25 Spots to Add to Your Cleaning List — Stat

10. Dishwasher

Even if your plates and utensils look spotless, your dishwasher may be dirty.

"Food gets left in there  and it can start to smell," says Haley F. Oliver, a professor of food science at Purdue University. "You end up rewashing your dishes with old dirt.”

To clean out trapped food particles, unscrew the screen from the dishwasher floor and remove the filter; use dish detergent and a brush to scrub the filter and let it air-dry. Oliver suggests cleaning the dishwasher filter every week. ​

After that, clean the inside of the dishwasher. Fill a dishwasher-safe mug with white vinegar, and run it on the “normal” cycle with hot water to loosen soap scum and grease from the interior.

11. Oven

Scrubbing the burned foods crusted on the bottom of the oven and the grease coating the oven door might be the least appetizing item on a housecleaning to-do list. Although Oliver notes that temperatures get so hot inside the oven that bacteria have no hope of survival, germs are not the sole reason to get out the scouring pads.​

"Nothing ruins a delicately flavored food like burning in the bottom of the oven," Oliver says. "You end up with cupcakes that taste like char."​

A dirty oven could also cause a grease fire. ​

The self-cleaning feature is a good default, but nothing matches the effectiveness of some old-fashioned elbow grease. Oven cleaners often contain harsh chemicals, but lemon juice, baking soda and vinegar can get the job done without the lingering smell of chemicals tainting the next meal you cook.​

12. Ceiling fan blades

Turning on the ceiling fan might offer a cool breeze on a hot, humid afternoon, but it also scatters the dust and pollen that collect on the fan blades. Cue the sniffling and sneezing.​

"Ceiling fans cause problems by increasing circulation of airborne allergens," says Hugh H. Windom, M.D., allergist and founder of Windom Allergy, Asthma & Sinus in Sarasota, Florida.

To ensure your allergies don’t flare each time you switch on the ceiling fan, wipe the blades down with a damp cloth.​

13. Reusable shopping bags

Admit it: The bags you toss in your trunk after every shopping trip have never seen the inside of the washing machine. These oft-used, never cleaned bags are breeding grounds for bacteria. And the number of bacteria multiply tenfold when a reusable bag with leaked meat juice gets left in the trunk of a car for two hours.​

"In a lot of these reusable bags, we found more E. coli and fecal bacteria than you do in your underwear," says Charles P. Gerba, microbiologist and professor at the University of Arizona. "If you use the same bags to carry raw meat products and raw vegetables, you could make a salmonella salad really easily.”

Gerba suggests sticking with cloth bags that can be washed, and tossing them in the machine (washing in hot water) after every use. It’s also a good idea to designate separate bags for meat and produce.​

14. Dryer vent

There are 6,900 dryer fires annually. Dirty dryer vents could be to blame — even if you clean out the lint trap after each load.

Cleaning the dryer vent removes lint, debris and clogs to ensure proper airflow, which helps the dryer work more efficiently and can prevent fires. 

If you have an electric dryer, move the dryer away from the wall and disconnect the duct from the dryer; use a dryer vent brush to loosen the debris in the vent and pull out any lint; use a vacuum to suck up lint behind the dryer, push the appliance back into position and reconnect the vent. You should wear a dust mask and eye goggles. 

On a gas dryer, you’ll need to close the gas supply valve before disconnecting the vent, so it might be best to call in the pros.  

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Getty Images)

15. Mattress

Even though the average person changes their bedding every 24 days, most likely ignore their mattresses — and that might be a mistake, as everything from bedbugs to bacteria and pet dander can be lurking there.

To clean your mattress, strip off the bedding and vacuum the entire mattress, paying special attention to the crevices where dirt and dust collect. Use a stain remover to spot-treat stains, sprinkle baking soda over the mattress to deodorize, and vacuum again to remove the baking soda. Plan to repeat the entire process every six months.​

16. Kitchen sponge

Your kitchen sponge might be dirtier than the surfaces you’re trying to clean.

"Bacteria grow to huge numbers because [sponges] are moist and always picking up food for bacteria to munch on," Gerba explains.  

Nuking a sponge in the microwave might kill some of bacteria, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but replacing your germy kitchen sponge on a regular basis might be better.

Bacteria counts are highest after three days, according to Gerba. After that, replace your old kitchen sponge with a new one.

17. Fireplace

Don't light a fire without doing some preventive maintenance first.

Hire a professional chimney sweep to clean the chimney and remove the creosote deposits that form within the chimney and fireplace system. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that chimneys are inspected annually.

"If the chimney system isn't serviced, it can lead to the system not working properly, smoking back into the home, or even lead to a chimney fire," says Amie Ryan, director of sales and marketing for the National Fireplace Institute.

You can keep the fireplace clean the rest of the year by removing the ashes after a fire. Ryan recommends using a metal bucket to remove ashes to prevent fires and choosing seasoned firewood for your wood-burning fireplace because it burns more efficiently. 

18. Trash cans

Everything from used tissues to last night’s leftovers gets tossed into the trash can. Even if you take out the trash on a regular basis, you probably never clean the trash can. A typical kitchen wastebasket harbors more than 400 bacteria per square inch.

"Besides preventing odors, regularly cleaning the trash can kills any lingering bacteria or germs," says Brian Sansoni, senior vice president of communications, outreach and membership for the American Cleaning Institute.

Sansoni recommends wiping the outside of the can down with an all-purpose spray or disinfectant wipe weekly. As far as a deep clean, Sansoni says that is on an as-needed basis. But if there are lingering odors after you take the trash out, washing the entire trash can with soapy water might be in order. Be sure to rinse it clean and let it dry before replacing the trash bag, he adds. If that doesn't work to get rid of the smell, Sansoni suggests using a solution of one cup baking soda in one gallon of water to wash the inside and outside of the trash can.

19. Shower curtain

The spray from the showerhead is not enough to keep your shower curtain clean. In fact, Sansoni notes that the damp environment in the bathroom makes shower curtains prone to mole and mildew, and failing to clean them "can cause irritation, trigger allergies or … lead to respiratory infections."

Most shower curtains and liners can be tossed in the washing machine and hung on the shower curtain rod to dry. Sansoni recommends cleaning the liner monthly and the fabric shower curtain a few times a year, adding, "Without a liner, clean the shower curtain at least monthly.”

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Getty Images)

20. Remote controls

You’re exposed to high levels of bacteria every time you change the channel. TV remote controls are among the germiest items in the house and can even harbor the influenza virus and coronavirus. Despite the risks, one study found that 30 percent of people don’t disinfect their TV remote.

Before your next British crime drama binge, remove the batteries from your remote control, turn it upside down, tap it against your palm to dislodge debris, and use a cleaning wipe to clean the outer shell. 

Never spray disinfecting solution onto the remote, Sansoni advises. Instead, clean hard-to-reach areas, including in and around the buttons, with a cotton swab or toothbrush. Wait until the remote is cleaned and dried before reinstalling the batteries.

"Regular cleaning can remove soil and germs and in turn, minimize your risk of getting sick," he says. "Your [remote] may be contaminated even when it's not visibly soiled."

21. Light switches

You're exposed to bacteria every time you turn the lights on and off, especially if you overlook the light switches when you clean.

"Light switches can become significantly dirty," Sansoni says. "They are…a hotspot for germs and considered one of the dirtiest surfaces in a home."

Spray disinfectant onto a paper towel — never directly onto the light switch — and wipe them down anytime there is obvious grime on the switch plate. Otherwise, Sansoni advises cleaning light switches weekly (daily if someone in the house is sick).

22. Garbage disposal

The same appliance that grinds up food waste so it can be rinsed down the sink can also trap debris and cause kitchen odors. 

Consumer Reports expert Jodhaira Rodriguez suggests these steps for cleaning the disposal. Once a week, put six ice cubes in the garbage disposal followed by one tablespoon of banking soda, three thin lemon slices and one teaspoon of bleach, and then six more ice cubes. Without running the water, turn the disposal on until the grinding stops; keep the motor running and then turn the cold water on for 30 seconds.

You can keep the garbage disposal clean and odor-free by keeping fats, oils, grease, eggshells, starches, celery, and other fibrous vegetables and peels out of the disposal, she adds.

23. Vent hood

You clean the stove, but when was the last time you cleaned the vent hood?

"[The vent hood is] gross and gets loaded up with surface grease that can attract dust," says Paul Hope, deputy home editor at Consumer Reports. "And once the dust settles, it's much harder to scrub it free."

Check the stove manual for instructions on how to clean the filters. Keeping the vent hood clean allows it to “suck up, capture and expel grease, smoke and byproducts of cooking,” Hope says. 

When you see a layer of grease on the vent hood, it's time to clean. Use hot soapy water and a non-abrasive pad to clean the exterior (and upgrade to a mildly abrasive pad if the grease won't come loose). 

Some vents hoods have carbon filters that are machine washable, while others have metal filters that can be washed in the dishwasher. Cleaning the filters according to manufacturer instructions ensures that the vent hood works as it should.

24. Window and door tracks

Your window and door tracks “are the last line of defense” before dust and dirt enter your home, according to Flax. It means that dirt accumulates in the tracks, and washing the windows or wiping down the doors isn't sufficient to remove it.

Use a small, moderately stiff bristle brush to loosen and remove the bulk of the dirt in the window and door tracks. For interior tracks, use a vacuum to suck up loose dirt; for exterior tracks, use a garden hose to rinse away excess dirt. Use a general-purpose cleaner to clean the tracks and a lint-free towel to dry the window and door tracks, followed by a lubricant to make them open and close more smoothly.

"Cleaning them once a week can help reduce the amount of dirt that builds up," he says. 

25. Washing machine

Clean clothes depend on a clean machine. Richard Handel, senior test project leader of laundry and cleaning at Consumer Reports, recommends wiping down the washing machine door, gasket and detergent dispenser after each load to prevent mold and mildew. This process is especially important for front-loading machines, which are more prone to buildup, he adds.

It's important to clean the drum, too. You can use a washing machine cleaner or bleach to get the job done. Fill the detergent compartment with a ½ cup of bleach (or the amount of machine cleaner recommended on the product label) and run the washer on the normal setting with a warm wash and rinse.