9 Household Items You Might be Forgetting to Clean

Though it takes a lot of work, doing a thorough, deep clean of your house is ultimately very rewarding. Everything feels like new again and you get to enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done. However, there always seem to be a few things around the house that you forget about while you’re doing a post renovation cleaning or just seem too difficult to clean in the first place. Here are nine household areas or items that tend to fly under the radar, along with the best ways to get them clean.

Yellowed Pillows

You probably wash your pillowcases often enough, but what about your pillows? Old pillows can start to turn yellow from use since sweat and hair products can sink down through pillowcases. Luckily, pillows are easy to wash. Here’s how you can get yours clean in no time

1. Remove all covers from pillows
2. Put two at a time in the washing machine
3. Using liquid detergent and bleach, wash on a hot cycle with an extra rinse
4. Dry as instructed on the tag, adding tennis balls in the dryer to agitate them so that all surfaces get exposed to the heat
5. If there’s any lingering dampness, leave them out to dry completely before putting any pillowcases back on

Window Blinds

Blinds get dusty so quickly, yet they seem to take forever to clean. However, that doesn’t have to be true thanks to this simple trick that makes creative use of your kitchen tongs.

1. Cut a dusting cloth in half to get two narrower strips of cloth.
2. Wrap each strip around the ends of the kitchen tongs, securing with rubber bands. Trim down the cloth strips if they get too bulky when wrapped.
3. Proceed to clean the blinds, pinching one slat at a time between the cloth-wrapped tongs and sliding them horizontally.
4. When you’re done, you can simply remove the cloth and return the tongs to the kitchen. Be sure to wash them before using them to pick up food!

Vent Covers

All the air blowing through vent covers leaves behind more dust and grime than you’d expect. These covers can be difficult to clean while they’re attached to the vents but pop them off and the process is much easier

1. Unscrew the vent cover. Be sure to keep track of where you put the screws
2. Wipe the slats down with a paper towel
3. Place the vent cover in the top rack of your dishwasher and run a water-only cycle.
4. Wipe the cover with a cloth to try it
5. Remember those screws? Use them to reattach the vent cover and you’re done

Cloth Couches

Since the fabric is a porous surface, dirt, stains, and odors sink in and can’t simply be wiped off. However, since couches are popular places to relax and congregate in the home, any deep cleaning needs to include them. Some couches come with removable covers that can be machine washed. If that’s your couch, just follow the instructions on the tags. If not, you can use baking soda to remove stains and combat that old couch smell.

1.  Use a stiff brush to remove all hair, both human and pet, from all the couch’s fabric-covered surfaces
2. Sprinkle fabric surfaces with baking soda, concentrating on any stains or soiled areas
3. Let sit for 20 minutes
4. Use a handheld vacuum or hose attachment to suction up the baking powder
5. Spray some mild all-purpose cleaner on a clean cloth and rub all fabric surfaces. Stains should disappear more easily

Electric Stove Burners

Cleaning the burner rings on an electric stove can seem like an impossible task. They quickly become dark with grime and rust. However, you can cut through all that with a few easy steps.

1.  Remove the burner and place it on a towel or other work surface
2. Use degreasing dish soap and paper towel to get off as much grime as you can
3. Mix baking soda and water into a paste and coat the top surface of the burner
4. Let sit for 20 minutes
5. Using the rough side of a sponge, scrub off the baking soda paste
6. Rinse and pat dry

Glass Cooktop

What if your stove doesn’t have burners to remove? The cooking surface can still develop unsightly rings of rust and grime. Fortunately, you can use the same ingredients as above to clean a glass cooktop.

1.  Pour baking soda generously onto stained areas and spread it evenly with your fingers
2. Soak a washcloth or hand towel in a solution of water and degreasing dish soap
3. Squeeze the soap and water mixture over the baking soda and drape the towel over the cooktop
4. Let sit for 20 minutes
5. Pick up the towel and use it to scrub off the loosened grime
6. Use a paper towel to remove excess baking soda paste and leave a shiny finish

Area Rugs

While most homeowners resort to renting out a steamer to clean carpets at home, many rugs can usually be cleaned with just soap and water. The next time you spot stains on your favourite area rug, take it outside and do the following:

1. Hose down the rug, getting it evenly wet
2. Pour OxiClean or a similar cleaner onto the rug and scrub with a stiff-bristled brush, concentrating on any stained areas. Be sure to check the tags to identify any substances that shouldn’t be used on your particular rug
3.  Let sit for 2-3 hours
4.  Rinse the rug with the hose, preferably with a sprayer attachment
5.  Roll up the rug, squeezing out water and cleanser as you go
6.  Repeat step 5, squeezing out even more water
7. Stand the rug up to dry. Once it’s completely dry, return it to its indoor surface

Toilet Siphon Opening

Your toilet’s siphon keeps a constant water level in the bowl and prevents it from overflowing. The opening to the siphon is located in the bowl near the rim, and it can sometimes show hard water or rust stains. Remove those stains using these steps:

1.  Remove the lid of the toilet tank
2.  Shut off the tap that brings water to the toilet
3.  Flush the toilet to empty the tank and bowl
4.  Using one or more strips of duct tape, completely cover the toilet siphon opening Your goal here is to form a good seal.
5.  Pour several cups of white vinegar into the tank
6.  Flush and let sit overnight. The duct tape will hold the vinegar in the siphon opening so it can dissolve the staining
7.  Remove the duct tape, turn the water back on, and use the toilet as normal

Broom

How often do you clean your cleaning supplies? You might not think about it, but your broom can get pretty dirty after a while. When you’re done sweeping, show your broom a little love. Use any or all of these methods to get it as clean as possible.

1. Take the broom outside and knock off the excess dirt or pet hair
2. If you have a handheld vacuum or a vacuum with hose attachments, vacuum the end of the bristles
3. Use a disposable disinfecting wipe to clean the bristles
4. In a bucket, add a little bit of degreasing dish soap to water and stir to create foam. Set the broom, brush side down, in the bucket and leave to soak for one hour
5. While you’re at it, don’t forget your dustpan! A shot of multipurpose cleaner and a quick wipe down should do the trick

A good deep clean can do a house a world of good, but the whole process can sometimes be overwhelming. If you follow these tips but still need help, call Sunrise-cleaning at 289-814-1824 or contact us here.