Debris around the home can be a sign that you need to clean, or that something might have been damaged without you noticing. Although a bit of debris isn’t usually a problem, keeping on top of it can help your home feel cleaner.
So, here are 9 uncommon places in your home to look for debris.
1. Behind Cabinets
If you can get behind your kitchen counters and other cabinets, you’ll inevitably find quite a bit of debris there. Whether it’s food, dust or built-up grime, there will be something to make you grimace.
Consider the fact that this is an area where you prepare food, and therefore should be fairly clean. Of course, you won’t be cooking in the nook behind your kitchen counter, but it should still be fairly clean. If there’s a gap, running a mop or cloth down it should be enough to remove the worst of the debris.
2. Refrigerator Coils
While this isn’t the most uncommon place to look for debris around your home, it’s regularly overlooked. After all, if your refrigerator is in a cupboard or pushed against a wall, there’s no real need to look behind it.
But dusty coils can prevent your refrigerator from cooling efficiently because it’s not able to evaporate heat properly. Luckily, the coils are very easy to clean. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove most of the dust and then use a brush and damp cloth to get rid of the rest. You should aim to do this at least once a year.
3. Ceiling Fans
It’s easy to forget about debris building up on the top of ceiling fans, simply because you can’t see up there. But having a fan covered in dust and debris will just circulate it around the room.
To clean a ceiling fan, simply get a duster with an extendable handle. If you don’t have one of those, fix a cloth to a mop handle using a rubber band. Whatever you use, run it over the top of the blades to remove any dust and debris.
4. Keyboards
Have you ever picked up your computer keyboard, turned it over, and watched what comes out? If you haven’t, you’ll probably be surprised at how much debris can build up between the keys. Considering how often keyboards are used, they’re typically not cleaned enough.
The easiest way to do this is with a can of compressed air. Squirt it between the keys and it should dislodge debris quite easily. Then, wipe the keyboard down with a bit of antibacterial spray and you’ll be good to go.
5. Window Frames
While you might clean your windows regularly, it’s common to overlook the actual frames. If debris builds up, your windows might not close properly. It can impact your home’s energy efficiency by allowing heat (or cool air) out without you noticing.
To clean your window frames, just use a vacuum cleaner. Use the narrow nozzle attachment to get into the small gaps, and do this every time you clean your windows. After all, it’s all part of the same cleaning job!
6. Drains
Drains aren’t exactly an uncommon place to look for debris, but, like refrigerator coils, it’s easy to forget about them until something happens. However, if you wait until a drain backs up, it can be an expensive and lengthy drain cleaning problem to fix.
An easy way to clean a drain is to fill the sink (or bathtub) up with very hot water. Remove the plug and plunge it down. The force should dislodge debris. Follow this with either drain cleaner or baking soda and vinegar. After about an hour, flush the drain with boiling water. Regular maintenance is much cheaper and easier than calling out a plumber to fix a blockage.
7. Gutters
Gutter maintenance is vital for ensuring your home’s rainwater drainage works properly. Without it, you’ll have clogged gutters, which can cause water runoff where it’s not meant to happen. It’s another one of those cleaning jobs that’s easy to overlook because you only remember about it when your gutters are overflowing.
Although gutter maintenance is something you can do yourself, it’s often easier to call in professionals. It’s a bigger job than, say, drain or window cleaning, so professional gutter cleaners are often worth the money.
8. Under Appliances
Along with looking behind your refrigerator, you should think about looking underneath it! The same logic applies to things like cookers and dishwashers, too. You’d be amazed at the kind of debris that builds up in your kitchen under everyday appliances.
Of course, getting underneath them can be an issue depending on what you’re trying to move. It can be difficult to move a cooker or dishwasher because they’re often plumbed in. If this is the case, it might be worth calling a professional to do the job for you.
9. Sliding Door Tracks
As with window frames, sliding door tracks can easily build up small debris that makes closing the door harder. You’ll typically find sliding tracks on showers or patio doors, but they could realistically be anywhere. Unsurprisingly, exterior doors are more likely to get debris in their tracks than interior doors.
The easiest way to clean them is using your vacuum cleaner’s narrow nozzle. Run this along the tracks every few weeks, and perhaps follow up with some lubricant to keep the doors running smoothly. If the tracks are really dirty, wash them with soapy water and a stiff brush after vacuuming.
Final Thoughts
When looking for debris around your home, don’t forget about these uncommon places. After all, you can do as much cleaning as you want, and it’ll essentially be pointless if you’re not doing a deep clean.
Luckily, you only have to tackle these areas at most twice a year. Make sure you add them to your cleaning rota regardless, and don’t forget to call in a professional if it’s a bigger job than you can handle.
