The Most Forgotten Spots to Clean in Every Home

The Surfaces We Touch Every Day but Never Think to Clean

Your hands reach for them dozens of times daily, yet they're one of the most forgotten spots in the home to clean: your doors, door knobs and light switch covers. Think about it — you flip switches morning and night, grab handles rushing out the door, yet these high-touch surfaces become invisible to our cleaning radar.

On average daily basis, people carry thousands of germs, and the same hands also touch the doorknobs and light switches in a home. Therefore, these areas or surfaces are often contacted with, and they can also be the place where bacteria that causes colds, flu, E.

coli and other viruses can be transmitted. They're riddled with filth that you can see, like scuffs and that amorphous brown tint that mysteriously surrounds the door handle, and filth that you can't see, like bacteria and germs.

Your front door handle alone gets more action than your smartphone, yet when's the last time you actually wiped it down?

Window Tracks Where Years of Grime Hide

Cleaning your windows for a clear view out may be a given, but spend a bit more time at your windowsill. Open your window and clear the track and area where the window meets the frame, "getting in there with a soft bristle brush, pine needles, dust, bugs," says product manager Ben Root from Andersen Windows.

These narrow channels become magnets for everything from pet hair to cooking grease that somehow travels through your home. Window and door tracks collect layers upon layers of bugs, dirt, grime, and who knows what else.

The shocking part? Most people discover their window tracks are virtually black with buildup once they actually look.

It's like finding a secret chamber of neglect hiding in plain sight.

Ceiling Fan Blades That Spread More Than Air

One of the dustiest areas in your home may be your ceiling fan. Cleaning your fan's blades is important because, if not dusted regularly, your fan could circulate lots of dust in the air, which could worsen allergies.

Picture this: every time you flip that switch, you're essentially creating a dust snow globe effect throughout your entire room. Dust mites love stagnant dust, and the top and sides of ceiling fans are a great place for them to get comfy.

A spinning, dirty fan can send these dust mites all over a room and its furnishings. Depending on how long it's been since your ceiling fans have been cleaned, this can actually be considered a health risk, especially for those with allergy or sinus issues.

Dust, grease, and grime can accumulate quickly in these areas, affecting the quality of light and airflow. That gentle breeze you love?

It might be delivering a cocktail of allergens straight to your face.

Baseboards That Collect Life's Debris

Another place that may be collecting dirt is your baseboards. These boards come into contact with shoes, furniture, and dust all the time, so wiping them down often could help you have a much cleaner home.

They're the silent workhorses of your walls, quietly catching everything from pet fur to that mysterious dust bunny migration that happens under furniture. You may think these get cleaned when you sweep or mop, especially if you're one of those people who use the broom or a Swiffer to quickly wipe them down, but in reality, you want to give your baseboards a little more cleaning care at least once each season.

This is specifically true if you have pets, as your furry friends' hair can coat those baseboards pretty heavily if gone too long without cleaning. What's particularly sneaky about baseboards is how they develop a film that seems impossible to remove with just a quick swipe.

That brown tinge along the bottom? That's months of accumulated living.

Behind and Under Major Appliances

If you've ever happened to drop some food and bend over only to notice what is under your fridge, you've probably been shocked to see what has accumulated. The space behind your refrigerator is like a secret archaeological site of dropped pasta, dust bunnies, and mystery stains.

The space behind and underneath all major household appliances need to be monitored and cleaned regularly. Mold can form anywhere that moisture exists, such underneath, inside or around appliances like dishwashers or washing machines.

Dust and grime build up under and behind your fridge or oven. Move them out (if possible) and clean away hidden messes.

It's amazing what accumulates when you can't see it — think of it as your home's version of that junk drawer, except it's potentially growing things you really don't want to meet.

The Tops of Kitchen Cabinets

The tops of your cupboards, if they aren't touching the ceiling, will accumulate dust and dirt. It is a complicated area to get to, which is why it's one of the most easily forgotten places to clean.

You should pay special attention to it and make sure to clean it at least twice a year. If your kitchen has cabinets that don't reach the ceiling, you'll need to clean them above them.

If you're wondering why, step onto a ladder and look at what's hiding up there, as you're sure to find quite a few dust bunnies. This also includes the top of the refrigerator, where cooking grease is often accumulated.

That innocent gap between your cabinets and ceiling? It's basically a penthouse suite for dust and cooking vapors, creating a grimy film that would make you question everything you thought you knew about kitchen cleanliness.

Dishwasher Filters and Coffee Maker Innards

It may leave your dishes sparkling, but your dishwasher isn't self-cleaning. If it's been a while since you cleaned your dishwasher, you may need to dedicate some time to scouring the filters and loosening up old food and grime.

Most dishwashers have a filter that should be cleaned every 1 to 3 months, depending on usage. Food can get stuck into the filter areas which can really impact its ability to clean, [and] can impact its ability to dry.

Meanwhile, mineral deposits and water stains aren't the only things you have to worry about with your drip coffee maker: It can also be home to mold and mildew if it isn't properly cleaned on a regular basis. Your morning coffee ritual might involve more microbiology than you bargained for.

These appliances work so reliably that we forget they need internal maintenance — it's like expecting your car to run forever without changing the oil.

Range Hood Filters That Become Fire Hazards

The flames from the stovetop, if it comes near a greasy filter, it can ignite and cause a fire. To prevent this, he recommends cleaning them every 1 to 3 months—especially if you cook frequently.

Just pop out the filter and either run it through the dishwasher or soak it in warm, soapy water with a light scrub. These metal mesh screens above your stove become grease magnets, turning from silver to an alarming shade of brown that screams fire hazard.

Air vents are another commonly forgotten area to clean. Check both your registers where the air intake occurs as well as the heating vents.

If you have a brush vacuum attachment, this is a great opportunity to use it. This is also a great chance to replace your furnace filter which will help you have better quality air in your home.

What's particularly concerning is how this invisible buildup affects not just cleanliness but actual safety — your evening stir-fry could literally go up in flames.

Trash Cans That Spread More Than Odors

Whether it's in the bathroom or kitchen, a waste bin can harbor germs from the items you discard. Tamp down germs by using a plastic liner and making sure the bin has a lid to isolate germs.

Clean the bin when it gets dirty by wiping it down with soap and water. But if the bin contained high-risk food, such as packaging for raw chicken, or the bag leaked, sanitize it with a disinfectant.

Your waste bin might smell foul because of the leftovers or used toiletries you've thrown out. And when your trash starts spilling all over the place, it makes the odors worse.

In turn, these spills can attract flies, which carry bacteria. Even with liners, these containers develop a biofilm of nastiness that regular bag changes simply can't address.

It's like having a bacterial petri dish disguised as a household necessity.

Throw Pillows and Curtains That Harbor Hidden Filth

Whether on your bed or couch, throw pillows are a main attraction for dust, dirt, food, dead skin and more. Some throw pillows are machine washable, but others require a little extra care.

Vacuum up dust and dander, spot-clean stains with a sponge or cloth and use baking soda or an odor-eliminating product to freshen them up. Do the same for any fabric curtains, which collect dust that gets airborne every time you open and close them.

Machine wash all pillows every three to six months to remove fungus, mold, and bacteria that build up. Researchers found that excessive buildup in synthetic pillows can worsen asthma symptoms and harm those immuno-compromised.

Take the throw pillows (or at a minimum their covers) from your couches and chairs to keep your house cleaner. These decorative elements are basically fabric vacuum cleaners that never get emptied — absorbing everything from pet dander to that slice of pizza you definitely didn't drop last week.

Light Fixtures That Dim Your Home's Potential

Your light fixtures may be high up your ceiling, but they collect dust, even if you can't see them from where you're standing. But dusting them off is possible without having to strain yourself.

Use an extendable feather duster for fixture cleaning, but make sure you've checked your duster first in case it ends up spreading dust to the light fixtures you're trying to clean. Dust loves to cling to the surface of light fixtures and table lamps, so wiping down these areas often is important.

What's shocking is how much light output you're losing to dust buildup — some fixtures can lose up to 30% of their illumination capacity when caked with grime. You might think you need brighter bulbs when you actually just need a cleaning cloth.

Your Cleaning Supplies That Spread Germs Instead

It's hard to imagine your cleaning supplies need cleaning, but neglecting your cleaning supplies can result in germs spreading throughout your home. Scrub your toilet brushes, brooms and sponges.

Shake out your dusters and run your cleaning cloths through the wash weekly. Bacteria thrive where there's water and food, which makes a sponge one of the worst germ culprits.

Your cleaning supplies and tools can spread bacteria in your home, too. So give your cleaning appliances TLC every now and then.

Start by soaking your kitchen sponges in a mix of water and vinegar. Then wash your rags, washcloths, and mop heads with hot water.

Put your cleaning cloths in the washer every week, and don't forget to clean your vacuum filters once every three months. Lastly, keep your broom dust-free by cleaning them with a vacuum.

The irony is thick here — the very tools you use to fight germs can become breeding grounds for the enemy. Think about how many of these forgotten spots you've ignored in your own home.

The truth is, even the most dedicated cleaner has places in their home that they forget to clean — or don't know they're supposed to clean in the first place. Your home might look magazine-ready on the surface, but these hidden harbors of grime are quietly undermining all your cleaning efforts.

What's the last spot you checked off this list?