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Professional cleaners see it all and deal with a variety of home cleaning challenges on a daily basis. They notice the forgotten spots that never get wiped down, dusted, or vacuumed. Their many years of experience can provide helpful guidance on how we can all do a better job cleaning our own homes. We spoke to several pros to learn what they and their crews think are the five most annoying areas to clean in a home. They explain why, along with their recommendations for how to clean these home features effectively.
1. Glass Shower Doors
Sham Zemichael, owner and operations manager at Costina Cleaning Services LLC in Arlington, Virginia, often sees soap scum caked on glass, the bottom rubber seal of the shower door lined with thick mold growth, and stubborn smudge marks in plain view. “It takes a lot of steps and multiple products to clean, so naturally it can get annoying,” says Zemichael.
“What works best for soap scum, from my experience, is the Zep Shower Cleaner in the purple bottle sprayed on the entire glass, left on for a few minutes and then scrubbed with a soft wet cloth,” says Zemichael. Rinse well, then squeegee. Without soap scum on the door, he finds that rinsing with Dawn Power Wash is usually enough. His team uses a brush and mold cleaner to rub off any buildup and then rinses and dries the shower glass. The final glass finish is usually achieved by wiping with high-quality microfiber cleaning cloths. “I recommend squeegeeing after every shower and deep-cleaning once a week for maintenance,” he adds.
Expert Recommended
Zep Shower, Tub & Tile Cleaner
Photo: The Home Depot
2. Windows
Windows also provide cleaning challenges, particularly when it comes to the exterior of hard-to-reach windows and window tracks. “Awning windows, especially when on higher floors where they can’t be cleaned straightforwardly on the outside, can become a literal cause of pain, but you should still be cleaning them at least once a month,” notes Zemichael. There are also longer windows with small openings where your hand has to bend at an awkward angle, even with a squeegee. “We use telescopic squeegees and smaller window squeegees with a swivel and sponge attached to get the job done,” he says.
Arthuza Rabelo, a cleaning professional at Cleanzen Cleaning Services in Boston, Massachusetts, says his team usually finds window tracks to be particularly annoying to clean because of the corner. “You really have to use a small detailing brush or a very specific brush for it since dirt, dust, insects, sand, soil, etc. build up there.” To clean the track, he recommends using a brush to reach the corner and all areas, vacuuming to get the loose dirt out, and then wiping it down with a damp microfiber cloth.
3. Baseboards
People often forget to look down and behind furniture to realize that the baseboards need a thorough cleaning, too. “Often overlooked by cleaners, baseboards are a pain to clean because they cover every wall in the whole house and are at floor level,” says Ben Pullman, founder of Cubby Bear Cleaning in Chicago, Illinois. With their low location, cleaners need either a long duster or to bend all the way down to clean them, he adds. This often-forgotten area of the home is known to pick up a lot of dust and also get scuff marks on it.
To remove dust, Pullman recommends grabbing a simple duster with an extension wand. “For the scuff marks, a damp microfiber cloth and a little all-purpose cleaner usually does the trick, and a Magic Eraser works well, too, depending on the paint.” Clean the baseboards weekly or biweekly.
4. Inside Ovens and Microwaves
Cleaning a couple of kitchen appliances also makes it onto this list, including the interior of an oven, says Pullman. “Baked-on grease from months of use is a pain to clean and does not come off easily,” he explains. He suggests pulling out the racks and soaking them in hot water with dish soap in the bathtub. “Spread a paste of baking soda and water on the inside of the oven, close the door, and leave it overnight. During the next day, spray vinegar over the paste, and wipe everything out with damp rags.” Consider purchasing Easy Off if you don’t want to wait for the baking soda method. Complete this cleaning tactic every few months, depending on how often you use the oven.
Microwaves are also annoying to clean, as splatter dries into little cement spots that do not wipe off easily, says Julian Silva, founder of Plastno, a sustainable cleaning company in Ontario, Canada. Silva recommends cleaning your microwave on a weekly basis or the moment something explodes inside. “Heat a bowl of water inside for a couple of minutes so the steam softens everything,” explains Silva. “Then wipe it down with a reusable cloth, and hit stubborn spots with a damp sponge. The steam does most of the work for you.”
5. Range Hoods
For obvious reasons like grease, range hoods aren’t the easiest to clean, says Zemichael. “While the exterior and the underside should be cleaned every couple of weeks and the filters every month, many of our clients simply wait for us to clean up a year’s mess,” notes Zemichael.
To tackle this buildup, his team starts by degreasing the filters, which involves soaking washable metal filters in very hot water with dish soap and a degreaser, and then scrubbing and rinsing. “Wiping the hood and underside with a degreaser comes next, with a special focus on the greasy area with the heaviest buildup, directly above the cooktop,” says Zemichael. Don’t neglect the fan and filter housing, since grease often hides in there, which is both a cleaning issue and a potential fire hazard.
The post The 5 Most Annoying Things to Clean, Solved appeared first on Bob Vila.