The forgotten spots in the house: what you never clean but is definitely dirty

No matter how clean you are, there are those spots in the house that everyone overlooks. Only when you start paying attention do you think: “Ew, I really haven’t cleaned that in years!” I’ve put together a list of ten common forgotten spots in the house that quietly collect dirt. Don’t worry – I’ll tell you right away how to easily tackle them. Bet your home will be even fresher afterwards?

10 dirty spots you (probably) forget

1. Door handles and knobs: We grab them every day but rarely clean them. Grease, dirt, and lots of bacteria build up on door handles, cabinet pulls, and fridge doors. Solution: Wipe them weekly with a cloth and a disinfecting all-purpose cleaner or some diluted all-purpose cleaner. Stubborn stain on a metal doorknob? A bit of The Pink Stuff on a Scrub Daddy sponge will make it shine like new again.
2. Light switches: Feel your light switch – sticky? 😅 Those discolored edges come from dirty fingers. Because switches are often white, the gray smudges don’t stand out immediately. Give them a wipe now and then with a lightly damp cloth (not too wet, electricity and water don’t mix!) and a mild cleaner. A drop of all-purpose cleaner or a cloth with some Fabulosa spray works wonders. Don’t forget to also clean the alarm box or thermostat.
3. Remote controls: The TV remote is probably the stickiest treasure in your living room. 😜 Everyone grabs it with chip-covered hands and no one thinks to clean it. Grab it now: do you see that black gunk between the buttons? Time for action! Remove the batteries and carefully clean around the buttons with a cotton swab dipped in some alcohol or disinfectant spray. Wipe the outside with a microfiber cloth with a touch of disinfectant. Be careful not to get moisture inside the remote. Dry it with a dry cloth afterwards. There, it’s ready to go again.
4. Phones and tablets: Okay, this isn’t really “in the house” but we carry them everywhere and put them on tables – and cleaning? Forget it. Studies show smartphones are dirtier than a toilet seat (ew!). Luckily, cleaning is simple: take your phone out of its case, wipe the case itself (it gets dirty too), and clean your phone’s screen and back with a soft cloth and a bit of screen cleaner or 70% alcohol. (There are special phone-cleaner kits, but a microfiber cloth with a bit of alcohol spray works just as well.) Don’t forget the buttons and edges. Do this at least once a week – your skin will thank you!
5. Trash can lid and rim: You throw all kinds of stuff away, but when was the last time you cleaned the trash can? Especially the lid (especially on pedal bins) is covered with stains from food scraps and greasy fingers. Empty it, remove the inner bin, and wash the whole bin. Use warm water with some all-purpose cleaner, or for baked-on grime, a sponge with The Pink Stuff to scrub off stains. The Scrub Daddy is handy here again: it removes baked-on ketchup from the lid without scratching. Rinse and dry it. As a finishing touch, I like to spray a bit of Fabulosa fragrance spray on a paper towel and place it at the bottom of the bin for a fresh scent.
6. Top of cabinets and the fridge: Out of sight, out of mind… until you climb a step stool and see that sticky layer of dust. On top of tall cabinets, kitchen cupboards, and your fridge, a mix of dust and grease collects (especially in the kitchen from cooking fumes). How to clean it? First lay down some newspaper or kitchen paper to catch the worst dust. Then use a degreaser – for example, warm soapy water with dish soap, or a Fabulosa all-purpose cleaner. For really sticky messes, you can use our friend Pink Stuff: sponge it on, gently scrub, and the grease layer is gone! Rinse with clean water and dry. Pro tip: then place clean newspaper on top of the cabinet – it catches dust, so next time you only have to replace that.
7. Extractor hood and ventilation grilles: That extractor hood filter – have you ever cleaned it? No? You’re not alone. Grease and dust build up in the metal filters. Many extractor hood filters can be popped out and soaked in hot water with degreaser (or even put in the dishwasher, check the manual!). After soaking, brush it (or use a Scrub Daddy of course), and it’s like new again. You can also wipe the outside of the extractor hood with degreaser – Fabulosa kitchen cleaner leaves a nice scent too. Finally, don’t forget the ventilation grilles in the bathroom/toilet: unclip or vacuum them carefully and wash to remove that black dust.
8. Radiators and heating: Take a look between your radiators… Chances are you’ll see fluff and dust nests. People often forget radiators, especially the back and inside. Use a narrow radiator brush or vacuum with a narrow nozzle to remove loose dust. Then wipe the inside with a damp cloth (for example, wrapped around a ruler). For stains or black marks on the outside of the radiator, guess what – a bit of Pink Stuff works wonders. Rub it in and wipe off with a wet cloth, and your white radiator is white again.
9. Baseboards and floor edges: While we diligently vacuum and mop, we often miss the baseboards. They get dusty and sometimes get scuffed by shoes or the vacuum, leaving gray marks. Wipe a cloth over your baseboard – it will probably turn black. Solution: Vacuum along all baseboards with a brush attachment to remove dust. Then wipe them with warm water and all-purpose cleaner. For streaks and scuff marks on white baseboards, you can use a magic eraser or a bit of Pink Stuff on a damp cloth. That gray haze is gone!
10. Behind the toilet (and the flush button): When cleaning the toilet, we focus on the bowl and seat, but the back and flush button often escape the cleaning cloth. Yet splashes and dust end up there. Clean the cistern and button with an antibacterial product – for example, spray a paper towel with Fabulosa disinfectant and wipe with it. You can clean the bottom and back of the toilet bowl with an old cloth and warm soapy water (wear gloves and use a bit of Pink Stuff for baked-on dirt on the tiles behind). Bet your toilet will suddenly look much fresher?

Make it a routine

So, there they are: the 10 “oops, forgot!” spots. The good news is that once you know them, you can easily include them in your cleaning routine. For example, tackle a few of these every week or month. Quickly wiping all door handles might take you 5 minutes but saves a lot of bacteria. Cleaning your remote can be combined with the weekly dusting of the TV. And the tops of cabinets you can do during the big spring cleaning (or more often if you’re very enthusiastic).

With the right tools – hello The Pink Stuff and Scrub Daddy – no forgotten spot is safe from your cleaning skills. In fact, it’s secretly quite satisfying to turn a dirty, forgotten spot sparkling clean. I catch myself proudly telling visitors that my door handles are “healthily” clean… Well, everyone has their hobby, right? 😄

In short: dive into those forgotten corners of your home and give them the cleaning they deserve. Your home will not only look fresher but also become much more hygienic. And you? You officially deserve the title Cleaning Superhero of Hidden Dirt! 🦸♀️✨