Spring cleaning is all about giving your home a fresh start—but even the most thorough cleaners often miss a few sneaky spots. While most of us remember to scrub the floors, wipe down windows, and vacuum the couch cushions, there are hidden areas in our homes that quietly collect dust, germs, and grime over time. Forgetting to clean these places can easily happen.
If you’ve already tackled your spring cleaning checklist, that’s a great start—but before you put away the mop and call it done, let’s take a look at some commonly missed areas. These five things you’re probably forgetting to clean this spring may not be obvious, but giving them attention can make a big difference in the freshness and health of your home.
1. Light Switches, Door Handles, and Remote Controls
These small, frequently touched surfaces are some of the biggest germ magnets in your home. Since we use them daily, they can easily become dirty without us noticing. Forgetting to clean them can result in germ build-up.
Use a disinfecting wipe or a microfiber cloth dampened with a mild cleaning solution to wipe down all the light switches, doorknobs, cabinet handles, and remote controls throughout your home. Be sure to get both sides of each doorknob and all edges of remotes and light switch plates, where grime tends to build up.
This quick task can go a long way in reducing bacteria and viruses—especially in high-traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways.
2. Under and Behind Appliances
It’s not just what’s in plain sight that matters—what’s hiding behind your appliances is often much worse. Spring is the perfect time to move the fridge, stove, washer, or dryer (if it’s safe and manageable) and check what’s lurking underneath. Forgetting to clean these areas can cause issues.
Dust, crumbs, grease, and even forgotten utensils or pet toys can gather under and behind these large items. Left untouched, these messes can attract pests and reduce air flow around appliances, affecting how they perform.
Use a vacuum with a narrow attachment to clean along edges, then wipe the area down with an all-purpose cleaner. If you can’t move the appliance fully, use a flexible duster or vacuum hose to reach as far underneath as possible.
3. Air Vents and Ceiling Fans
Out of sight, out of mind—that’s usually the case for vents and fans. But these surfaces quietly collect layers of dust and allergens over time, which can impact your indoor air quality and make your HVAC system work harder.
Wipe down ceiling fan blades with a damp cloth or a pillowcase to trap the dust instead of spreading it. For vents and grilles, remove the covers if possible and clean them with warm, soapy water. While they’re drying, vacuum the visible duct openings to remove built-up dust.
If you have reusable filters, give them a good rinse and allow them to dry completely before replacing. For disposable filters, make a note to replace them every 2–3 months to keep air flowing clean and freely. Avoid forgetting to clean these essential items.
4. Inside Trash Cans and Recycling Bins
We empty our trash and recycling regularly, but how often do we clean the bins themselves? Over time, spills, leaks, and lingering odors can create a breeding ground for bacteria inside your bins—even if you’re using liners. Forgetting to clean these bins is common.
Take your bins outside, scrub them with dish soap and warm water, then rinse and let them dry in the sun. For tough smells or stains, sprinkle in baking soda and use a scrub brush.
Don’t forget to wipe down the lids and the inside rims, where gunk tends to collect unnoticed. This simple step not only improves cleanliness but also helps control unwanted odors in your home.
5. Curtains, Blinds, and Window Tracks
Windows often get cleaned during spring, but curtains, blinds, and window tracks? Not always. These are the unsung heroes of spring cleaning, quietly collecting dust, pet hair, and even mold in humid climates. Forgetting to clean them can lessen their look.
Vacuum or launder curtains based on the care label instructions. If they’re machine washable, a gentle cycle with mild detergent is usually enough. For blinds, use a microfiber cloth or duster to wipe each slat, or try a sock over your hand for better control.
While you’re at the windows, check the tracks at the bottom. Dirt, dead bugs, and moisture can get trapped here, leading to mold or difficulty opening the window. Use a toothbrush and a small vacuum to loosen and remove debris, then wipe the area with a cloth soaked in a gentle cleaning solution.
Conclusion
It’s easy to focus on the big-ticket cleaning tasks during spring, but sometimes it’s the small, hidden areas that make the biggest impact. These commonly forgotten spring cleaning spots may not be the first things you see, but cleaning them adds to the overall freshness, health, and comfort of your home.
And if tackling the full list feels like too much on your own, Joy of Cleaning is here to help. Our trusted team offers thorough, professional family cleaning services in St. Pete and Tampa, including detailed cleanings that cover all the hard-to-reach places. Call us at 727-687-2710 or request a quote online today—we’ll make sure nothing gets left behind this spring. Avoid the hassle of forgetting to clean tricky spots!
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Reschedule Policy
If you are here to reschedule a cleaning that is NOT currently scheduled within the next 72 hours you’re good to go, no fee .Simply let us know your preferences for rebooking. For all reschedule requests, we ask that you allow a 7-day window to lock in a new slot on the schedule (although if we have an earlier opening we’ll let you know)! If you are rescheduling an appointment that’s appraoching within the next 48 hours, you will be charged for 25% of the quoted cost of your service. If you are rescheduling an appointment that’s appraoching within the next 24 hours, you will be charged for 50% of the quoted cost of your service. Same-day requests to reschedule will be charged 100% of the cost of the booked service. We thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation, as a small business last-minute gaps in our schedule are very costly. All invoices to be billed in accordance with our reschedule/cancellation policy will be automatically charged to the card on file. We thank you for choosing Joy of Cleaning!
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel your appointment within 48 hours of your appointment date, you will be responsible for 25% of the quoted cost of your service. If you cancel within 24 hours of your appointment, you will be responsible for 50% of the service. Same-day cancellations will be charged 100% of the cost of the booked service. Cancellation within a day puts us in jeopardy of having a gap in our schedule that could have been filled by someone else, and we often have a waiting list. We thank you greatly in advance for your understanding and cooperation. Cancellation fees will be charged automatically to the card on file. Cancellation timing will be determined in accordance with our business hours (week days 8am – 5pm). A text message after 5pm the day before service for example would be considered same-day cancellation – please plan accordingly. If you still would like to cancel please fill out below:
Skip Service Policy
If you are a routine customer and want to skip for any reason, your next cleaning will reflect the appropriate frequency quoted. For example, if you are bi-weekly but skip cleaning the next time we clean, your monthly rate will apply. This is fair due to the extra dust and dirt build-up in the house. Also being a bi-weekly customer means we have reserved your spot in our schedule to be cleaned by the same team at a consistent time. If customers skip it will affect that team’s entire day’s schedule. Lastly, it is not fair to the monthly customer who pays a higher rate for monthly cleanings, and a bi-weekly customer who is actually only cleaned once that month, but remains at the cheaper rate.
