters about every 12,000 to 15,000 miles or once a year.

In addition to your fridge, your oven, range hood, stove, microwave, washing machine, and dryer may need some attention.

Most ovens have a clean setting, but you may get a better clean if you scrub it yourself with soap and water.

As for other appliances, cleaning inside of them is one part, but don’t forget to clean above, below, underneath, and all around them, too.

If they have a filter, check with the manufacturer for instructions on how to clean or replace it. Some professionals offer services to help with this, such as for a dryer.

Besides the clean feelings of having a detoxed living space, deep cleaning can have a profound effect on those who live with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions.

When dust, dirt, pet dander, and other allergens build up, it can impact the quality of air you breathe and possibly worsen your condition.

If cleaning alone isn’t enough, you might consider purchasing an air purifier to help trap some air particles.

Besides the physical health benefits, cleaning might also be good for your brain and mental health.

With spring cleaning well under way for many, we’ve compiled a list of places that may be easily overlooked.

Some are out of sight, like the top of your refrigerator or cabinets, and the filter in your dishwasher, car, or dryer, but others are in plain sight, like drapes and blinds.

Whether you participate in spring cleaning or not, this list can be a helpful reminder to ask yourself when was the last time you cleaned your shower curtain or ceiling fan blades?