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It’s all well and good to have a regular cleaning routine, but how confident are you that you’re actually cleaning everything that you need to? Many individuals often think that household cleaning is just all about making your home more presentable and overall visually pleasing, but it’s also about ensuring that there are no traces of dust, dirt, and bacteria anywhere in your home. That’s why it’s crucial that you also clean these often overlooked items and areas.
What's Inside
Underneath Furniture
A crucial part of any household cleaning routine is to mop, sweep, or vacuum the floors to remove all the dirt and debris that could have accumulated, but many individuals often forget to include the floors underneath furniture as well. Out of sight, out of mind definitely does not apply to your cleaning routine because these impurities don’t just collect in the visible parts of your floors.
Take a peek underneath your sofas and couches, and you may be surprised at how much dust has built up there over time. Not only can these contaminants spread around your home and make your cleaning efforts less effective, but they could also cause all sorts of trouble, like pest infestations. If you find yourself struggling with cleaning these spots, it can help to use a cleaning tool with a long or extendable handle that will let you reach these spaces more easily.
Ceiling Fans
Your ceiling fan shouldn’t be left out of your cleaning routine just because it’s installed higher than everything else in your home. Despite its higher vantage point, the blades of your ceiling fan can also build up dust, dirt, and debris, just like everything else in your home. In case you still don’t see the importance of cleaning your ceiling fan, just think about what happens to all these impurities when the fan’s turned on—it scatters and falls everywhere.
To clean your ceiling fan, just power it down before using a ladder or step stool to reach it. Then, slip each blade into a pillowcase, allowing you to wipe away all the loose particles without having these cover any items below. Then, dampen a cloth with an all-purpose cleaner and use this to remove all the dust and grime that may have been left over. It may feel like more added work, but it will definitely be worth it to ensure that your home is spotless.
Air Conditioner
Your air conditioner helps you and your loved ones feel cool and fresh, but there’s a possibility that this cooled air is actually blowing out contaminants into your space. Not only can this make your home dirtier, but it can also compromise your health and well-being by negatively affecting the indoor air quality of your space. While air conditioners are built to filter out pollutants and dirt from the air they release, they can only do this when they’re being properly cleaned.
When you neglect AC cleaning, impurities can build up inside and infiltrate your home. This can also prevent your unit from functioning properly and even reduce its efficiency, leading to higher energy consumption and electricity bills.
The best way to avoid all of this is by having your AC professionally checked by a technician who can offer deep cleaning and thorough maintenance to help you get the most out of your unit. Visit www.luce.sg/services/aircon-servicing to learn how you can better care for your air conditioner.
Microwave
If you think about it, your microwave has definitely survived its fair share of splatters and messes, but most homeowners don’t actually clean them off as much as they should. Because of this, food particles and other debris tend to harden over time and become much harder to clean off, potentially causing bacteria and odors to grow inside your microwave.
If you have some stubborn stains in your microwave that you want to remove, then the easiest way to do this is by mixing a quarter cup of white vinegar and a cup of water in a small bowl. Place this bowl in the microwave and let it come to a boil by heating it for three minutes. The steam and vapor that this mixture will produce will soften up any hardened debris and make it much easier to scrub away with a sponge.
Shelves
Similarly to ceiling fans, many people think that the high placement of shelves means that they don’t need to be cleaned as often, but dust and dirt settle on all sorts of surfaces regardless of height. After removing all the items on the shelf, dampen a cloth with an all-purpose cleaner and wipe the entire shelf from corner to corner. If you’re looking for an alternative, you can also add a small amount of dish soap to some water for a more natural and gentler cleaner.
When cleaning, make sure that your cloth isn’t soaking wet with your chosen cleaner, as this can lead to damage. Once you finish wiping, get another cloth and dampen it with water before wiping everything to remove the residue from the cleaner. Then, go in with a final cloth to remove excess moisture. It can also help to wipe from the top and make your way to the bottom to prevent any fallout from landing on the shelves you’ve already cleaned.
Creating a cleaning routine and sticking with it is definitely a step in the right direction, but your home won’t be completely clean unless you also tackle these often overlooked items and areas. By including these in your cleaning efforts, you’ll be able to be more confident that your home is free of any unwanted dust, dirt, and debris.
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