That feeling of being unfulfilled around the house? I was there myself — until my husband decided to fix a “broken” dryer that was simply buried beneath a year’s worth of lint. As it turns out, oops.
The truth was, we thought we had it under control. While it happens, we were completely ignoring a number of little home tasks that really do matter. And we’re not alone — the majority of people are missing out without even knowing it. After my toddler once wedged a cheese slice into the floor vent and we couldn’t find it for weeks, I have been haunted by the smell.
Things Most Homeowners Aren’t Doing But Need To
So if you’ve ever had this idea that things in your home are outgassing or just generally falling apart all around you without your knowledge (hello, mystery smell under the sink), it isn’t just you. All in all, do it for good to this stuff — your home and your sanity will thank you.
Inside Dryer and Dryer Vent: We’ve all heard about the lint trap, but how far have you ventured? After all, dust and debris in the dryer and vent can help to ignite a fire. If you flush them out regularly, you won’t have to worry about them crapping out on you.
Cleaning Oven Door: While it may seem frivolous, ignoring your oven door results in grime and grease build up that gets more difficult to clean away the longer you let it build up. A clean oven door will make your kitchen shine.
Cleaning Your Bath Fan: Over time, the bath fan can become filled with dust and be less effective. Keep it in tip-top shape by giving it a good cleaning from time to time.
Vacuum a Mattress: Don’t forget your mattress! By vacuuming it regularly, you can remove dust mites and dead skin cells and debris and keep your sleep surface free of dirt and grime.
Washing the Dishwasher: Yep, your dishwasher gets dirty too. Rinse once with vinegar to cut odors and dissolve residue.
Clean the Garbage Disposal Splash Guard: The splash guard of the garbage disposal can collect food particles and become a breeding ground for bacteria. Wash it often with soapy water for a fresh and clean kitchen.
Washing Vinyl Siding: Vinyl siding can be low to no maintenance, but it does require some care. With a pressure washer or a hose with a soft brush attachment, rinse away dirt, mold and mildew.
Disinfect Door Knobs and Light Switches: Door knobs and light switches are touched thousands of times per day. But sometimes forgotten when it comes time to clean the house. Disinfect them often, especially if other players are taking the field.
Purging the Keyboard: Your keyboard is a crumb-and-dust magnet. If debris remains, tap the device gently, upside down, and blow it out with compressed air.
Cushion Shuffling: Fact: pillows collect allergens and lose their puffiness (my kid is allergic so it’s super important for us to clean and wash them often, we can’t risk his health) over time. Rotate and wash them frequently, or get new ones so your sleep sanctuary is always fresh.
Showerhead: To clean your showerhead you can have minerals in your water that clog your showerhead and decrease your water pressure. Let it soak in vinegar to break up the sediment and, voilà, you have a decent shower again.
Hairbrush Swill: Hairbrushes accumulate oils, dust and hair products in them. Run them under warm water and comb out any hair trapped between them, and they’re as good as new.
Create a Homeowner’s Journal: Write down maintenance and repair items. Also, any ideas you have for home improvement projects. In this case, this will help you stay organized and make sure you don’t drop anything through the cracks.
Expanding the Shower: Opinions are mixed on shelves in the shower, but if you want to add more without over-cluttering? Add new shelves to store all your toiletries.
Lubricate The Garage Doors: Noisy garage door can be irritating. Keep it running smoothly by lubricating the hinges, rollers and tracks with lubricant.
First, simply sprinkle the sofa and other upholstered furniture with a bit of baking soda. After that, leave it to sit for at least 20 minutes, preferably overnight. This easy tip will breathe new life into your upholstery and soak up any residual smells.
Cleaning Your Computer Ports: As time passes the dust and dirt accumulate in your computer ports and obstruct its performance. Blow out with compressed air or brush lightly the ports for your peace of mind.
Bottom Line
Okay, let’s get real — I used to disregard fully half of these activities. I mean, I pulled my bed out from the wall once, and discovered enough dust bunnies that I could have started a small petting zoo. Not to mention, don’t even let me get into the showerhead situation. I assumed the water pressure was just naturally poor… nope, it was practically clogged with hard water gunk. Oops.
Eventually, once I did these small jobs fairly often — nothing major, just once a month or so — it actually made a big difference. The house felt cleaner, the air wasn’t as stale, and I didn’t have random appliances dying on me for no clear reason (RIP old toaster, you deserved better).
Moreover, these aren’t simply “make things look pretty” jobs either. They’re what’s behind the scenes holding everything in place as it runs smoothly. You know, things like learning that to make your bathroom fan stop sounding like a dying robot, you need to clean the lint out of it.
So, yeah, get out your cleaning supplies, write yourself a little reminder — because let’s be real, you’re going to forget. Start to take on these little by little. I typically put on a podcast and imagine I’m in a movie-style cleaning montage — this helps.
All in all: Now, a little effort means fewer gross surprises later. Absolutely no more sticky drawer handles or odd under-the-fridge smells. In the long run, expect a home that feels way more livable — and way less chaotic. Future you is so gonna be high-fiving you for this.
