Spring has sprung! What better time to refresh those areas of our lives that are easy to overlook? From our wardrobes to our skincare routines to our homes, everything’s fair game. I love spending a sunny Saturday morning doing a deep clean of my house that goes beyond the dusting, wiping, and vacuuming in my usual weekly rotation. You know what I mean—those things that can build up grime and go unnoticed for months. So, I put together a list of 10 things you forget to clean in your house (if you’re like me)—but that you really, really should.
It’s easy to look at spring cleaning as just another chore to add to your list of to-do’s. But why not flip the script and see it as transforming your home into a sanctuary—a place where you can always find comfort and joy? By taking this more mindful approach to spring cleaning, it becomes an act of self-care. You might be surprised how good it feels to turn over your mattress, vacuum the hard-to-reach cobwebs, and let the sunshine in through newly cleaned windows!
Our spring cleaning refresh is sponsored by Field & Future, H-E-B’s line of household, personal care, and baby items that are made without harsh chemicals. I especially love the fact that I can easily pick up their affordable household products on our weekly grocery runs. (I’m personally hooked on the lavender-scented cleaning products that make my house smell so fresh without harsh chemicals.) Ready to de-germ? Pull on your gloves and turn up the feel-good tunes—let’s do this!
Why not flip the script and see it as transforming your home into a sanctuary—a place where you can always find comfort and joy?
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The Top 10 Things You Forget to Clean
Trash Can
By nature of what it is, the trash can is likely one of the dirtiest parts of any home. We all know this to be true, but it’s probably not an area we give a lot of thought to cleaning. Time to address the grime once and for all. Start by putting your emptied trash can in the sink and add a few drops of dish soap. This is where the Field & Future by H-E-B dish soap comes in clutch.
What I love even more than the Honeysuckle & Rose scent? The fact that all of their products, dish soap included, don’t contain any harsh chemicals and are made with 100% plant-based ingredients. Even if you don’t realize it, we’re opening and closing our trash cans many times each day—and you definitely don’t want to be exposed to anything toxic or chemical-based. Once you’ve added your dish soap, simply rub with a sponge and use the sink sprayer to blast away grime.
Oh—and don’t forget the bag for when you start filling up your trash can next! I love Field & Future by H-E-B’s disposable bags. Literally, a trash can liner made from… trash. Clean and sustainable waste? Totally a thing.
Sink Faucet
I can almost guarantee the faucet wasn’t on your list of spring cleaning musts. If possible, make this notoriously hard-to-clean part of your kitchen a little easier by unscrewing the faucet. From there, spray with a multipurpose cleaner and use warm water and a sponge to rinse. For this task, while I’m adamant about doing a thorough job and getting a super-clean result, I’m not about scratching up my sink. Solution? The Field & Future by H-E-B no-scratch pads.
Pro tip: If there’s any grime around the spout (gross, I know), try using a toothbrush to loosen it up. Sparkling clean sudsing seshes await!
Under the Oven
While you can easily let the under-the-oven area of your kitchen go ignored for many many months, I’d recommend ripping off the band-aid and trying this easy trick for a sparkly clean finish. Wet a sponge and spray with multipurpose cleaner. From there, take a deep breath and run the sponge along the bottom edge of your oven. If necessary, wash off your sponge in the sink, spray again, and wipe the floor underneath the oven thoroughly. Finish off with paper towels to dry.
Inside Cabinets
Before organizing your pantry, start with a clean foundation. First thing first, Marie Kondo your cabinets and take out everything! Spray down the shelves and the inside of your cabinet doors with a multipurpose spray. After that, go through with a few swipes from your roll of clean paper towels.
Remote Control
Another one of those things that can easily go by the wayside: your collection of remote controls. Not to dive into a potentially cringe-worthy subject, but let’s pause for a moment to think about all the hands reaching for those remotes every day. Ready to scrub it down? Thought so. Similar to your cabinets, spray your sponge with multipurpose spray and *thoroughly* wipe down your remote. Having a hard time getting into crevices and between buttons? Use a toothpick to remove any grime that’s collected around the buttons. Paper towels for the (wipe-dry) win!
Light Fixtures
Noticing that your light fixtures are shining a little less bright? Either swap out your lightbulbs (which, by the way, is a good thing to add to your spring to-do list!), or get to cleaning out the dust that’s collected over the past few months. Multipurpose spray + paper towels = your ticket to illuminating your home with light.
Craving a more thorough clean? Fill your sink with warm water plus a few drops of dish soap. Remove your fixtures, leave to soak for a few minutes, then rinse and dry. Be sure to dry them completely with paper towels before putting them back in their place.
Throw Blankets
Your throw blankets are probably the most low-maintenance, high-reward clean on this list! Your washing machine is your best friend here. (But really, isn’t it always?) While you’ll definitely want to throw these in the laundry as a part of your deep spring clean, take this as an opportunity to set a reminder on your phone or in your planner to make it a biweekly habit.
Yoga Mat
I won’t lie—it wasn’t until recently that I started thinking long and hard about how working out 3-4 times a week means I’m sweating on my yoga mat… a lot. Like your throw blankets, this is something you should be doing on a more regular basis than your spring cleaning alone. While a multipurpose spray and a wipe-down with paper towels is a quick, surefire way to get a good clean, you can also DIY a dedicated yoga mat cleaner.
Following a 1-to-4 ratio, mix vinegar or witch hazel with water in a spray bottle. I love adding a few drops of Field & Future by H-E-B’s Inhale Exhale Essential Oil. It’s made with eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, and tea tree. In other words, all the natural scents I want to be taking in when I’m doing downward dog.
Toothbrush Holder
If you’re using a manual toothbrush, your dedicated dish where you throw your brush is likely hiding a lot of residue. And while I’ll spare you the dirty details, residue often means bacteria, viruses, and coliforms (Salmonella and E. coli) are hiding as well. Suds up a sponge with dish soap and rinse your toothbrush holder well in the sink. For a deeper clean, run it through the dishwasher.
Hairbrushes
Last, but definitely not least. While visually, you’ll notice all the hair that gathers on your brush, there’s also product residue, dust mites (gross, I know), dead skin cells, and oils that build up from repeated use. In a sink filled with warm water, mix together a few drops of shampoo or dish soap. Place your hairbrush(es) in the sink and use your hands to swish them about until they get sudsy. Soak for five minutes and rinse until all the soap is gone. Spread a towel on the counter and allow your brushes to dry completely.
Remember that with all of these often-forgotten areas and your big and lofty spring cleaning goals, perfection isn’t the goal. Instead, I try my best to focus on progress and enjoying that squeaky-clean satisfaction of getting through your projects over the weekend when you can.
When you let go of the pressure to get through your spring cleaning as quickly as possible, you get to look forward to a beautiful home that reflects all your hard work.
*Field & Future by H-E-B products are made with recycled or recyclable content, biodegradable formulas or plant-based ingredients and without over 165 harsh chemicals.
This post was originally published on April 20, 2022, and has since been updated.