Top 16 'Forgotten Spot' Cleaning Tips to do for a Deeper, More Satisfying Clean This Weekend
You know that feeling? The one you get right after a solid weekend cleaning session. The floors are gleaming, the counters are clear, and the whole house smells fresh. It’s a feeling of pure accomplishment. But then, a stray sunbeam cuts across the room, illuminating a flurry of dust motes you swore you just vanquished. Where is it all coming from?
The truth is, our standard cleaning routines often only scratch the surface. We tackle the big, obvious areas—the floors, the countertops, the toilets—but we miss the hidden spots where dust, grime, and germs love to congregate. These are the "forgotten spots" that hold our homes back from feeling truly, deeply clean. It's the difference between a tidy house and a truly revitalized space.
This weekend, let's change that. We're going beyond the surface-level scrub. This is your ultimate guide to the 16 most overlooked spots in your home that are crying out for attention. Grab your cleaning caddy, put on your favorite playlist, and get ready for the most satisfying deep clean you've had all year.
1. The Overlooked Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans
Let's be honest, how often do you look up? Your light fixtures and ceiling fans work tirelessly, but they are magnets for dust, cobwebs, and in the kitchen, a sticky layer of grease. When you turn on a fan, it merrily slings all that collected dust around the room, undoing your hard work. Cleaning them not only brightens your space but also improves your home's air quality.
For a safe and effective clean, always turn the power off at the light switch or circuit breaker first. For light fixtures, a simple wipe with a dry microfiber cloth works wonders. If there's greasy buildup, use a cloth lightly dampened with a solution of warm water and a drop of dish soap, then wipe dry.
The "pillowcase trick" is a game-changer for ceiling fan blades. Slide an old pillowcase over a blade and pull it back, trapping all the dust inside instead of letting it rain down on your furniture. It’s a simple hack that saves you a massive cleanup job afterward.
2. The Tops of Cabinets and Tall Furniture
This is the land of "out of sight, out of mind." The tops of your kitchen cabinets, bookcases, and armoires are flat surfaces that collect an astonishing amount of dust and grime. In the kitchen, this dust combines with cooking grease to form a thick, sticky film that’s a nightmare to remove if left for too long.
Tackling this requires a sturdy step stool and a bit of elbow grease. Start by vacuuming up the loose dust with a brush attachment. Then, use a powerful degreasing cleaner (a simple mix of hot water and a generous squirt of dish soap often works) to cut through the grime. Wipe it down with a clean, damp cloth and let it dry completely.
Pro-tip for the future: After you’ve cleaned this area, line the tops of your cabinets with newspaper or wax paper. The next time you deep clean, you can simply roll up the paper and all the accumulated grime with it, give the surface a quick wipe, and lay down a fresh sheet.
3. The Neglected Baseboards and Trim
Baseboards are the unsung heroes of your home's design, providing a clean, finished look to every room. But they take a beating, collecting dust, scuffs from shoes, and pet hair. Cleaning them is one of those tasks that makes a surprisingly huge impact, making your entire room feel brighter and more polished.
A simple way to dust them is with your vacuum's brush attachment or a long-handled microfiber duster. To tackle scuffs and grime, wipe them down with a cloth dipped in a bucket of warm water with a little all-purpose cleaner. For stubborn scuff marks, a magic eraser sponge can work wonders.
Here's a clever trick to keep them cleaner for longer: After they're clean and dry, wipe them down with a used dryer sheet. The anti-static residue left behind helps to repel dust and pet hair, extending the time between cleanings.
4. Behind and Under Large Appliances
Welcome to the abyss. The space behind and under your refrigerator, oven, and washing machine is a forgotten world of dust bunnies, pet hair, lost food, and maybe even a missing sock or two. This buildup can be a fire hazard (especially behind the fridge) and can attract pests.
Carefully pull your appliances away from the wall (you might need a helper for this). First, unplug them for safety. Then, use your vacuum's crevice tool to suck up all the debris from the floor and the back of the appliance. Pay special attention to your refrigerator's condenser coils; dusty coils make the fridge work harder, using more energy.
Wipe down the floor and the sides of the appliances before you push them back into place. While you won't do this every week, tackling it every 6-12 months is a crucial part of home maintenance that also makes your kitchen significantly cleaner.
5. The Inside of Your Kitchen Cabinets & Pantry
We're so focused on wiping down the exterior of our cabinets that we often forget about the chaos within. Over time, the insides accumulate crumbs, sticky rings from honey jars, and stray grains of rice. It’s also where expired spices and forgotten cans of beans go to hide.
The best approach is to empty one shelf or cabinet at a time. As you take things out, wipe them down and check expiration dates. Give the empty shelf a thorough wipe with an all-purpose cleaner and let it dry before putting everything back. This is the perfect opportunity to reorganize for better function.
Consider adding shelf liners to make future cleanups a breeze. They protect the wood from spills and can be easily removed and wiped down or replaced when they get dirty. A well-organized, crumb-free pantry is a true joy.
6. The Grimy Dishwasher Filter
Does your dishwasher have a funky smell, or are your "clean" dishes coming out with a gritty film? The culprit is almost certainly a clogged filter. Many people don't even realize their dishwasher has a filter, but cleaning it is essential for the machine's performance and longevity.
The filter is usually a cylindrical piece located on the floor of the dishwasher, under the bottom spray arm. Twist to unlock and pull it out (check your manual if you're unsure). Prepare for a "yuck" moment—it will likely be full of old food particles.
Rinse the filter thoroughly under hot running water, using an old toothbrush and some soap to gently scrub away any stubborn gunk. Once it's clean, lock it back into place. Doing this once a month will keep your dishwasher smelling fresh and your dishes sparkling.
7. The Mold-Prone Washing Machine
Your washing machine cleans your clothes, but what's cleaning your washing machine? Front-loading machines, in particular, are notorious for developing mold and mildew in the rubber gasket around the door, which can lead to musty-smelling laundry.
Gently pull back the rubber seal and wipe away any grime or mildew you find using a rag dipped in a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water, or a specialized machine cleaner. Don't forget to slide out the detergent dispenser drawer and give it a good scrub in the sink as well.
To prevent future buildup, always leave the washing machine door and the dispenser drawer slightly ajar after each use to allow air to circulate and dry things out. Running a hot "clean" cycle with vinegar or a cleaning tablet once a month also helps keep the entire system fresh.
8. Your Germy Remote Controls & Light Switches
Think about how many times a day these items are touched by different people in your household. They are major hotspots for germs, bacteria, and grimy buildup, yet they are almost always overlooked during routine cleaning.
For these high-touch electronics and fixtures, a disinfecting wipe is your best friend. First, for remotes, remove the batteries. Use a wipe to clean the entire surface, and a cotton swab or toothpick to gently dislodge the gunk from around the buttons.
For light switches and their surrounding plates, give them a good wipe-down to remove fingerprints and germs. It’s a 30-second task that can make a big difference, especially during cold and flu season.
9. Door Knobs & Cabinet Handles
Just like light switches, these are some of the most frequently touched surfaces in your entire home. From the front door to the bathroom cabinet, every handle and knob is a transfer point for germs, oils, and dirt from our hands.
Make it a habit to walk through your house with a disinfecting wipe or a cloth sprayed with a disinfectant cleaner and give every single knob and handle a quick, thorough wipe. Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathroom, where handles are often touched with unclean hands.
This small step is a powerful way to reduce the spread of illness in your home. It’s one of those invisible cleaning tasks that has a huge impact on your family’s health.
10. Dirty Window Tracks & Sills
You might wipe your window panes, but what about the tracks they slide in? This is where dirt, dust, pollen, and dead insects accumulate, turning into a grimy sludge every time it rains. It's not just unsightly; that buildup can make your windows difficult to open and close.
The secret weapon here is baking soda and vinegar. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda into the tracks, then pour a small amount of white vinegar over it. Let the fizzing action work its magic for 5-10 minutes to loosen the grime.
Use an old toothbrush to scrub the tracks clean, and then wipe up the mess with paper towels. For tight corners, a cotton swab or a butter knife wrapped in a cloth works perfectly. Your windows will not only look better but will operate much more smoothly.
11. Your Hard-Working Mattress
We spend about a third of our lives in bed, but the mattress itself is rarely cleaned. Over time, it absorbs sweat and accumulates a shocking amount of dust mites and dead skin cells. A clean mattress isn't just hygienic; it can also contribute to better sleep and reduced allergies.
Start by stripping the bed and vacuuming the entire surface of the mattress using your vacuum's upholstery attachment. To deodorize and draw out moisture, sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda over the whole mattress. Let it sit for at least an hour (or longer if you can), then vacuum it all up thoroughly.
Spot-treat any stains with a dedicated upholstery cleaner, being careful not to oversaturate the fabric. It's also a good idea to rotate or flip your mattress every 3-6 months (if it's designed for it) to ensure even wear.
12. Underneath Area Rugs & Furniture
You religiously vacuum your area rugs, but when was the last time you looked underneath them? The floor beneath rugs and heavy furniture like sofas and beds can harbor an incredible amount of fine dust, dirt, and pet hair that regular vacuuming misses.
At least once or twice a year, get some help to roll up your rugs and move your furniture. You'll likely be surprised by what you find. Give the floor a thorough vacuuming and mopping, allowing it to dry completely before putting everything back.
While the rug is rolled up, flip it over and vacuum the backing as well. This removes the deep-down, embedded grit that works its way through the fibers and can cause premature wear. This process is essential for extending the life of your flooring and your rugs.
13. Clogged Vents & Air Grilles
The vents for your HVAC system are the lungs of your home, circulating air day in and day out. If they're covered in dust, that's exactly what they're circulating: dust, allergens, and pet dander. Cleaning them can significantly improve your home's indoor air quality.
For a quick clean, use your vacuum's brush attachment to remove the surface layer of dust from the grilles. For a deeper clean, unscrew the vent covers from the wall or ceiling. Wash them in your sink with warm, soapy water, using a brush to get into all the slats.
Before replacing the clean, dry covers, use your vacuum's crevice tool to suck out any dust you can reach from inside the ductwork. It’s a simple step that helps your entire HVAC system run more efficiently.
14. The Grimy Trash Cans
We take out the trash, but we rarely clean the can itself. Leaky bags and stray bits of food can create a sticky, smelly residue at the bottom of your bins, leading to lingering odors and attracting pests. This goes for the kitchen can, bathroom bins, and your large outdoor receptacles.
Take your empty cans outside or into a bathtub for a good cleaning. Spray them down with an all-purpose cleaner or disinfectant, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub them with a long-handled brush. Hose them down or rinse them in the tub and let them air dry completely in the sun, which also helps to naturally disinfect and deodorize.
A clean trash can is a secret weapon against mysterious kitchen odors. Sprinkle a little baking soda in the bottom of the clean, dry can before putting in a new bag to help absorb smells going forward.
15. The Dusty Leaves of Indoor Plants
Your leafy friends do so much to purify your air and beautify your space, but they can't do their job effectively when their leaves are coated in a layer of dust. This dust can block sunlight, hindering photosynthesis and making your plants look dull and lifeless. This applies to fake plants, too—dusty faux foliage just looks sad.
For smooth-leafed plants, gently wipe the top and bottom of each leaf with a soft, damp cloth. You can support the leaf with one hand while you wipe with the other. For plants with many tiny leaves, a gentle shower in the tub or with a kitchen sprayer works wonders.
Cleaning your plants not only improves their health and appearance but also removes another dust-collecting surface from your home. It’s a final, green touch to a truly deep clean.
16. The Awkward Space Behind the Toilet
This is arguably one of the most dreaded and ignored cleaning spots in the entire house. The tight, awkward space between the toilet tank and the wall is a magnet for dust, hair, and other bathroom "ick." Cleaning it is tricky, but the results are well worth the effort.
A flexible microfiber duster on a long wand is perfect for snaking into this narrow gap to grab dust and hair. For a deeper, more sanitary clean, try wrapping a disinfectant wipe or a spray-dampened cloth around a ruler or paint stirrer and securing it with a rubber band.
Use your makeshift tool to wipe down the floor, the base of the toilet, and the wall behind it. It might not be the most glamorous job, but cleaning this one spot will eliminate a major source of bathroom dust and odors. As we often discuss on the Goh Ling Yong blog, it's these little details that elevate your home's cleanliness.
A New Standard of Clean
Whew! Tackling even a few of these forgotten spots will make a world of difference in how your home looks and feels. The satisfaction that comes from knowing your space is clean on a truly deep level is a reward in itself. This isn't about adding 16 new chores to your weekly list; it's about incorporating them into a seasonal or monthly deep-cleaning routine.
By paying attention to the details—the high, the low, and the hidden—you're not just tidying up; you're caring for your home and creating a healthier, more enjoyable environment for yourself and your family. So, which spot will you conquer first?
What are some of your own 'forgotten spot' cleaning tips? Share your secrets in the comments below—we’d love to learn from you!
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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