“Sneaky Spots” - You know which ones I mean… The nooks and crannies that escape the “regular cleaning routine”. They’re easy to miss, repeatedly unnoticed, or simply ignored… then all of a sudden, your gaze focuses on that sneaky spot.
Do you…
Jump up and clean it now.
Think “I need to put that on my to do list”.
Make a note to tell your recurring cleaning service that you want to add that to the cleaning services.
Think “Yuck, need to do some housekeeping”.
Think “Eh – cleaning my house can wait”.
Look somewhere else, and forget it.
Or something else…
Please share YOUR THOUGHTS in the comments below!
What are Your Top 5 Sneaky Spots?
Here at Caravel Cleaning Company, we’ve found that these spots are typically the most overlooked when cleaning your home.
Grout
Ceiling Fans
Furnace/AC Vents and Filters
Heating/AC Vents, Radiator, Wood Stove
Shower Heads, Faucets, Sink Sprayers
House Cleaning Tip #1 – How to Clean Grout
Regular housekeeping routines typically include wiping tile counters and mopping tile floors. But after a while, the grout may start looking pretty dingy. The stains and discoloration can just sneak up on you! While many people swear by bleach, we recommend NOT using it on grout, as it dries the grout out and makes it even more porous.
To clean grout, using a baking soda paste (made of equal parts baking soda and water) or a bleach-free scouring powder works the best.
Pro Tip: Scrubbing with a toothbrush helps you get all the accumulated dirt out!
House Cleaning Tip #2 – How to Clean Ceiling Fans
If there isn’t a lot of dust built up, an ostrich feather duster can work wonders. To clean a more ignored ceiling fan, microfiber cleaning cloths are what we reach for. See our video blogs on "How an Ostrich Keeps Your Home Dust Free" and "Maintaining My Love of Microfiber Cloths" for more details.
House Cleaning Tip #3 – Put Furnace/AC Vents on Your Semi-Annual Cleaning Checklist
While fastidious house cleaners may vacuum and wash heating and cooling air-intake vents every month, most people have this on their Spring and Fall Cleaning checklists. Filters should be changed annually; however, depending on your environment or health, some people change filters every 3-6 months.
House Cleaning Tip #4 – Heating/AC Vents, Radiator, Wood Stove
The dust and dirt that can build up on your heating and A/C vents contributes to the air pollution in your home, which can inflame allergies or even cause health issues. Regular dusting and/or vacuuming helps alleviate this issue.
However, vents, radiators, and wood stoves are often skipped or overlooked when cleaning, making them #4 on our sneaky spots.
Since vents are often overlooked, a more thorough cleaning may be in order. First try cleaning with a sponge or cloth using your favorite cleaning solution. If that doesn't quite clean up the vents, soak them in water mixed with vinegar, bleach, or Pine-Sol® then rinse and wipe. If ignored is a better description, guess what is really handy! Yep, after soaking, just get that old toothbrush out again.
If you have a radiator, behind and underneath are the most commonly ignored. Maybe your radiator is behind a piece of furniture or maybe you only wipe down the front during your weekly cleaning. But the grooves in a radiator, as well as under and behind it, can get pretty grimy! A side benefit of tackling this project is it helps you to control your heating costs. A clean radiator will perform more efficiently.
If you have a wood stove, you know that staying on top of the dust and particles it produces seems to be a never-ending task. And, that sweeping or vacuuming after every trip in with the wood is a necessity for keeping a clean house!
Pro-Tip: Using a hand-held portable duster followed by a few swipes with a microfiber cleaning cloth can make cleaning up the area around your wood stove quick and easy.
House Cleaning Tip #5 – Cleaning Shower Heads, Faucets, Sink Sprayers
Even if you regularly clean your sinks and tubs, you may find that mold, mineral deposits or soap scum may be building up around the fixtures. If these sneaky spots seek you out often, spraying and wiping the surfaces with a vinegar and water solution (25% vinegar with 75% water) will usually clean up the residue. However, if it’s been several months since you noticed these areas, soaking the spots with vinegar and scrubbing with a non-scratching scrubby or soft-bristled toothbrush will make your fixtures sparkle.
Pro-Tip: To soak a shower head or sink sprayer: pour the vinegar in a plastic baggie, put shower head or sprayer in the bag, use a twist tie to fasten the top of the bag to the pipe or hose above the sprayer. Soaking for 10-15 minutes will help unclog all those little holes.
Do YOU Do House Cleaning in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, or Port Hueneme?
Whether you do the majority of your housekeeping or have a professional, recurring cleaning service, we want to hear from you! Especially if you live in Ventura County!
Is Housekeeping a trick or treat to you?
Share your top 5 sneaky spots...
And, if housekeeping is a treat to you, please share YOUR house cleaning tricks or tips in the comments below.
If you think house cleaning is more like a dirty trick (that you don’t want), contact Caravel Cleaning Company! Our professional cleaning services include recurring maintenance cleanings and deep cleans in all of Ventura County (California). Our friendly, dependable cleaners can’t wait to Help You Keep Your Home Shipshape!
Just call 805-804-5454 or request an estimate online from the Cleaning Crew at Caravel Cleaning Company in Oxnard, CA.