Whether you’re performing weekly cleaning to-dos or prepping for an upcoming home tour, keeping your house bright and tidy is a must for all homeowners. No doubt you scrub counters, mop floors, vacuum carpets, and wipe down walls. But there are some other spots you should add to your hit list when the cleaning supplies are pulled out. Dirt, grime, and germs lurk in surprising and unexpected places throughout your family’s home. Check out these 10 spots you may have missed.
Faucets
As in the part where the water comes out. “Chances are, if you haven’t cleaned this, you will find black, mildewy grunge,” says Donna Smallin Kuper of Unclutter.com, author of Cleaning Plain and Simple. “And you’re brushing your teeth with that water. Ewww!”
Clean it: Every couple of months, remove the faucet aerator by twisting it counter-clockwise, then soak it in white vinegar for at least 15 minutes, Smallin says. (The aerator is actually an assembly made up of a few pieces, including a screen, so take note of how they go back together.) Gently brush all parts with a toothbrush to remove any remaining residue, then screw it back on.