We're gearing up for the parental units to stay with us over the summer and have started to make lists of things we can't forget to clean. It's amazing the things we usually don't get around to scrubbing during our regular cleaning schedule. We've got 10 more places you might forget to clean (adding on to Laure's 5 spots) after the jump!
Lamp shades Living in Los Angeles, dust seems to multiply overnight. Ditto for the pet hair from our four animals. The most surprising place it lands? The lampshades. Since we don't own a vacuum cleaner, we use a lint roller to clean up our fabric lamp shades. In addition, Sarah Rae posted helpful ways to clean other types of lampshades here.
Plant leaves In our past life, we worked at numerous restaurants and one task that followed us no matter where we worked: keeping the plant leaves clear of dust. Gregory uses mayonnaise to clean his house plants (while we always used water and an organic degreaser).
Microwave Lately, each time we have used the microwave, we look away in disgust at how dirty it has become. We blame moving in with the beau but also can't believe we haven't given it a good wipe down. Here's a super simple way to tackle the chore and cross it off the to-do list.
Tea pot Since we use our tea pot daily, it sits out on the stove for easy access. Because of this, it accumulates dust and grime (and attracts grease while we're cooking evening meals). We can't wait to clean it with a little vinegar and water and restore it to its original shine.
Base boards Our usual cleaning routine consists of mopping, dusting and giving the kitchen and bathroom a good cleansing. But we usually don't clean the base boards until it builds up and becomes noticeable. Here's an easy solution to keep them clean and clear of buildup--take your broom along the baseboard and sweep in one motion. Follow it up with a Lysol wipe or wet cloth to make them shiny and clean.
Television screen While we have no trouble remembering to wipe down the mirrors and windows, the actual TV screen is something we always forget to conquer. Depending on your type of Television, follow these guidelines to give it a sparkling screen.
Books Again--dust accumulates at lighting speed, especially on the top edges of a books pages. Tightly close the book and vacuum with an extension or use a duster to get rid of buildup.
Door knobs Even though we may never see the dirt and grime that accumulates on a door knob, it's still there. And once we clean a door knob, it's likely we won't notice a difference--but it just feels like good feng shui to give them a wipe down. Not to mention ridding your home of unwanted germs.
Kitchen/bathroom drawers We recently had a client ask for contact paper suggestions for her bathroom drawers. "The busier the print, the better" was her request (since bathroom drawers get so dirty). While calling attention away from the dirt is one option, it's best to pull everything out of the drawers and give them a wipe every 2-4 months.
Front door While your guests are waiting to be let in, they're staring at your dirty front door. In the past, we've simply sprayed the door down with a hose. For the more adventurous, an alternative solution--give the front door a makeover, painting it in a playful, fun color.
(Image: How To: Clean Your Lampshades)
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The rubber insulation strip on your refrigerator and freezer doors. I promise you it is GROSS!
The tops of doors and door frames. Even though no one will likely ever see it, the dust is there and every time you use the door, a little bit of that dust circulates, settling other places and aggravating allergies.
The tops of your kitchen cabinets, tall bookcases and wardrobe systems (unless they're mounted flush to the ceiling or a soffit)
HVAC Vents - You wouldn't believe the gunk and mold that can grow in there!
Table bases and chair legs/stretchers - I always dust tabletops and wipe down chair seats, but I'm often surprised at how much dust can accummulate on the lower supports.
Flush-mount light fixtures - There always seems to be a dead bug or two inside the globe when I change a bulb.
Behind & underneath the refrigerator/stove/washer/dryer - They're just prone to major dust & filth buildup.
WHERE is that blue lamp from!!?!?!?!?!? Someone please have a source!
This was a great post! I'll definitely keep this in mind.
However, I have to say, it was also a reminder of how AWKWARD the AT "we" editorial voice is. I know it isn't this writer's fault that the "we" is policy, so I don't mean to criticize her, but seriously, saying, "We blame moving in with the beau but also can't believe we haven't given it a good wipe down" is strange and I'm sure it feels just as strange to write it. Why is this AT's policy?
CozyLittleCave, the blue lamp *shade* is from a British company called Lush Designs:
http://www.lushlampshades.co.uk/index.php?page=27
(I traced back the image from this post, and found their site).
As for the lamp itself... while I'm not sure where this particular one is from, I recall Target selling something similar:
http://www.target.com/29-Ceramic-Table-Lamp-Blue/dp/B002S6GBMA/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_1
Granted, it's not exactly the same lamp, and it's a bit pricey for Target, but for lack of a closer match off the top of my head...
I do all of that and plus every two weeks. Every week the basics are done like mopping, dusting, change sheets, wash dog bed. I live in molding, baseboard trim hell so they all get cleaned twice a month.
I also clean all trash, recycle bins twice a month. Also, laundry room and inside of utility cabinets get cleaned.
Every nook and cranny is cleaned every two weeks. I live in an older flat so dust, dead spiders, etc.. you have to keep on it. I polish and detail all of my furniture every two weeks.
My cleaning crew that comes twice a month gets a cleaning project, then I go back and do more myself.
Don't forget to vacuum the coils at the back of your refrigerator - it will increase it's efficiency.
Just cleaned out several bathroom drawers. Threw away loads of junk. Used empty strawberry baskets to corral small items. Unwrapped small bars of soap picked up on travels and placed them in a pretty bowl on the counter. Decided that it would probably be wise to throw away prescriptions that were 6 yrs. old. It feels good.
Those are all great ideas! Unlike LoriSF, I only do a few things on a regular basis(!), but every once in a while--usually before having house guests--I remember to wipe down/off: 1) light switch plates; 2) doors and door frames, getting rid of grimey finger prints and dust that's collected in the door panels; 3) the top of my range hood/microwave; and 4) the surpisingly, disgustingly grimey stair rail.
artal, I know--they just won't stop with the royal "we." To me it makes no sense in a story that has a byline (in this case someone named Beth Zeigler, who is presumably one person). I can see it in the front section of a print publication where there is no attribution to a writer. But this is just kind of dumb.
Perez Hilton uses "we" on his posts. I wonder if they got it from him. Hmmm.
Closets. It may not be a big issue if your folks are only visiting for a wee bit, but the closet frequently gets overlooked on general cleanings. Whether it's a quick shelf-dusting, or a more thorough pull-out-and-vacuum, that space really needs it from time to time.
I'm slowly going through the "must clean my freshly moved-into apartment" phase right now, and damn, those closets were disgusting. The sliding doors alone (especially the tops) called for a fresh bucket of soapy wash water all on their own.
Oh, don't forget switchplates. If grubby hands grab doorknobs, they definitely also grab light switches.
An organic degreaser, hm? I've worked in a bunch of restaurants, and all of them (even the slo-food, local, organic sandwich shop) used super-chemicals. For everything.
Yikes! What kind of a freak am I? I do almost all of the things on that list regularly. Grimy drives me nuts! Actually I refer to myself as a " crack picker". Nothin' like clean cracks!
I'm wondering about the people who "deep clean" everything frequently (LoriSF says she also has a cleaning crew). How much time does it take? I really hate housework, but I do wish my house were cleaner than it usually is (and can't afford a cleaner at the moment). I just find it takes too much out of my already few precious free moments. My own method for keeping up is to do one small job a day (e.g. dust & rearrange one shelf, clean one piece of wooden furniture, wipe down cobwebs & baseboards in one room). That makes it all a bit more bearable and I'm only spending ten minutes a day or so on extra chores. But I still wish I had a butler and a maid!!
I have dirty muntins.
I think this may be the lamp you would have to try and find the blue if that's the color you want.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49625622@N07/
you know how book sellers clean their books? it's called "book bashing", for lack of a better translation of "bücherschlagen". grab two books of your choice, step outside the shop, and bash them together. no more dust.