Clean Hard To Reach Areas With These Hacks
Spending more time at home often means spending more time cleaning. Whether it’s summer or winter vacation, a mid-term break or your typical spring cleaning, the list of chores might always look the same. But what about those hard to reach areas, how often do they get left out?
Although we might think we’re thorough in our cleaning, there are inevitably spots that get overlooked because we either can’t see them or can’t clean them properly. These tough spots need creative and unique solutions that we’ll address in this article, helping you on your way to a cleaner and more organized home.
How do you clean hard to reach places?
Cleaning all those tough to get to spots in your home can be a challenge and there’s no one rule for them all. Whether it’s the cracks in your computer keyboard, window tracks, or even the shower head and faucet, each hard to reach area requires its own unique solution. The following list covers some of the most frustrating spots to clean, giving you quick and easy hacks to keep them looking good and in working condition with your steam cleaner & steam mop.
Under and Over Units
Freestanding units in the kitchen (such as the refrigerator, oven, or washing machine) can create gaps between the floor and unit which is a popular spot for dirt and grime to flourish. Likewise, the tops of cabinets, shelves, closets , or under the bed, provide just enough space for dust to gather and can be tricky to maintain. Keeping these areas clean and clear will ensure your kitchen looks great and is hygienic too. Simply use the attachment stick on your vacuum cleaner to reach under or over these units to clear most of the loose debris. If you need to remove tough marks, the unit will most likely need to be moved. When tackling these stains, use a grease-repellent cleaner or a homemade solution of vinegar and baking soda to soak the area before scrubbing clean with a brush or scourer sponge.
Faucets
Over time, faucets and the area surrounding your sink can become caked in grime thanks to the damp environment surrounding them. This dirt can be incredibly difficult to clean even with chemical detergent and a scrubber as the grime thrives in those hard to reach cracks and gaps. To clean the tough areas on faucets and sinks, cover them with some baking soda for a few minutes before scrubbing with an old toothbrush.
Shower Head
Cleaning a shower head can be done easily with just a home remedy consisting of 1 cup of vinegar and ⅓ cup of baking soda. After mixing the ingredients, place in a food or ziplock bag, one that’s big enough to cover your shower head. Tighten the bag around the neck of the shower head, ensuring that it’s fully submerged in the solution. After 2-3 hours, remove the bag, discard the solution, and rinse the shower head thoroughly with water.
Window Tracks
The spaces surrounding windows are often overlooked when cleaning simply because they’re not easily noticeable. However, that doesn’t stop grime and dirt from becoming lodged in the area. Simply open your window and use a thin attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove the loose dirt. If you don’t have a thin attachment or it’s not thin enough to attract the dirt, you can make one at home using an old toilet roll or kitchen roll tube by simply flattening one end. Hold the cardboard tube tightly around the end of the vacuum cleaner nozzle and use the flattened end to squeeze into all the tight spaces in the window tracks.
Computer Keyboard
Our computer keyboards & mouses can be filled with dust and dirt without us even knowing. The cracks and holes surrounding each key attracts debris and allows bacteria to thrive. But keeping your keyboard clean is simple and only requires something like tape, sticky notes, or putty. Just take the item and push the adhesive area gently into the gaps surrounding each key to absorb the dirt. Repeat the process around each key to ensure you’ve cleaned the whole thing and you’ll have a spotless keyboard to be proud of.
Outside Walls
We would all clean the walls inside our homes if they became dirty so why do we neglect the outside walls? Probably because we think it’s difficult or we don’t know how to do the job properly. Getting rid of mold or mildew on the outside walls doesn’t always require a special team unless it needs a particularly deep clean or the property exterior is fragile (think quaint cottage). Instead, pressure washing guns do the job quickly and easily with minimal effort. Just ensure you stand back and use a soft setting to avoid damage or discoloration, especially if the wall is a light-colored stone. This method also works for driveways and patios!
There are many areas of our homes, including carpets (best carpet cleaner) which we neglect simply because they’re tough to clean or we can’t access them easily. The hacks in this article offer creative solutions for some of those hard to reach areas to help you tackle any cleaning challenge that comes your way.
Source:
- Clever Cleaning Tricks for Hard to Reach Places – The Handy Mano