It’s officially time for spring cleaning<\/span><\/span>, and while my home always looks tidy with everything in its place, the moment I move furniture or peek into small spaces, I realize there are quite a few spots I missed along the way.<\/p>\n There is always\u00a0so <\/em>much dust. While I could blame this on the old home I live in, I also have to admit that I’ve neglected to clean some hidden and hard-to-reach areas in my home — at least not as often as I should.\u00a0<\/p>\n But it brings me solace to know I’m not alone. My mom, Angie Olive, has been in the professional cleaning business in Missouri for 25 years and says she sees this all the time when people are moving out of their homes.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Most things are out of sight and out of mind,” says Olive, owner of Alliance Building Services\u00a0in St. Louis. “If your outside surfaces are clean, you think everything is clean. It’s no fault of your own that the stuff that slides down the side of your stove goes unnoticed until you move out.”\u00a0<\/p>\n “If you maintain cleaning your house throughout the year, you should still consider hiring a professional cleaning company to come in at least twice a year for a deep clean,” she adds.\u00a0<\/p>\n So, if deep cleaning your home is on your to-do list, here are 15 places in your home to start.<\/p>\n Built-in shutters can accumulate a lot of dust over the years. Although it seems the only solution is regular dusting, I have found a tool that makes it slightly easier: a\u00a0blind cleaner duster brush<\/span>.<\/p>\n Built-in shutters can often hide dust.<\/p>\n <\/span>Corin Cesaric\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n (Tip: I also use this tool to clean my window AC unit<\/span><\/span>, and you can also use it on blinds<\/span><\/span>.)\u00a0<\/p>\n The top of door frames is another area known for almost always being dusty. You can use an extendable duster<\/span>, microfiber cloth<\/span> or vacuum<\/span><\/span> to clean that area, then clean with warm, soapy water for the rest of the frame.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cleaning baseboards is typically on the list of least desirable chores. On Reddit, many users ask for tips on how to make this one easier on themselves — and their backs and knees. One user suggested knee pads, while another advocates for using a vacuum with a brush attachment.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you have pets or there’s a lot of foot traffic in your home, you’ll want to clean your baseboards at least twice a month.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span>FotoDuets\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Olive suggests that after deep cleaning your baseboards once, you can maintain them by using a damp mop on them when cleaning your floors. “As long as you’re not using harsh chemicals, it won’t damage your paint,” Olive said.\u00a0<\/p>\n For this chore, a robot vacuum may be the best — and easiest — option for regular upkeep. (CNET chose the Mova V50<\/span> as the best robot vacuum for 2026<\/span><\/span>.)\u00a0<\/p>\n It’s good to occasionally clean the entire ceiling fan, including the bulbs, but the blades typically need the most attention. If your blades are heavily covered in dust, use a vacuum cleaner with the wand attachment first to minimize the amount that falls onto the ground — or worse,\u00a0your face — before dusting them clean with a duster or microfiber cloth.\u00a0<\/p>\n You can also clean the pull strings and bulbs with a microfiber cloth, but make sure the light switch is turned off and the bulbs have completely cooled before touching them.<\/p>\n If you’re deep cleaning your home, don’t forget to look up to find the areas you may have missed.<\/p>\n <\/span>BackyardProduction\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n When I moved into my apartment a few years ago, I could never get the tiny bathroom to feel clean — until I scrubbed the grout and unveiled its true color. I used Zep Grout Cleaner<\/span> and a grout brush<\/span> and was amazed at the difference, as were many on TikTok who used the same product.\u00a0<\/p>\n When I was halfway done with cleaning the grout, I was already extremely satisfied with the results.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span>Corin Cesaric\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n I poured the solution on the grout and let it sit for two or three minutes before using the brush to scrub the grout, then wiped the area clean. I now deep-clean the grout about every six months and regularly mop.<\/p>\n Although most people touch their TV remotes<\/span><\/span> every day, it’s often forgotten that we need to clean them, too. “They might not look dirty, but they’re usually full of germs<\/span><\/span>,” Olive said.\u00a0<\/p>\n You should aim to clean and disinfect the remotes in your home about once a month.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span>Peter Dazeley\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n A quick way to clean your remote is to use a disinfectant wipe and then let it air dry.\u00a0<\/p>\n When you cook on your stovetop<\/span><\/span>, the smoke, steam and food particles travel up and often settle on top of your cabinets. This leaves a thick, sticky residue if you forget to clean the area.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Regularly clean with a\u00a0degreaser<\/span>\u00a0on top of the cabinets,” Olive said. “Once you get the build-up gone, you can maintain it.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Another way to protect the top of your cabinets from the buildup is to line them with parchment or wax paper.\u00a0<\/p>\n Doorknobs may not look dirty but most are teeming with germs.<\/p>\n <\/span>Fotosearch\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Doorknobs are another high-touch area that can be forgotten about. Use a disinfectant wipe or Lysol to clean them, especially during cold and flu season.<\/p>\n (Tip: Clean your light switches at the same time you clean your doorknobs, as they’re typically near each other.)\u00a0<\/p>\n Stove knobs can get the same greasy residue buildup, so it’s important to deep clean them as well. Take the knobs off and soak them in warm, soapy water and scrub them if needed, then rinse, dry and replace.\u00a0<\/p>\n While your stove knobs are soaking, you can deep-clean the sides of your stove, too. Pull out the appliance and use a cleaner of your choice to remove any food buildup.\u00a0<\/p>\n “As you’re cooking, you don’t realize what you’re spilling between the appliance and the countertop,” Olive said. “Once you pull out your appliances, you’ll find a lot of places that you need to clean.”\u00a0<\/p>\n If you’d prefer to prevent spills rather than clean them, you may want to invest in a stove gap cover<\/span>.\u00a0<\/p>\n After you tackle the outside of your stove, it’s time to clean the inside of the oven. You can try this chemical-free cleaning method<\/span><\/span> to get your oven to look brand-new.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0<\/strong>The Secret Meaning Behind Your Oven’s Bottom Drawer<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Plan to clean your oven about four times a year.<\/p>\n <\/span>Jevtic\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n You don’t have to clean your walls every day but they’re not immune to getting dirty, especially the ones in your kitchen and bathroom, and for me, the one behind my dog’s food and water bowls. You can start by dusting your walls, then using a Magic Eraser on them to get any marks, scuffs or splatters off.\u00a0<\/p>\n This area can be easily forgotten about because most people don’t routinely pull out their refrigerator<\/span><\/span>. But when you do, you’re almost certain to find dust and build-up. You can clean the floor beneath your fridge and the wall behind it, then focus on the back of the fridge. First, unplug the fridge, then use a\u00a0microfiber cloth<\/span>\u00a0or vacuum to dust the coils.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dust and hair can even find its way to the back of your fridge.<\/p>\n <\/span>Petra Richli\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n It may seem odd at first, but yes, you should be cleaning your houseplants<\/span><\/span>, too — even fake ones. The leaves on houseplants<\/span><\/span> can collect a lot of dust. You can use a microfiber cloth or a duster to keep them dust-free.<\/p>\n Plants with large leaves are especially likely to get dust buildup.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span>Polina Sergeyeva\/iStock\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n While it may seem overwhelming to keep every part of your home clean and free from dust, grease and buildup, don’t overwork yourself.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Work out your own routine and do a little each time,” Olive said. “Don’t try to tackle everything at once.”\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n It’s officially time for spring cleaning<\/span><\/span>, and while my home always looks tidy with everything in its place, the moment I move furniture or peek into small spaces, I realize there are quite a few spots I missed along the way.<\/p>\n There is always\u00a0so <\/em>much dust. While I could blame this on the old home I live in, I also have to admit that I’ve neglected to clean some hidden and hard-to-reach areas in my home — at least not as often as I should.\u00a0<\/p>\n But it brings me solace to know I’m not alone. My mom, Angie Olive, has been in the professional cleaning business in Missouri for 25 years and says she sees this all the time when people are moving out of their homes.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Most things are out of sight and out of mind,” says Olive, owner of Alliance Building Services\u00a0in St. Louis. “If your outside surfaces are clean, you think everything is clean. It’s no fault of your own that the stuff that slides down the side of your stove goes unnoticed until you move out.”\u00a0<\/p>\n “If you maintain cleaning your house throughout the year, you should still consider hiring a professional cleaning company to come in at least twice a year for a deep clean,” she adds.\u00a0<\/p>\n So, if deep cleaning your home is on your to-do list, here are 15 places in your home to start.<\/p>\n Built-in shutters can accumulate a lot of dust over the years. Although it seems the only solution is regular dusting, I have found a tool that makes it slightly easier: a\u00a0blind cleaner duster brush<\/span>.<\/p>\n Built-in shutters can often hide dust.<\/p>\n <\/span>Corin Cesaric\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n (Tip: I also use this tool to clean my window AC unit<\/span><\/span>, and you can also use it on blinds<\/span><\/span>.)\u00a0<\/p>\n The top of door frames is another area known for almost always being dusty. You can use an extendable duster<\/span>, microfiber cloth<\/span> or vacuum<\/span><\/span> to clean that area, then clean with warm, soapy water for the rest of the frame.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cleaning baseboards is typically on the list of least desirable chores. On Reddit, many users ask for tips on how to make this one easier on themselves — and their backs and knees. One user suggested knee pads, while another advocates for using a vacuum with a brush attachment.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you have pets or there’s a lot of foot traffic in your home, you’ll want to clean your baseboards at least twice a month.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span>FotoDuets\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Olive suggests that after deep cleaning your baseboards once, you can maintain them by using a damp mop on them when cleaning your floors. “As long as you’re not using harsh chemicals, it won’t damage your paint,” Olive said.\u00a0<\/p>\n For this chore, a robot vacuum may be the best — and easiest — option for regular upkeep. (CNET chose the Mova V50<\/span> as the best robot vacuum for 2026<\/span><\/span>.)\u00a0<\/p>\n It’s good to occasionally clean the entire ceiling fan, including the bulbs, but the blades typically need the most attention. If your blades are heavily covered in dust, use a vacuum cleaner with the wand attachment first to minimize the amount that falls onto the ground — or worse,\u00a0your face — before dusting them clean with a duster or microfiber cloth.\u00a0<\/p>\n You can also clean the pull strings and bulbs with a microfiber cloth, but make sure the light switch is turned off and the bulbs have completely cooled before touching them.<\/p>\n If you’re deep cleaning your home, don’t forget to look up to find the areas you may have missed.<\/p>\n <\/span>BackyardProduction\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n When I moved into my apartment a few years ago, I could never get the tiny bathroom to feel clean — until I scrubbed the grout and unveiled its true color. I used Zep Grout Cleaner<\/span> and a grout brush<\/span> and was amazed at the difference, as were many on TikTok who used the same product.\u00a0<\/p>\n When I was halfway done with cleaning the grout, I was already extremely satisfied with the results.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span>Corin Cesaric\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n I poured the solution on the grout and let it sit for two or three minutes before using the brush to scrub the grout, then wiped the area clean. I now deep-clean the grout about every six months and regularly mop.<\/p>\n Although most people touch their TV remotes<\/span><\/span> every day, it’s often forgotten that we need to clean them, too. “They might not look dirty, but they’re usually full of germs<\/span><\/span>,” Olive said.\u00a0<\/p>\n You should aim to clean and disinfect the remotes in your home about once a month.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/span>Peter Dazeley\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n A quick way to clean your remote is to use a disinfectant wipe and then let it air dry.\u00a0<\/p>\n When you cook on your stovetop<\/span><\/span>, the smoke, steam and food particles travel up and often settle on top of your cabinets. This leaves a thick, sticky residue if you forget to clean the area.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Regularly clean with a\u00a0degreaser<\/span>\u00a0on top of the cabinets,” Olive said. “Once you get the build-up gone, you can maintain it.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Another way to protect the top of your cabinets from the buildup is to line them with parchment or wax paper.\u00a0<\/p>\n Doorknobs may not look dirty but most are teeming with germs.<\/p>\n <\/span>Fotosearch\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Doorknobs are another high-touch area that can be forgotten about. Use a disinfectant wipe or Lysol to clean them, especially during cold and flu season.<\/p>\n (Tip: Clean your light switches at the same time you clean your doorknobs, as they’re typically near each other.)\u00a0<\/p>\n Stove knobs can get the same greasy residue buildup, so it’s important to deep clean them as well. Take the knobs off and soak them in warm, soapy water and scrub them if needed, then rinse, dry and replace.\u00a0<\/p>\n While your stove knobs are soaking, you can deep-clean the sides of your stove, too. Pull out the appliance and use a cleaner of your choice to remove any food buildup.\u00a0<\/p>\n “As you’re cooking, you don’t realize what you’re spilling between the appliance and the countertop,” Olive said. “Once you pull out your appliances, you’ll find a lot of places that you need to clean.”\u00a0<\/p>\n If you’d prefer to prevent spills rather than clean them, you may want to invest in a stove gap cover<\/span>.\u00a0<\/p>\n After you tackle the outside of your stove, it’s time to clean the inside of the oven. You can try this chemical-free cleaning method<\/span><\/span> to get your oven to look brand-new.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0<\/strong>The Secret Meaning Behind Your Oven’s Bottom Drawer<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Plan to clean your oven about four times a year.<\/p>\n <\/span>Jevtic\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n You don’t have to clean your walls every day but they’re not immune to getting dirty, especially the ones in your kitchen and bathroom, and for me, the one behind my dog’s food and water bowls. You can start by dusting your walls, then using a Magic Eraser on them to get any marks, scuffs or splatters off.\u00a0<\/p>\n This area can be easily forgotten about because most people don’t routinely pull out their refrigerator<\/span><\/span>. But when you do, you’re almost certain to find dust and build-up. You can clean the floor beneath your fridge and the wall behind it, then focus on the back of the fridge. First, unplug the fridge, then use a\u00a0microfiber cloth<\/span>\u00a0or vacuum to dust the coils.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dust and hair can even find its way to the back of your fridge.<\/p>\n <\/span>Petra Richli\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n It may seem odd at first, but yes, you should be cleaning your houseplants<\/span><\/span>, too — even fake ones. The leaves on houseplants<\/span><\/span> can collect a lot of dust. You can use a microfiber cloth or a duster to keep them dust-free.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
1. Shutters<\/h2>\n
2. Door frames\u00a0<\/h2>\n
3. Baseboards<\/h2>\n
4. Under the couch and bed\u00a0<\/h2>\n
5. Ceiling fans<\/h2>\n
6. Grout\u00a0<\/h2>\n
7. Remote controls<\/h2>\n
8. Tops of cabinets\u00a0<\/h2>\n
9. Doorknobs\u00a0<\/h2>\n
10. Stove knobs<\/h2>\n
11. Side of the stove<\/h2>\n
12. Oven<\/h2>\n
13. Walls
<\/h2>\n14. Behind the refrigerator<\/h2>\n
15. Houseplants<\/h2>\n
Expert advice: Create a routine that works for you<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
1. Shutters<\/h2>\n
2. Door frames\u00a0<\/h2>\n
3. Baseboards<\/h2>\n
4. Under the couch and bed\u00a0<\/h2>\n
5. Ceiling fans<\/h2>\n
6. Grout\u00a0<\/h2>\n
7. Remote controls<\/h2>\n
8. Tops of cabinets\u00a0<\/h2>\n
9. Doorknobs\u00a0<\/h2>\n
10. Stove knobs<\/h2>\n
11. Side of the stove<\/h2>\n
12. Oven<\/h2>\n
13. Walls
<\/h2>\n14. Behind the refrigerator<\/h2>\n
15. Houseplants<\/h2>\n