15 Things People Forget to Clean in Their Homes (That Make a Big Difference)

Inside: These 15 commonly forgotten cleaning spots can make your whole home feel fresher, cleaner, and more put together, fast!

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Even with a good regular cleaning routine, there always seem to be those little spots around the house that get overlooked. You know the ones—quietly collecting dust, grime, and who-knows-what until one day you catch a glimpse and think, ewwww…when was the last time I cleaned that?

Some of these forgotten areas don’t just affect how clean our home looks—they can make a real difference in how fresh it smells, how healthy your air is, and even how many germs are hanging around.

So if you want your home to feel truly clean (without adding a ton of time to your to-do list), here are 15 often forgotten places to clean in your home that are totally worth the extra minute or two of special attention.

1. Ceiling Fans.

Those fan blades make the perfect ledges to catch dust bunnies, pet hair, and allergens. But because we don’t see them, we don’t think about cleaning them. Wipe them off easily with a long-handled duster to gently collect dust without it falling all over the room.

How often to clean: Once a season to a couple of times a year—especially before the warmer months.

2. Light Switches and Door Handles.

These are some of the most high-touch areas in our homes—and often the dirtiest. I’m always noticing makeup marks or dark smudges on or around my most used light switches and doors (it kind of makes me feel like Pigpen from Peanuts).

A quick scrub with a disinfectant wipe or a wet rag and a disinfecting all-purpose cleaner cleans them right up. Plus it helps reduce the spread of germs, especially during flu season.

How often to clean: Once a quarter for visible dirt, more often during cold and flu season to sanitize the highly used areas.

4. Trash Cans.

Even with using liners and bags, trash cans themselves can start to smell and harbor bacteria. Clean them with a disinfecting wipe or a disinfecting cleaner. Following the cleaning, you can also spritz the inside with a disinfectant spray and let air dry.

How often to clean: Once a month to once a quarter for kitchen cans, twice a year for bathroom ones.

5. Washing Machine.

Yes, your washing machine needs washing! Run an empty cycle with a washing machine cleaner to clean the drum and fight unpleasant odors.

How often to clean: Once a season is usually enough for most households.

6. Window Tracks.

These little crevices collect loose debris, dirt, bugs, and even mildew, and if you open your windows a lot, you definitely don’t want any of this coming in the house! I am guilty of hardly ever cleaning these, but it’s so satisfying when I do, and it would be much less of a task if I kept up with it.

Use a vacuum’s crevice attachment to remove as much as you can. Then use an old toothbrush with some cleaner or soapy water to scrub out the gunk.

How often to clean: Once a year—usually with your spring or fall cleaning.

7. Range Hood Filter.

The vent hood not only sucks up heat and odors, but also grease which collects in your range hood filter. Remove the filter and soak it in hot water with a degreasing dish soap like Dawn, or pop it in the top rack of your dishwasher if it’s dishwasher-safe.

How often to clean: Once every season, if you use the cooktop regularly.

8. Remote Controls, Phones, and Earbuds.

Every family member touches the TV remote, but when was the last time it was cleaned? A quick once over with a disinfectant wipe helps cut down on grime and germs.

While you’re at it, don’t forget about your phone, AirPods, or other electronics you use daily, including your tablet, keyboard, or computer mouse. These small devices go everywhere with us and we touch them for hours each day, making them some of the most commonly missed dirty surfaces. Give them a quick clean with an electronics-safe disinfectant wipe to help reduce the spread of germs.

How often to clean: Once a month is a good goal, especially for phone camera lenses and screens, and earbuds. Clean the remotes more often if someone’s been sick.

9. Shower Curtains.

Shower liners and curtains are a breeding ground for mold and soap scum. Toss fabric ones in the washing machine and scrub plastic liners with bathroom cleaner.

How often to clean: Every couple of months, or when you notice mildew starting.

10. Toothbrush Holder.

This spot is often overlooked—and it can get that grody dried-up sludge in the bottom. Scrub it out with an old toothbrush and some disinfecting cleaner.

How often to clean: Once a month should keep the buildup away.

11. Light Fixtures.

Dust, grime, and spider webs build up in and around ceiling and wall-mounted light fixtures. Wipe the fixture clean with a damp cloth, and a little window cleaner will make the glass sparkle. Check outdoor fixtures as well—many bugs go to die inside the glass.

How often to clean: Twice a year—usually during spring and fall cleaning.

12. Behind and Under Large Appliances.

Crumbs, pet hair, spills, socks, and who knows what else end up behind the stove, fridge, washer, and dryer. When you’re ready for a real deep cleaning, pull appliances out and vacuum and mop the floor (you’re sure to either say “that is so disgusting” or “oh that’s where that went“). While you’re at it, make sure to dust off any cobwebs and dirt from the back of the appliances themselves to extend their life.

How often to clean: Try and make this one happen once or twice a year.

13. Cabinet Doors.

Kitchen cabinets, especially around the handles, pick up food and grime from touching and daily cooking. And in the bathroom, I know I notice a lot of fingerprints and drips on my white bathroom vanity cabinet under the sink and around the knobs. Wipe them down with a wet rag and some all-purpose cleaner (a Magic Eraser works great for more stubborn spots).

How often to clean: A check and cleaning once every month or two is usually enough.

14. Throw Pillows.

These cozy accessories that we lean against every day (and even lay our head on) trap dust mites and pet hair over time. Vacuum with a brush attachment or toss removable covers in the wash to keep your living room feeling fresh.

How often to clean: Every few months, or more often if you have pets or allergies.

15. Sink Drains and Garbage Disposal.

Dump a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of white vinegar down the drain or down the disposal, and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then pour a pot of boiling water to wash it all down. This method not only freshens up odors and breaks up food particles, it’s like watching a cool science experiment! Or you can buy garbage disposal cleaners made specifically for this purpose.

Also make sure to take the rubber gasket out from the garbage disposal and scrub off all of the slime with some bleach cleaner and an old toothbrush.

How often to clean: Once a month—or anytime it starts to smell.

A truly clean home isn’t just about the surfaces we see every day. It’s those sneaky, forgotten spots that really make the difference between “looks clean” and “feels clean.” Add a few of these areas into your weekly or monthly routine, and you’ll stay ahead of dust, odors, and germs—without adding much more effort.

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