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Top 12 Places You’re Forgetting to Clean

This post brought to you by Rug Doctor. The content and opinions expressed below are that of A Mom’s Take.

Here’s a funny story for you. My family was heading on a vacation once and were packed and ready out in the car to go. I guess my grandma didn’t want to come home to a dirty home, who does right? The problem was, she wasn’t just doing a load of dishes, she had decided to do some major spring cleaning and was cleaning behind the fridge while everyone else was packed and waiting in the car.

12 Spots You’re Overlooking for Cleaning

The cleaning routine can hit a snag if you forget to hit these important, but often overlooked spots! Tricks to get them in your routine and what a difference these cleaning tasks can make on the feel of your home! These easy ideas will make it a breeze to finish up the cleaning tasks.

Keeping up with the day to day cleaning is hard enough, but there are so many areas we put off cleaning that probably really need it. So, to keep from being like my grandma and spring cleaning your house while you’re supposed to be heading out on vacation, I’m going to help you find and tackle those seldom cleaned places.

  • Fan Blades
  • Inside the Cabinets
  • Under Furniture
  • Base Boards
  • Windows
  • Blinds
  • Porches
  • Walls
  • Doorknobs
  • Appliances
  • Couches
  • Carpet

Okay, now that we have a running list to take care of and you are feeling overwhelmed and probably slightly like an underachiever, let’s talk about ways to tackle those ignored dirty areas.

How to Tackle Overlooked Cleaning Areas

Get the kids involved! Yeah, easier said than done. When they were younger, I wrote the jobs on popsicle sticks and put them in a cup. I would make them pick one if they were fighting. I got quite a few things cleaned that summer. Now that my kids are older, money talks. I decided how much time it would take them and what I thought it was worth and I taped dollar bills to the sticks. My daughter wanted money for something and I directed her to the cup. She took care of most of my jobs in one day.

Chore popsicle sticks

Tackle one a week – Add these often overlooked chores onto 3×5 index cards and then add them on your regular cleaning schedule. Rotate through your ignored chores by just adding in one or two with your weekly routine. With 12 in rotation, you’ll get through each of these jobs once per quarter.

Give the extra jobs to your Spouse – Moms tend to take on the bulk of the cleaning projects. This is a great area to get dad to help with the jobs. Giving him one bigger job with a week to complete it will help you manage your time and split some of the responsibilities.

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This week was carpet week, for us. It makes such a huge difference to clean your carpets and freshen up the space. It feels like a transformation, with just a little effort. We rented a Rug Doctor  to tackle the task at an affordable price.

My boys are back to school this week, so I had my youngest help me tidy up the family room. We picked up books, toys, pillows and blankets and made sure our family room was in order. Then, it was time to vacuum. My little ran in circles around me running away from and then chasing the vacuum as I prepared the carpet for cleaning.

Next, I took the time to spot clean any stains on our carpet. Then, it was time for my toddler to take a nap, just in time for me to focus on cleaning the carpet!

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The Rug Doctor works starting at the front of your room and pulling it backward in rows cleaning as you go. I like to go back over the carpet a second time, without the cleaning solution, just giving the Rug Doctor a second pass to suck up any excess water. It does such a good job that the carpet dries quickly.

It was really clear and easy for me to see right where I had already cleaned. My carpet looked clean, fresh, and new with just a single pass with cleaning solution. It also gave it the fluffy fresh look that wears down over lots of traction back and forth through the room.

dirty water

Our family room took 5 refills – which means 10 gallons of water cycled through our carpets and 2.5 cups of cleaning solution. This is just the dirty water that came from one of those refills. Can you believe how black that water is! It wasn’t just the black water, though, there was lots of small particles of dirt, sand, and crumbs that didn’t come up, despite having a top of the line vacuum that runs over my carpet at least a few times a week.

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In the end, my carpets looked like a million bucks! I was really happy with the results, and a family room that can handle lots of playtime, tickle wars, family nights, and visits from loved ones.

Rug Doctor’s can be rented at over 40,000 locations nationwide, including at many local grocery stores. Head here to find a rental location near you and rent a Rug Doctor Deep Carpet Cleaning machine and cleaning detergents together. Often, you can find Rug Doctor at the front of the store near the customer service help desks. You can also use Rug Doctor to clean upholstery, mattresses, and other soft surfaces. Did you know Rug Doctor’s are also available for purchase? A one-time purchase will let you keep your carpets clean for years and years to come whenever you need cleaning.

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The Rug Doctor rentals start at $29.99 depending on location for a 24-hour rental, a huge savings over the average $200+ for most professional carpet cleaning professionals. Best of all, no one has to be in your home but your loved ones, that means no one trying to upsell you!

Next up for my home is cleaning out the kitchen and bathroom cabinets, I can’t wait! These jobs make a big difference in the overall feeling in our homes.

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Plamen Petkov @ The Happy House Cleaning

Friday 16th of September 2016

Most people forget to clean their washing machine, dishwasher, humidifier (if you have one), computer. And these are some of the dirtiest things in your home.

Amy

Thursday 25th of August 2016

My sister is moving and needs to clean her rugs. She plans on renting a Rug Dr. too to take care of the clean up.

Jennifer

Thursday 25th of August 2016

This is so true! We had carpet throughout our old house, but now that we only have select areas carpeted, I don't clean them like I should. I love that there's an affordable way for me to do it myself. I'll have to put this on my to-do list!

Ann Bacciaglia

Thursday 25th of August 2016

It is crazy the dust bunnies that can collect under the furniture. Fan blades are important to remember to clean.

Lisa Bristol

Thursday 25th of August 2016

I just moved into a place with carpets and they need to be cleaned. I will have to rent The Rug Doctor.

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