Tackle Dust and Dirt in Hard to Reach Places

Introduction

Keeping my home clean and dust-free can be challenging, especially when it comes to those hard to reach places like behind furniture, under appliances, and inside little nooks and crannies. As someone who likes to keep a tidy home, I’ve had to get creative about tackling dust and dirt in those inconvenient spots. Here’s what I’ve learned works best for getting to the grime in hard to reach spaces.

Use the Right Cleaning Tools

Having the proper tools is essential for accessing and cleaning tight areas in an effective way. Here are some cleaning tools I rely on for hard to reach spots:

• Microfiber dusters – The microfiber grabs and traps dust easily. I use the extender handle to reach high spots and ceiling corners.

• Vacuum attachments – My vacuum came with a crevice tool and brush attachment that I can angle to get into nooks and crannies.

• Compressed air – Canned air is great for blasting away dust in cracks and crevices. I especially use it for window tracks and my keyboard.

• Extendable scrubbers – I have scrub brushes that extend up to 3 feet. This allows me to scrub behind and under appliances.

• LED headlamp – A headlamp helps me see into dark spaces clearly so I can spot hidden dust and dirt.

Move and Lift Objects Out of the Way

One of the biggest obstacles to cleaning hard to reach areas is furniture and appliances in the way. When possible, I move them to fully expose the space and do a thorough cleaning. For large furniture I can’t move, I lift and tilt items when needed to access the dirty spots.

• I pull out my refrigerator, washer and dryer to clean behind them every few months. This really cuts down on dust bunnies.

• Tilting my couch and sliding furniture away from the walls lets me vacuum and clean floor edges.

• I remove items from deep storage shelves and entertainment centers to dust inside them properly.

Target Problem Areas

Over time, I’ve identified specific spots that tend to collect dust, dirt and grime in my home. Giving these problem areas extra attention helps keep them cleaner longer.

• Window and door tracks – Dust and debris like hair and lint build up here. I vacuum and wipe them down regularly.

• Ceiling corners – Cobwebs and dust gather in corners. I use my duster to reach them.

• Under appliances – Lint and dust bunnies love hiding under my refrigerator, stove and washer/dryer. I vacuum under them thoroughly when moved.

• Closets – The tops of closets collect a lot of dust. I climbed my step stool to wipe them down.

• Under furniture – My couches, beds and chairs trap dirt under them. I vacuum and mop under these spots frequently.

Schedule Seasonal Deep Cleanings

Doing an occasional deep cleaning session helps me get to areas I can’t reach on a daily or weekly basis. Here are some seasonal tasks I add to my calendar:

Spring

• Clean behind furniture
• Vacuum under appliances after moving them
• Dust ceiling fans and lights

Summer

• Clean window and door tracks
• Vacuum under beds thoroughly
• Dust blinds and drapes

Fall

• Vacuum and wash all furniture cushions
• Move entertainment centers and storage shelves to clean behind and under them
• Wash or replace HVAC air filters

Winter

• Vacuum radiators, vents and registers
• Clean baseboards and crown molding
• Dust shelves, ledges and on top of cabinets

Enlist Some Help

For a really intensive whole house clean, I’ll sometimes hire a cleaning service to help me access and clean the most hard to reach areas. Their extension tools and powerful vacuums can pull out years of deeply embedded dust and dirt from places I can’t reach well on my own.

I’ll also recruit my husband’s help since he’s taller and has longer arms than I do! Handing him the duster while I vacuum makes tackling ceiling corners, fans and tall bookshelves much easier.

Conclusion

Dust and dirt can easily get trapped and accumulate in those inconvenient hard to access areas around your home. But with the right tools, routine and some extra elbow grease, you can reach even the toughest spots. Keeping these hard to reach spaces clean improves air quality and makes the whole house look and feel well maintained. With regular detailed cleaning sessions, you’ll find it makes staying on top of messes much easier so your home stays fresh and tidy.