Spring cleaning season is here. Cleaning experts say some of the dirtiest spots in your home are the ones you forget to clean.
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Carol Yepes/Getty Images
With the arrival of spring, many people are motivated to give their homes a thorough cleaning. Yet, it’s easy to overlook certain areas that accumulate dirt over time. To help address these often-neglected spots, cleaning experts have shared their insights.
Kyshawn Lane, who manages the Instagram account “Weekly Home Check,” offers guidance on home maintenance to ensure a clean and healthy living environment.
Air Conditioner Filters
Regular replacement of air filters, ideally every 1 to 3 months, is crucial, especially for those with allergies. Lane highlights, “So really creating a fresh environment in your home… our inside air can be three times worse than the air that’s outside.”
Fridge Coils
Located at the back of the refrigerator, these coils should be vacuumed every six months. “A lot of the time we’re afraid to see what’s behind our fridge,” Lane notes, emphasizing the importance of maintaining this appliance to prevent fire hazards and reduce energy costs.
Range Hood Filters
Cleaning the range hood filters every 1 to 3 months can prevent potential fire hazards. Lane advises checking the manual for specific filter types, as some, like charcoal filters, require replacement rather than cleaning.
Dishwashers
For optimal performance, dishwashers have a filter that should be cleaned every 1 to 3 months. Lane suggests using vinegar and baking soda to prevent mold and enhance the dishwasher’s lifespan.
Drains
To prevent clogs, Lane recommends flushing drains with vinegar and baking soda every 1 to 3 months, ensuring the reaction is trapped to clear any debris.
A Better Way to Declutter
Dana K. White, author of Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff, suggests focusing on visible areas when decluttering. “What I see happen is people get really inspired to declutter and they immediately go to an obscure place in the house,” she points out.
White encourages using the “visibility rule” to see immediate results from decluttering efforts, improving both the functionality and appearance of living spaces.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
