29 Things that Need to Be Deep Cleaned (That You Probably Don’t Think About)

Cleaning already seems to take up so much of our time, but I’m about to tell you about some things that you probably aren’t cleaning that you should be cleaning (don’t hate me!). Although this list may add to the things you need to clean, it will definitely keep your house cleaner and, as a result, probably healthier as well. Here it is!

Wiping your windows down every now and then may work for a while, but you’ll eventually need to deep clean the window. That means cleaning the inside AND outside of the window (do this on a day with good weather). You should also try to remove the window from the frame (if possible) so you can deep clean the track.

Depending on the types of blinds you have, you’ll need to change the way you deep clean them. Some blinds can just be cleaned with a wet rag while others need to be vacuumed or lightly dusted. Whatever material you have, make sure to take care of the blinds.

While your dishwasher is always cleaning dishes, it also needs some maintenance. An easy way to do this is put some lemon Kool-Aid into the dispenser and run the dishwasher while empty. The lemon mixture breaks down any buildup while making your dishwasher smell great!

Don’t just dust your baseboards and walk away. Get down and scrub them clean, especially if you’ve never done that before! You’d be surprised at how much dust and grime can build up on them!

A few places you’ll want to make sure to get are underneath and behind appliances and big furniture. That means moving things away from the wall (if possible) so you can vacuum, sweep, and/or mop there. Do it well so it doesn’t have to be repeated for a while.

While you’re cleaning under your couch, get in between and under the couch cushions as well. Remove the cushions if you can, and vacuum up all the dirt and junk you may find there. You may even get some extra change for your budget!

When was the last time you actually cleaned your oven? Really cleaned it? It’s probably been a while (if at all). Make a paste out of baking soda and vinegar, and then spread it onto the dirty parts of your oven. Let it sit for a bit and then wipe it off, along with all the grime.

Use that same mixture to clean the stove top. Rub it around the burners and any rings or attachments that the stovetop may have. The oven and stove will look brand new!

If your showerhead is sputtering and the water smells bad, it may just be clogged. A super easy fix for that is to fill a baggy with vinegar and then tie it around the showerhead. Let it sit for a few hours and it should be cleaned right up.

You may change the bedsheets every week, but how often to you clean the bed? Depending on what kind of bed you have, the maintenance will be different, but you should still get it cleaned. You can probably use a spray of water, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria (mix in some essential oils to make a nice smell), and then a vacuum to clean any dirt off the mattress.

The vent covers and probably your air filter are things that you need to deep clean. If the air filter is in bad condition, then just consider replacing it. However, the vent covers can be cleaned with a damp rag and foam brush to get in between the slots.

Although you can’t see them, your drains need to be deep cleaned on a regular basic. A cheap and easy way to do this is by using hot water. Just pour it down the drain and that should loosen up any caked on grime. Try heavier duty solutions if the drains still clog or smell.

Makeup brushes are an essential household item that should be deep cleaned. Especially since they touch your face! There are quite a few ways to clean your brushes with household items, so do some research and find one that works for you.

One thing you may forget to clean is your pets! And if they’re not cleaned, then they can make quite a mess around the house! Make sure to brush them, bathe them, and keep them strong and healthy.

Just because you can’t see the toilet tank, doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be cleaned. In fact, its isolation actually means it’s even more important to clean! You can usually put a store-bought cleaner in there, but if you don’t want to, then look online for a homemade solution.

Believe it or not, your washing machine is a place that definitely needs a deep clean. Although it’s often filled with detergent, soap, and other cleaning material, it’s also filled with dirty clothes and water! Look online for maintenance for your specific washing machine, but you can definitely wipe down the rims and buttons (getting underneath rubber knobs) to clean it up.

Have you ever taken a close look at the shower curtain liner? If you do, you’ll probably notice hair, soap scum, and other gunk caked onto it. Deep clean the line so that it is sanitized and looks brand new!

Help keep your whole house clean by deep cleaning your entry mats. Spray them down, scrub them clean, wipe them down, and let them dry. If needed, you can buy new ones, but that’s usually not necessary.

Your rugs can be a constant source of dirt and dust if you don’t deep clean them. You’ll want to shampoo and dry them regularly, but you also want to keep it clean by getting rid of any pilling and making sure nothing gets caught in the fibers.

Whether for you or your family, lunch boxes are an item that you should be deep cleaning as well. Food gunk easily gets caught and stuck in lunch boxes and, if unnoticed, can make the lunch box dirty and even unhealthy.

If you have a wooden cutting board, then you’ll want to deep clean it. Food and juices can seep into the pores of the wood, creating stubborn smells and unhealthy bacteria growth. You can usually take salt and scrub it into the board with a lemon, but find a solution online that works for you.

To help keep your kids safe and healthy, make sure to clean their toys. Depending on what kind of toy it is, the maintenance will change. Remember that Legos and other similar items can be put in a laundry bag and cleaned in the dishwasher.

Just changing the pillowcases on your pillow probably isn’t enough to consider it a deep clean. You’ll want to make sure you actually clean the pillow so germs and bacteria can be killed. You can throw most pillows in the washing machine, but check to make sure yours will be okay.

You want to switch your toothbrush out about every six months (or sooner), but you should be cleaning it more than that. If you feel like your toothbrush needs a nice deep clean, simply stick it in a bowl of vinegar for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse it, and you should be good to go.

While you’re at the bathroom counter, clean your toothbrush holder as well. Run it under hot water for a few minutes and wipe it down with a cloth. Use a pipe cleaner to clean any of the hard to reach spots. Lastly, fill it with mouthwash for a few minutes and then rinse it out.

Also make sure that you’re cleaning your vacuum filter regularly. If not, all the deep cleaning you’re doing around the house will be pointless. An unclean or clogged vacuum filter will just kick dirt and debris around the house instead of actually removing them.

Bathrooms can get pretty humid and wet, so take a few minutes to deep clean all your bathroom rugs. You can usually just throw them in the washing machine and let them dry, but double check so you don’t ruin the mats.

Don’t just shove your down blanket away in the closet when you’re done with it this winter. Instead, give it a deep clean before neatly packing it away. You probably won’t be able to wash the blanket in the washing machine, so do a thorough spot check to clean up any spills or stains.

If you use a loofah, then it’s something you’ll want to be deep cleaning every now and then. Although the loofah is only coming in contact with soap, water, and your body, it seems like it should be relatively clean, but it’s not. Dead skin, soap scum, and other things get stuck in the fibers. Soak the loofah in bleach for about five minutes and then rinse—you should be good to go!