Let's face it, most of us don't have much energy or incline to faff around during our weekly cleans. Because of this, those small, hidden, hard-to-reach places can easily get forgotten or avoided and gather up a surprising amount of dirt.
Today we're showing you the smart way to tackle those hard to reach areas so you can get them clean in a flash! Cleaning has never been easier...
1. Blinds
Slatted blinds are another tricky task to tackle, but thankfully, there's a cleaning hack for that. All you need are some cooking tongs, 2 cleaning rags and 2 elastic bands. Wrap a rag around each tongue and fasten with an elastic band. Once secured, run the tongues along each slat to lift off dust.
Your room will be brighter and lighter than ever!
For tips on how to clean vertical blinds, check out our other guide.
2. Ceiling fans
Just thinking about cleaning your ceiling fan can be intimidating but with our clever tip, it's surprisingly simple (and safe).
All you need to get yours spotless is an old pillowcase. Position some ladders near the fan and climb up high enough so you can easily reach the blades. Place the pillowcase over the blade so it covers both sides, then, simply pull the pillowcase towards you and it will remove any dust and debris that's sitting on the top.
3. Keyboards
Although not necessarily hard-to-reach when in use, keyboards are hard to clean.
With snacking, coffee and dust around, the gaps between keyboard keys can get surprisingly filthy. As water is obviously off the menu, what can you do to clean them?
Use a post-it note! First, tip your keyboard upright and give it a gentle tap on your desk to remove any loose dirt. Then, take a small square of paper, fold in half, then run it between the keys to push out dirt - easy.
4. Car fittings
It's no wonder most of us don't like cleaning our cars. With all those fiddly fitting and tight crevices to get into, it can take up so much time and be pretty frustrating too.
The answer? Cotton buds. Dampen the end of one slightly, and it'll be able to get inside everything from the rims of cupholders to detailing on the dashboard.
5. Behind the toilet
No one likes getting too close to the toilet, let alone low enough to be able to clean behind it!
Get the job done quickly and easily with some heavy-duty rubber gloves and kneeling pads. Begin with a small, dry brush to loosen dirt, then vacuum up with a thin attachment. Spritz on some disinfectant, and wipe clean with a cloth.
It might not be the most pleasant of jobs, but with this method, at least it will be over relatively quickly.
6. Tall furniture
There's no need to get the ladders out every time you want to clean up high. Invest in an extendable duster now and you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner!
If you really don't want to splash the cash, you can hack your DIY using a long handle, a few dusting cloths and an elastic band or two.
7. Dishwasher filter
Wait, the dishwasher needs cleaning? It sure does, and one of the things people often forget to give some TLC is the filter.
This is where all the loose food and grease is kept to prevent it from making your dishes dirty again during the cycle. If you don't wash it out regularly, the food will remain there and make your machine smell and also less efficient.
To clean the dishwasher filter, you'll need to remove it. Then, wash it under a running tap to knock out the stuck food. Use an old toothbrush to remove any leftovers and get it sparkling clean - simple!
8. Window, sliding door & shower door tracks
Have you ever gone to open your windows and doors after the Winter weather to find the tracks full of dirt and debris and wondered how you're ever going to get it all out of there?
Your vacuum attachment may not be narrow enough to fit inside it as is, but with a simple addition, it'll get into the smallest of crevices. Attach an empty toilet roll tube onto the end, and pinch it together to make a very narrow funnel. Turn the machine on and vacuum away!
9. Garbage disposal unit
Another dirty job coming up for you - the garbage disposal unit. You may wonder how on Earth you're going to get that pit of darkness and gosh knows what else clean without it ending badly, but it's simpler than you think.
Here's how to do it in three steps:
- Run cold water down the disposal unit whilst it's turned on.
- Turn the unit off, but continue to let the water run for a further 10 seconds.
- To combat bad odour, throw either citrus peels or ice cubes covered with baking soda down the unit. Turn it on and run more water to flush it through.
10. Ceilings & mouldings
Have the spiders been decorating the corners of your ceiling with their webs? Unless it's Halloween, we'd suggest you get rid of them. All you need is a long-handled brush to dust them away.
Be sure to do this when you're cleaning the room, otherwise, all the dirt will fall onto the surfaces and floor below. It's important to always dust before vacuuming.
Now your house will be spick and span from top to bottom. What do you find hardest to clean? Let us know in the comments below and we'll do our best to help you out.
What is the best way to clean black condensation marks on ceiling & walls
Hi Jof! First, you need to identify the cause of the condensation and treat it. There's little point in cleaning the marks if the problem will persist. Once you have done that, you can use a mould blasting spray to clean the marks - be careful, as these could strip the paint on your walls and ceilings. We'd recommend you repaint the surfaces with a mould resistant paint to keep the problem at bay.