Say No to Dirty Stove Knobs: 8 Gross Things You Need to Clean Immediately

According to a recent survey, 8 out of 10 Americans say it is important to keep a clean home. 

If you include yourself in this number, you probably spend time each week mopping, sweeping, vacuuming, and dusting. 

But, no matter how thorough of a cleaner you are, there are likely some spots in your home that you are missing. No, we’re not talking about a speck of dust here and there. Chances are, there are items in your home that you have never, ever, cleaned, simply because it just never occurred to you to clean them. 

What are these items?

From stove knobs to ceiling fans, read on to learn about 8 gross things in your home that you need to clean immediately. 

1. Doorknobs and Handles 

Think about how often you open and close doors throughout the day. Now, if you have a family, think about how many times they open and close doors. 

In highly trafficked areas of your home, people are probably touching the door handles and knobs dozens of times each day. 

Yet, many of us never take time to clean them. Next time you’re cleaning your home, do a quick wipe overall the door handles and doorknobs around your home.

Doorknobs and handles are breeding grounds for bacteria and germs, so it’s especially important to take time to clean them during the winter months.

Plus, cleaning your doorknobs and handles is super easy.

2. Ceiling Fans

Most people never think to clean their ceilings fans. But, if you live in a particularly dusty environment, they should actually be cleaned once a month.

If you don’t clean them, they will just collect more and more dust. Then, when you turn the fan on, that dust will spread back into your home. If you need some motivation to clean your ceiling fan, this company can let you know all about the dangers of dust inhalation. 

To clean your ceiling fan, grab a microfiber cloth, and wipe it with some water and dish soap. Do yourself one better, and remove the lighting fixture and clean that as well. 

Wash the lighting fixture with dish soap and warm water. Reinstall it once it’s completely dry. 

3. Stove Knobs 

When most people clean their stoves, they stick to the stove top. But, it’s also important to move over to the stove knobs and give them a good scrubbing too. 

In order to clean them thoroughly, you are going to want to do more than just swipe over them. Remove the knobs from the stove completely, and scrub them with some mild detergent and warm water. Do not soak them. 

Dry them well, and then place them back on the stove. 

4. Dishwasher Rack

Every day, you clean dishes and then put them on your dishwasher rack. But, how often do you clean the rack itself? 

If you’re like most people, probably never!

If your dishwasher rack is dirty, you are pretty much undoing all the work you just put in cleaning your dishes. Once a week, spray on some disinfectant or wipe it down with a sponge. 

This will ensure you are eating off of the cleanest plates possible. 

5. Garbage Can

If you’ve never cleaned your garbage can, you may want to put a mask on before you dive in. 

Seriously, think about how gross and smelly your garbage is sometimes. Now, multiply that smell and grossness level for your garbage can. 

Even though no one pays attention to the garbage can, all those dirt particles in germs need to be cleaned out. 

Next time you take your garbage out, grab the can and spray it down with some warm water. Add a couple squirts of dish soap, then use a toilet brush to scrub it down. Rinse the can out, then let it dry in the sun. 

Now, you can rest easy knowing your garbage can is no longer a disgusting germ pool.

6. Washing Machine

Washing your washing machine? We know, it sounds a little weird. But, while your washing machine is cleaning your clothes, it’s actually dirtying itself. 

The dirtier your washing machine gets, the dirtier your clothes will be too. No one wants to wear dirty clothes, so make sure you are cleaning your washing machine from time to time. 

To clean your washing machine, run an empty, regular cycle on hot, with 2 cups of vinegar inside (trust us on this one). 

Once the cycle is complete, mix a bucket of water with a fourth a cup of vinegar, and scrub down the insides. 

Doing this will help your clothes stay fresh and clean for a long time.

7. Walls

Even though we’re surrounded by walls, we rarely take time to clean them. 

But, just like your floors, your walls need to be cleaned as well. Many people are afraid to clean their walls because they think it will ruin the paint. 

However, if you do it right, the paint will not be affected at all. To clean your walls, use a nonabrasive cleaner, warm water, and a dry sponge. Dip the sponge into the mixture, and ring it out thoroughly. Then, move up and down your walls to scrub them clean and get them looking as good as new. 

8. Cosmetic Brushes

You use your cosmetic brushes to apply foundation, concealer, and other products that help cover your blemishes. But, did it ever occur to you that your makeup brushes may actually be causing the blemishes?

With repeated use, makeup brushes get germy and dirty. Using makeup brushes on your face means that you are only spreading the germs and dirt. Sounds pretty counterproductive, right?

Clean your cosmetic brushes every couple months, or after being sick. You can buy a specially-formulated brush cleaner in the store, or you can make your own.

Are You Ready to Start Cleaning? 

If you’re the clean freak you say you are, you are probably running out the door to buy the cleaning supplies you need to tackle these projects. 

Luckily, the stove knobs, ceiling fans, and everything else don’t take that long to clean.

However, it still helps to have a little motivation. For that, be sure to check out our article on how to make cleaning fun before getting started. 

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