Grease and grime can build up in the most unexpected places around your home. While we often think about cleaning counters, stoves, and floors, there are many overlooked areas that can collect surprisingly large amounts of dirt, oils, and residue over time.
Making a point to clean these tricky spots will not only make your home look nicer, but also extend the life of your belongings and appliances. Read on to learn about some surprising places that grease and grime can accumulate, along with the best cleaning methods to banish buildup for good!
Kitchen Appliances
The kitchen is an obvious hot spot for grease and cooking residue. However, many people forget that several appliances around the kitchen need periodic deep cleaning to stay grease-free.
Refrigerator Coils
The condenser coils on the back of your refrigerator work hard to keep your food cold. But over time, dust combines with grease in the air to coat the coils in a thick film. This prevents heat from dissipating properly and makes the refrigerator work harder, using more electricity.
To clean, unplug the fridge and pull it out from the wall. Use a vacuum or duster to remove loose debris from the coils. Then use a mix of hot water and mild dish soap on a soft brush to scrub the coils clean. Rinse well and let fully dry before plugging back in.
Oven Vents
As you cook, hot grease, oil, and food particles get sucked into the oven vents. This builds up on the inside of the vents and ductwork, becoming a dangerous fire hazard over time.
Remove the vent cover and soak in hot, soapy water. Use a brush or old toothbrush to scrub the vent cover and lift grease. You can also loosen built-up grease inside the ductwork using an oven vent brush.
Coffee Maker
Coffee maker water reservoirs can collect lime and calcium deposits along with oily coffee drips over time. Mix up a solution of equal parts water and distilled white vinegar and brew it through a full cycle. The acetic acid in the vinegar will break up residue and mineral deposits. Follow with a few cycles of plain water to rinse.
Electronics
Grease and dirt can work their way into delicate electronics and attract more dust. Give these gadgets a gentle cleaning periodically to prevent buildup.
TV Screen
TV screens often get overlooked but can collect surprising amounts of dust, smoke residue, and greasy fingerprints. Use a microfiber cloth designed specifically for screens and electronics and gently wipe down. Do not use chemical cleaners or anything abrasive on the screen.
If needed, slightly dampen the microfiber cloth with distilled water. Wipe gently in a horizontal motion to avoid streaks.
Gaming Consoles
Gaming consoles contain vents, disc drives, and other ports that can gather dust, pet hair, and other debris over months of use. Use a can of compressed air to blow out vents and ports. Carefully lift any dust that gathers in disc drives using a cotton swab.
Computer Monitor
In addition to dust and fingerprints, computer monitors also collect skin oils and residue from hand creams over time. Use a microfiber cloth to gently remove dust and debris. For heavier buildup, lightly spritz the microfiber cloth with a 50/50 mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol.
Bathroom Surfaces
The warm, humid environment of the bathroom creates the perfect conditions for buildup of soap scum, hard water deposits, and grime. Don’t let these areas get neglected.
Shower Curtain
It’s easy to focus scrubbing efforts solely on shower walls and forget the shower curtain. Over time it gathers hard water deposits along with mildew, mold, and soap scum.
Take down and hand wash in hot water with either baking soda or white vinegar to cut through buildup. If there are mildew stains, lay in the sun to bleach them out.
Hair Dryer Filter
Most people forget that a hair dryer even has a filter! But it collects tiny bits of hair, lint, and other debris.
Remove the back grill of the dryer and slide out the filter, rinsing under hot water to remove buildup. Let it air dry completely before replacing to avoid a short circuit.
Bathroom Exhaust Fan
Like the oven vent, the bathroom exhaust fan sucks in steam, odors, and airborne oils and grease while running. Dust and moisture builds up on the fan blades and grille.
Remove and soak the fan grille in soapy hot water if possible. Use a small vacuum crevice tool to remove anything stuck inside the exhaust duct opening.
Outdoor Items
The elements outside also leave behind dirt, grease, and other residue on everything from patio furniture to gardening tools. Don’t let it sit all season long!
Patio Umbrellas
Acrylic patio umbrellas easily collect dust, pollen, bird droppings, rain residue, and other debris after sitting outside for months.
Use a hose on a gentle setting to rinse away surface dirt. For stubborn stains, mix 1/4 cup of dish soap into 2 gallons of warm water and use a soft sponge to clean.
Grills
The grease trap under your grill collects meat drippings and oils all summer long. Once cool, remove grime by filling the tray with hot soapy water and scrubbing out debris. Or use a paste of baking soda and water to lift grease.
Garden Tools
Tools like trowels, pruners, and shovels get caked with dirt and debris after digging in the garden. Use a stiff brush and hose to rinse away loose dirt. For stuck-on grime, try soaking in a bucket of hot water with 1/4 cup of baking soda.
Floors and Baseboards
It’s easy for floors and walls to get overlooked if they aren’t visibly dirty. But grease drips, dirty shoe scuffs, and dust accumulate over time.
Under Area Rugs
Out of sight out of mind, dirt and grime hide under area rugs waiting for cleaning day. Regularly lift and vacuum underneath to prevent buildup. For more stuck-on dirt or grease, try steam cleaning for a deeper clean.
Baseboards
Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe baseboard surfaces and lift away pet hair, dust, and other debris. For greasy buildup, add a couple drops of dish soap to the water for extra cutting power against grime.
Air Vents
Air vents collect fast-blowing dust and other debris. Use a small vacuum crevice tool to suck up anything clinging inside vents and grilles. Then dampen a microfiber cloth to wipe down the vent covers.
Automobiles
Cars operate in all kinds of conditions, accumulating surprising amounts of grime both inside and out. Don’t neglect these often-overlooked spots.
Car Seat Buckles
Kids dropping snacks and drinks into the cracks of car seats leads to sticky, grimy seat buckles. Saturate a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol and rub the buckle to cut through gunk.
Cup Holders
Crumbs, spills, and dirt gather in cup holders with regular use. Use a stiff brush and soapy water to scrub out the bottom and sides of the holder. For stuck-on grime, soak a cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol.
Air Vents
Like home vents, air vents in your car gather dust, pet hair, and other debris. Carefully insert a small vacuum hose attachment to suck up what you can reach. Use a vent brush or toothbrush to dislodge the rest.
Conclusion
Grease, grime, and residue can sneak into the most surprising places in your home and belongings. But keeping these often overlooked spots clean helps maintain appliances, avoid damage, and keep your household healthier.
Use the right cleaning solutions and methods for each area, and don’t forget less visible places like vents, coils, and car cup holders. A little time spent deep cleaning goes a long way to prevent buildup and extend the life of your home and valuables.
