Spots to never, ever skip when spring cleaning

If you want to maintain the beauty of your timber kitchen cabinets, add these to your spring-cleaning list.

“Dust can mix with grease and break down the finish on your kitchen cabinets,” says green cleaning coach Leslie Reichert. “You have to be careful around those corners where people’s handprints get sticky. The oils in our hands mix with the finish and break down the stain. Don’t neglect the tops of cabinets either.

“Tops of cabinets can get permanent damage from dust mixing with grease. It forms a thick layer that can’t be removed without damaging the wood,” says Reichert. Try rubbing alcohol to cut the grease and follow up with soap and water.

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You use your cleaning supplies to clean, so the question is, are they as sanitary as they should be? Those scrubbers, cleaning cloths and dusters should be wiped off and disinfected. Take time to shake debris off the dusters and broom. Sanitise brushes and change dirty sponges. It’s probably also time to change or rinse the filter in your vacuum.

For being so narrow, that shallow ledge of the door frame trim can sure collect a lot of dirt. Take a moment to wipe it off with a barely damp cloth. If your trim is particularly ornate with lots of crevices and grooves an old toothbrush might work best. Especially grimy areas or stubborn fingerprints might take a little more elbow grease to remove.

Your furry friend’s bed is due for a deep clean. Always follow the manufacturer’s washing instructions about how to clean the bed as directions may differ depending on the type of fill inside the bed. Some pet beds have removable covers, which is usually a good indication it can be laundered. Otherwise, it may require simple spot cleaning. Whether you spot clean or wash it in the washing machine, using your vacuum to remove as much hair as possible beforehand is key.

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Light switches are one of those things you touch all the time; but when it comes to cleaning, we forget to give them attention. From fingerprints and smudges to random marks and smears, chance are they need a touch-up. A gentle disinfecting cleaner on a soft cloth will both clean and sanitise the switch plate.

A hot spot for grime and germs, your everyday devices like television remotes and electronic controllers could use a thorough cleaning. Remove the batteries before using a disinfectant cloth to gently wipe them down. Use a cotton bud to remove crumbs from the crevices and to reach the narrow space between the buttons.

Imagine how many times dirty hands grab the door handles every single day – while you may remember to clean the door, do you remember to clean the knob as well? Use an all-purpose cleaner on a soft cloth to wipe down the handles and knobs. More ornate handles with designs or grooves may need a little more attention in specific areas. Your handy old toothbrush can help with that.

You may not use your bathroom exhaust fan, but it can still become caked with dust. Luckily, you can usually reach this spot with a duster with an extendable handle. With the fan turned off, use your duster to clear the grill of any build-up and dust.

Hanging shower caddies are a convenient spot to stash your shower stuff. Things like soap are visible and easily accessible when stored in one. But what you may not see is the soap residue and the stuck-on glob of shampoo that needs to be addressed. You may be able to simply rinse down the caddy during your shower. But, for more stubborn soap scum or mould, let the caddy soak in hot water with a little cleanser. Once it’s clean, hang it up to dry thoroughly before returning your products to the caddy.

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Over time, the shower head nozzles can become clogged. Depending on the quality of your water, you may find hard water deposits or other build-up that needs to be removed. To clean the shower head while it is in place, use an old toothbrush and a gentle cleaning solution. If you can easily remove the head, you can go for a deeper soak in a gentle cleaner for about an hour. Then screw it back onto the pipe and run the shower for a minute to rinse.

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