Walk into your messy kitchen, and you’ll likely want to reach for the sponge and start doing the dishes. Cast your eye over a cluttered hall shelf, and you might start tidying it up, sorting out what does and doesn’t belong there. That’s because these are examples of mess we can see right in front of us. But what about the parts of our home that don’t get so visibly dirty? During your weekly clean, how often do you spritz the door handles with any spray? We’d hazard a guess that it’s not too often. To help you think outside the box when it comes to cleaning, we rounded up 6 things you’re probably forgetting to clean - and how to clean them.
1. Taps and showerheads
When you scrub your bathroom, you might be forgetting to pay attention to two very important parts: the tap and the showerhead. It’s easy to forget that they need cleaning too - after all, when we hop in the shower we tend to focus on the fact that we need a good scrub. Remember, your showerhead does too! Ignore it for too long, and limescale will start to build up, which can be tricky to remove. Keep taps and showerheads sparkling clean by mixing up a homemade cleaning solution of half vinegar, half water, and add a few drops of lemon for extra freshness. Spritz over your tap or shower head, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe it down.
2. Door handles
According to research from the University of Colorado, “the average person’s hand carries more than 3,000 bacteria from at least 100 species”. It's therefore surprising that many of us avoid wiping down our door handles on a regular basis - if at all. The thing is, we use door handles countless times a day, whenever we enter or leave a room, so they tend not to get a second thought. Keep your family as healthy as possible by regularly spritzing door handles with all-purpose spray. Steer clear of harsh chemicals, though, and opt for something natural. Your best bet when it comes to cleaning door handles is to wipe them down with a microfibre cleaning cloth a few times a week - and more frequently if you’ve got guests in the house.
3. The back of the toilet
Cleaning the toilet isn’t most people’s idea of a relaxing Sunday afternoon. It’s one of those tasks we want to get over with as quickly as possible, cleaning the bowl, seat and lid before moving onto a slightly more enjoyable chore. While you’re at it, you might as well complete the job by cleaning the back and base of the toilet. They can easily accumulate dirt and dust, and if you’ve got pets or children in the house, this is definitely an area you want to keep as clean as possible. Use a bathroom cleaner and a recycled paper towel to clean. It’s not the most pleasant of tasks, but it will help keep your bathroom extra spick and span.
4. Bins
A smelly bin can quickly take over the whole room, so it’s important to make sure you take the rubbish out on time. But what happens if you’ve taken the bin bag out and it still smells? It’s probably the bin itself that’s the problem. If you’ve got a plastic bin, you’re particularly susceptible, since plastic rubbish bins tend to absorb smells so it’s really only a matter of time before they start to stink. If you’ve got outdoor space, take your bin outside and rinse using a hose and some natural washing up liquid. Leave to soak, and then scrub gently with a large cloth. If you live in a flat or don’t have a hose to hand, the shower works well too. Leave it to dry naturally. Top tip: to stop smells from building up, try sprinkling baking soda at the bottom.
5. Shower curtains
If not cleaned on a regular basis, shower curtains can host all sorts of nasty things, from soap scum build up, to limescale and mould. Avoid starting a bacteria jungle in your bathroom by cleaning your shower curtain ideally once a month. If that’s not possible for you, a few times a year works as well. All you’ll need is some baking soda and a microfibre cloth - mix the baking soda with some water to create a scrub-like substance, and wipe down. Depending on the type of shower curtain you have, you might be able to put it in the washing machine. Again, not the most glamorous of tasks, but your bathroom should be your sanctuary, and it’s worth putting in the effort to ensure it’s a clean, calm environment.
6. Kettle
If you’re a tea lover (who isn’t?), you’ll probably have noticed chalky deposits at the bottom of your kettle. Limescale is a byproduct of boiling water from the sink, so if you’re always popping the kettle on for a cup of tea, it’s really important to clean the kettle every few weeks. The best way to do this is to fill it with a mix of water and vinegar, and leave it to soak for a few hours. Next, boil the kettle and leave it to sit for another thirty minutes, before emptying it out. Rinse thoroughly after descaling to make sure you get rid of any lingering vinegar flavour, and get ready to enjoy your next cup of English Breakfast, limescale-free.
And there you have it - your house is cleaner than ever! If you’re looking for plant powered eco-friendly cleaning products that actually work, check out Colt & Willow’s selection here.
