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Professional House Cleaners Name 30 Things People Really Need To Clean In Their Home But Don’t
Interview With Expert
If you want to have a nice place, you need to look after it—and not everyone knows the right way to do so. Luckily, in a viral Reddit post by user Mature-Sensible-Name, professional cleaners have revealed the most commonly overlooked areas and items in our homes that desperately need attention. From things we come in contact with every day, such as mattresses, to more hidden details, like dishwasher filters, continue scrolling to see what was mentioned and check if you're doing a good job yourself.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Clean your light switch’s and door knobs they are always gross and people rarely clean them.
RELATED:
#2
Here's one people NEVER do but really should: vacuum your mattress. No, I'm not kidding. When you change your sheets you should vacuum that b***h so you can suck out whatever dead skin and c**p have made their way down there. Also, we all know to wash the fitted sheet. But below that, mattresses sometimes have another removable cover, please wash that too.
Marcos Valencia 1 year ago
Good to know. At home, we use mattress covers that are regularly washed, but I never vacuumed a mattress in my life...
SirWriteALot 1 year ago
that's what mattress covers are for, too. Not just ... human ... fluids :-)
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Kalikima 1 year ago
Ok, serious question, do you use the hose to vacuum the mattress, or do you just throw the whole thing up there and vacuum like it's carpet?
ILoveMySon 1 year ago
It depends on whether you have a platic mattress pad. I use a hard woodfloor attachment for that and wash the cloth pad. However,, I use carpet attachment for the mattress itself and the hose for the creases. I hope this helps.
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Bamamom2boys 1 year ago
You can also have your mattresses professionally cleaned. I work for a company that cleans carpet and upholstery. We also clean mattresses. FYI, it takes about 6 hours for the mattresses to dry.
Christina Dutta 1 year ago
I've been vacuuming my mattress (and pillows) for a long time. It's disconcerting what comes out.
Nimitz 1 year ago
I sold Kirby Vacuum cleaners for 3 days (worst job ever, evil people) and vacuuming the mattress was our show stopper. We attached a glass lid with a black filter paper to the output and vacuumed the mattress. It would fill up with white/yellow powder every time. Sometimes it was dead skin and mites, other times it was just sucking up broken powdered foam from inside the mattress. When clients saw us pull a full pound of that stuff out of their mattress in 2 minutes, boom, sold!
To learn more about the topic, we contacted Sergio Licea, whose company, EDGE Cleaning Service, offers a range of services for homes in Washington State, including regular cleaning, deep cleaning, and move-in/move-out cleaning, among others.
"In my experience, people are generally good at cleaning large surface areas like tables, countertops, sinks, and shower floors," Sergio told Bored Panda. "That's probably because they are the most visible.
"However, what most people tend to miss are the hidden areas that aren’t noticeable at first glance but actually accumulate the most bacteria and grime."
#3
Please empty your toaster crumb trays. I have found crumb trays so full that some of the crumbs were BLACK from being burned. That's a fire hazard!!!
#4
Something I didn’t notice until I sat on the floor the other day; places your pets(cats in particular) rub against.
My door jams and walls were very dirty at cat level.
I didn’t see this mentioned: lighting fixtures and hood vent. Baking soda is a very good friend of mine!
Groundcontroltomajortom 1 year ago
My couch, my dog likes to rub himself along it when I take his harness off
#5
Clean the things you use to clean other things.
Replace your kitchen sponge at least twice a month. Wash your towels weekly. Leave the door to your washing machine open after each cycle so it doesn’t mildew. You get the idea. If these things aren’t clean, it can manifest in big ways. Ever met one of those people who has a faint musty/sour smell even after showering? Chances are they’ve been using the same nasty bath towel for weeks/months and don’t notice the smell from it anymore.
The 2024 National Cleaning Survey results showed that for 70% of Americans, having a clean home gives them a sense of accomplishment, another 66% get a mood boost out of it, and 63% feel more productive.
However, people don't enjoy every part of the process. 49% said they dread and/or avoid cleaning places that are hard to reach (e.g., behind or underneath furniture or appliances), and 38% can't stand cleaning places that can get filthy (e.g., bathrooms, vents, basements, etc.).
#6
Coming from someone who is taller than average I’d like to mention that many people only clean to their eye level.
Verena 1 year ago
Special challenge in (older) houses in the Netherlands:Windows open to the outside. In Germsny the open to the inside, so safely cleaning all windows is easy. In NL you have window washers who come at your hozse, with water and sponges/squeegies on long sticks and clean the outside up to the 4th ((US: 5th) level.
#7
It's a sad reality that I have to vacuum my BOOKS.
#8
The toothbrush holder, your spit and saliva drips down the bottom of brushes into the cup, nasty.
Groundcontroltomajortom 1 year ago
I put my toothbrush heads (detachable electric toothbrush heads) in a glass with mouthwash that gets changed every few days. Keeps them clean and germ free.
#9
When I did housekeeping during college, I noticed that many people neglect to take down their shower curtains periodically for washing.
That's the accumulation of body oils, fluids, etc that has splashed off your body. You can disinfect and make a bathroom sparkle, however, the stench off the ripe curtain...ick.
"In kitchens, I often see extreme amounts of mold buildup in sink drain covers and splash guards, as well as grime accumulating in cabinet corners," Sergio explained.
"And in bathrooms, I frequently encounter mold buildup in the corners and crevices of showers, along with clogged drains. These not only cause unpleasant odors but also harbor large amounts of bacteria."
#10
Their fans.
Mfs be having the DUSTIEST ceiling fans in the world. How do y’all sleep with those things spinning? It’s like snow.
keyboardtek 1 year ago
Having dry eye syndrome, I have removed the fan in my bedroom. I even would rather deal with heat and humidity than keep the air conditioning vent open. Any draft makes my eyes burn worse. In the winter I have to run a room humidifier.
#11
Not a professional and a little off topic but have you ever cleaned your steering wheel? My god, the stuff that shows up on a Lysol wipe...
Marcos Valencia 1 year ago
Of course I've ever cleaned my steering wheel. Every time I clean (or take it to be clean, actually) the interiors and the dashboard.
#12
I never understand why people don't use pillow protectors between their pillows and pillowcases. They help extend the life of your pillow. I have seen some really nasty pillows. Remember, you spend the night drooling on your pillows.
#13
Garbage disposal flaps, black mold under there. Dishwasher filters, grossest things ever.
Jan Rosier 1 year ago (edited)
How about, getting rid of these garbage disposals al together, and learn how to separate your trash?
To make cleaning more efficient, Sergio recommends:
- Learning about the right cleaning products and how to use them.
- Cleaning consistently and focusing on one area/item at a time. This approach makes the task feel less overwhelming in the long run.
- Cleaning as you go. This prevents mess and grime from accumulating throughout your home.
- Not neglecting specific items. Tackling things like lamps, chandeliers, ceiling fans, air vents, and windows may not be a priority for some, but maintaining them is key to keeping a home truly pristine.
Hopefully, that helps!
#15
This is for all the video gamers out there, please clean your gaming equipment.
* Get some disinfecting wipes and clean down your controllers.
* Clean your keyboard about twice a year, if you eat at your computer clean it once a month.
* Clean your mouse about twice a year.
* Disinfect your mouse and keyboard once a month, it will help you get sick less.
* Dust your electronics once a month, it will help keep them from overheating and last longer.
* Clean your headset once a month, your hair oil is slowly sticking to it and that allows it to grab dust, it gets really gross.
* At least once a year, remove your gaming electronics from their tables and shelves to dust and clean down the area.
I have found even the most crazy of clean freaks for some reason neglect their gaming equipment.
#16
This will probably get buried, but I haven’t seen it. Clean out your cabinets people. Take everything thing out and wipe them down. You have no idea what you’re putting your “clean” dishes in...especially if you turn your cups upside down.
#17
The fan heaters. I unplug mine and use a skinny crochet hook to yank the hair and dust out of ours.
I have seen one catch fire. Clean them, it's important.
Groundcontroltomajortom 1 year ago (edited)
I use a dust pan brush, take it outside and give it a good brush!! Gets all the dust out.
#18
Unscrew and clean your faucet aerator. Especially if you live in a hard water area.
#19
Not a pro but the one that always gets neglected is the extractor fan hood over your cooker. There are filters on there that need replacing (or just cleaning depending on the type) and if you don’t after about 6-12 months they turn into a fire hazard because they get saturated with grease. If you put your hand onto the flat underside of your extractor hood and it feels greasy and gross, that’s because it is. Clean that s**t once in a while folks.
CanadianaKa 1 year ago
Just cleaned mine. To clarify, I rarely use the stovetop and when it's something that splatters I usually put a lid on it, so there's rarely any mess. BUT I am so glad I finally figured out how to get fan cover, etc, off, because my *predecessor* in this unit was a pig. I mean, we had to soak the element catches for days to get all the crud off and Easy Off'd the oven three times to clean that fully... I will leave to your imagination how bad the fan and surrounding area were. [shudder]
#20
Toilet brush and toilet brush holder. These just become a stew of poop particles if ignored.
#21
Not a house cleaner but...
When my guy and I first started living together he didn’t understand that couches need cleaned! Underneath and inside. He will still try to get away with vacuuming and not moving the couch. We have two cats and a dog, it gets disgusting under there. One of the cats is a hoarder too and likes to hide things underneath so it’s always in our best interest to move the couch around to find her treasures.
#22
Does vacuum filter count? I’m a carpet laying apprentice and sometimes we use the customers vacuum to tidy up. Usually they’re a useless sack of s**t and you have to empty it and clean the filter, then they’re good as new.
#23
People who are busy but wonder how it looks different when I do it, the finishing touches they miss are polishing or wiping down their kitchen bin, kettles and other shiny things on their counters.
One job I struggle with is removing hair from a plug hole and as I rule, I don’t do it because i’ll spend the day heaving. People forget to clean their taps, door handles and light switches, yet they are probably the most used item.
Lost Panda 1 year ago
One good way to get hair out of the drains, take a wire hanger and break it down, then wrap a rubber band around one end. Stick it in the drain while wiggling it around, and it will bring out the hair. Repeat as necessary.
#24
Vacuum the tops of your curtains, they are a major source of dust! Also I’m not a pro cleaner I just like cleaning 🤷♀️.
#25
Your keyboard. The amount of hair and dry skin flakes that accumulate in there over time is pretty disturbing. Give yours a good shake and you'll see the mountain of repulsive substances.
#26
Nobody had mentioned vacuuming the lint off the refrigerator coils. Pop the lower cover off, no tools needed, then use a brush and vacuum brush to take the hair and stuff off. Especially if you have pets. Your fridge will run less and last longer.
#27
I used to clean luxury apartments in the Upper East Side in college, and no matter how "clean" the apartments looks there were a few places people will often forget to clean
1- Microwaves
2-Behind the stove (yes, food falls down there) I once cleaned someone's stove and there was popcorn kernels from 2010!! This guy had a strict diet, so he was able to remember the last time he ate popcorn
3-Window blinds (the guy had white blinds, and with time dirt it looked yellow/dark white)
4-Behind the fridge and clean inside the fridge!!
I used to clean apartments from doctors & lawyers and their places would be dirty!! They would always be amazed how I was able to find "hidden" garbage.. They would always appreciate my work, and always gave me a tip or bonus.
Groundcontroltomajortom 1 year ago (edited)
I don't get how people have such dirty microwaves!! Keep your food covered if possible and give it a good wipe down if there's potential food splatter (baked beans and soup are the worst culprits!)
#28
Along the baseboards and corners while vacuuming.
#29
The dish drying rack. I've never seen anyone with one that wasn't f*****g horrific looking.
#30
Chef here. The filters in your air-condition and your vents gather a ton of dust and grime. Clean them for a better performing a/c
The waterlock under your sink. It can really fill up with some nasty a*s s**t if not emptied.
The bottom of cutlery drawers... No need to explain that one.
#31
My Dad tells me to do this all the time - clean your Shower head. As in, unscrew it and dump it in disinfectant for a bit. Really easy to contract Legionella from the stagnant water that builds up in there apparently.
#32
The filter of your dryer.
Rose the Cook 1 year ago
Fire hazard if not cleaned regularly. Don't have a dryer now but used to have one years ago.
#33
Might be a little bit late but I've been cleaning for a few years now, mostly office buildings but occasionally post-move out/post renovation cleans.
The biggest things I've seen people neglect to clean for literally YEARS are underneath toilet seats, inside bathroom drawers, inside medicine cabinets and bathtubs.. So.. So many bathtubs caked with pink sludge that's a mixture of soap scum and skin..
Really made me start paying attention to the little things when cleaning my own spaces.
#34
Retired professional housekeeper here. If you have a front loading washing machine, take a look inside the detergent drawer. Pull it right out. The inside will be BLACK and this goes on your clothes, every wash. The amount of people who don't realise this is quite shocking. The same goes for behind the rubber door seal on your dishwasher, especially the bottom. Clean around the seal at least once a month.
Daya Meyer 1 year ago
After I have used the washing machine, I pull the drawer out, shake the water off and let it dry until the next use.
#35
I clean apartments and one of the main ones people ignore has to be your staircase railing - those little dark marks on white paint? Sweat marks. Just wipe them down every few weeks and you’re good to go.
#36
Not a house cleaner, but the majority of people will buy a house and live in it for decades, never once cleaning the entire ventilation system. Now multiply that over generations...
It's costly, but worth it for your health, especially if you're allergic to dust mites or suffer from asthma.
#37
Outside your entryways. If you keep your stoop swept and the garage floor relatively clean, you will track in a lot less crud. Also, if you have pets, vacuum your furniture once in a while. I spent over an hour once removing dog and cat hair from a living room set. Also, behind your toilet. It gets dusty there. Also, spiders like that spot for some reason.
#38
I worked for a home inspection company. You should probably check out your homes foundation once in awhile if you live on a raised foundation. Not necessarily to clean it, but stick your head in with a flashlight for a cursory look to make sure you're not accumulating tons of dead rodents/cats down there.
Also, wipe down the walls in your house every once in awhile. Lots of people forget to do this. it will cut back a lot of dust and possibly mold growth.
#39
Ice dispensers on most fridges. Get on your knees and look up into the area where the ice comes from it should be covered in mold/mildew if you don't know to clean it often. The large retractable spray heads on some kitchen faucets are usually filthy too.
#40
Your ceilings ..fly s**t in summer isnt a laughing matter.
XanthippeⓐWulf🇨🇦️️🇬🇧 1 year ago
Am I wrong in thinking that if you have that much "fly s**t" on your ceiling that it's a serious matter, maybe cleaning the ceiling isn't the problem? Sorry if this is a thing I am unaware of.
#41
If you have toddlers/short children - the entire inside perimeter of your house at the 2.5ft mark has a layer of snot encrusted dirt that’s built up over the years that you are most likely blind to by now.
#42
I've seen some houses with some NASTY stoves. Spots of spaghetti, dried up chili beans. Please everyone, clean your f*****g stove after you cook.
What do you think ?
Ge Po 1 year ago
This post actually makes me feel good about my cleaning rutines. I always kind of defended myself with stating that maybe my house is not as tidy as it could be all the time, but that I do clean what needs to, when it needs to. Turns out I may have been telling the truth more than I believed myself. So I'll just be taking another cup of coffee now and feel good about myself.
Spannidandoolar 1 year ago
Exactly the same here, it could so with being tidier but I do clean all of these things regularly (except the back of the fridge, I know it needs doing but I just haven't got to it recently).
Load More Replies... Ge Po 1 year ago
To clean it every week or even month, I would agree. To clan it every season, every year, twice a year, once every second year, that would be basic maintenance for most.
Load More Replies... Black Cat 1 year ago
This is probably an unpopular opinion but who has time and energy to do all this cleaning? If you're working 40,50,60+ hours a week when I get home I don't want to spend all my time cleaning. Where's the quality of life in that? Pretty said if your life is just working and housework. Personally I'd rather live in bit of a pigsty and actually enjoy life. Otherwise what's the point? Come at me!
Nimitz 1 year ago
Keep up basic cleaning like vacuuming the high traffic areas, flat mop with a spray bottle to clean in just a few minutes, wash your dishes, and keep the stove/microwave clean. About 30 minutes a week, then do a proper clean/dusting once a month, maybe an hour. Then spend 3-4 hrs doing a deep clean for spring and fall. Wash the walls/ceiling/baseboards, vacuum your mattress, wipe out the cupboards, clean the stove. Your place will look pretty much clean and things won't get carried away. Like 20 hrs cleaning per year and you're good
Load More Replies...
quentariel 1 year ago
Does everyone here live in their own houses, own yards and has multiple stories? I feel quite poor reading this, living in an apartment thats about 60m² (and it's quite big in our standards, my previous was 25m²). No own house so no yard, garage, stairs, basement, foundation or roof work. And in general, no dryer, no ice maker in fridge, no garbage disposal, no ceiling fans, no bathtub, no gamer equipments, no car... Well, I guess it makes cleaning a bit quicker to have a smaller home.
Olga Sushko 1 year ago
I live in a 35m2 apartment, and I wouldn't want anythin bigger for exact same reason
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Roos Dillema 1 year ago
And clean the stair railing/bannister once in a while. These things get very dirty
DeoManus Argentem 1 year ago
The cabin filter in your car if it has one! In most cars it's easy to do without tools (generally located at the back of the glove compartment) or at most a socket wrench even the most basic toolkit should have - YouTube your car if you can't figure it out from the manual. A new filter is ~$10 and takes a few minutes on most cars, tops. Should be done ~2x/year depending on your environment and how often you drive. You'll be amazed how much better your a/c will work (not to mention extend its life) - I know even "car guys" who never do it.
John Nelson 1 year ago
Don't forget to clean the radiator fins on the heat pump unit outside your house at least once a year. Keeps it running efficiently. In some areas, like around cottonwood trees, you may have to do it more often. I've seen some so bad I had to wonder how it was even still working!
Any 1 year ago (edited)
Also what I did not find in the list, also maybe I overlooked it: clean your faucet aerator (or replace it sometimes) if you have one. It's there for water saving purposes and also for filtering things out of your water. If you drink your tap water you want to clean them. Here is a picture in case I used the wrong translation: https://mrosenfeld.de/cdn/shop/products/51qyvdL0vcL.jpg?v=1672737181&width=1946
Ge Po 1 year ago
This post actually makes me feel good about my cleaning rutines. I always kind of defended myself with stating that maybe my house is not as tidy as it could be all the time, but that I do clean what needs to, when it needs to. Turns out I may have been telling the truth more than I believed myself. So I'll just be taking another cup of coffee now and feel good about myself.
Spannidandoolar 1 year ago
Exactly the same here, it could so with being tidier but I do clean all of these things regularly (except the back of the fridge, I know it needs doing but I just haven't got to it recently).
Load More Replies... Ge Po 1 year ago
To clean it every week or even month, I would agree. To clan it every season, every year, twice a year, once every second year, that would be basic maintenance for most.
Load More Replies... Black Cat 1 year ago
This is probably an unpopular opinion but who has time and energy to do all this cleaning? If you're working 40,50,60+ hours a week when I get home I don't want to spend all my time cleaning. Where's the quality of life in that? Pretty said if your life is just working and housework. Personally I'd rather live in bit of a pigsty and actually enjoy life. Otherwise what's the point? Come at me!
Nimitz 1 year ago
Keep up basic cleaning like vacuuming the high traffic areas, flat mop with a spray bottle to clean in just a few minutes, wash your dishes, and keep the stove/microwave clean. About 30 minutes a week, then do a proper clean/dusting once a month, maybe an hour. Then spend 3-4 hrs doing a deep clean for spring and fall. Wash the walls/ceiling/baseboards, vacuum your mattress, wipe out the cupboards, clean the stove. Your place will look pretty much clean and things won't get carried away. Like 20 hrs cleaning per year and you're good
Load More Replies... quentariel 1 year ago
Does everyone here live in their own houses, own yards and has multiple stories? I feel quite poor reading this, living in an apartment thats about 60m² (and it's quite big in our standards, my previous was 25m²). No own house so no yard, garage, stairs, basement, foundation or roof work. And in general, no dryer, no ice maker in fridge, no garbage disposal, no ceiling fans, no bathtub, no gamer equipments, no car... Well, I guess it makes cleaning a bit quicker to have a smaller home.
Olga Sushko 1 year ago
I live in a 35m2 apartment, and I wouldn't want anythin bigger for exact same reason
Load More Replies... Roos Dillema 1 year ago
And clean the stair railing/bannister once in a while. These things get very dirty
DeoManus Argentem 1 year ago
The cabin filter in your car if it has one! In most cars it's easy to do without tools (generally located at the back of the glove compartment) or at most a socket wrench even the most basic toolkit should have - YouTube your car if you can't figure it out from the manual. A new filter is ~$10 and takes a few minutes on most cars, tops. Should be done ~2x/year depending on your environment and how often you drive. You'll be amazed how much better your a/c will work (not to mention extend its life) - I know even "car guys" who never do it.
John Nelson 1 year ago
Don't forget to clean the radiator fins on the heat pump unit outside your house at least once a year. Keeps it running efficiently. In some areas, like around cottonwood trees, you may have to do it more often. I've seen some so bad I had to wonder how it was even still working!
Any 1 year ago (edited)
Also what I did not find in the list, also maybe I overlooked it: clean your faucet aerator (or replace it sometimes) if you have one. It's there for water saving purposes and also for filtering things out of your water. If you drink your tap water you want to clean them. Here is a picture in case I used the wrong translation: https://mrosenfeld.de/cdn/shop/products/51qyvdL0vcL.jpg?v=1672737181&width=1946
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