How to clean hard to get at corners?

Although we all keep our homes as clean as possible, there are always some places where it is hard to clean, and since they are often hidden places we tend to forget about them during our daily or weekly cleaning routines. Despite this, cleaning those hard to get at corners every so often is important to avoid a build-up of bacteria or mould which can be detrimental to our health in the long-term, and the health of our pets. We are going to look at some of these areas of the home that often go unnoticed when cleaning, and see how to disinfect them properly.

Hard to clean corners

There are certain places in all homes where dust and dirt build up, but which we tend not to clean regularly because they are out of sight and out of mind, because getting to them can be difficult or simply because they are hard to clean. Take note!

Grids or mesh

There are many objects in our homes that have grids or meshes, such as the air-conditioner, radiators , fans or air purifiers, just to mention some. In these cases, cleaning them properly is essential because they often produce air currents that can spread mites and harmful bacteria around our homes. 

• How to clean them: although all appliances are different, a quick way to clean these difficult areas is:

1. If the grids or mesh allow for such, use a magic feather duster or a microfibre duster to remove the dust from the surface. 
2. Then moisten a cloth or microfibre cloth in water mixed with a bubbly soap, such as washing up liquid. 
3. Wrap the cloth around a knife or similar item to poke in the gaps of the grid or mesh and clean it in this way.
4. Repeat the process as many times as necessary to get rid of all the dirt.

Under the bed and sofa

Although these are possibly the pieces of furniture in the home that are used the most, either because they are heavy, cumbersome items to lift or move regularly, or because they are hard to get to or not visible, underneath beds and sofas are places that we often forget to clean when cleaning our homes. 

• How to clean them: if you still don’t have a robot vacuum cleaner which can clean these inaccessible places or if you can’t move these cumbersome pieces of furniture, a quick way to clean these places is to buy a telescopic microfibre mop set and wrap a duster around the end to get rid of surface dust. When you have done this, use your articulated mop again and wrap a cloth around it moistened with water and floor cleaner, and then mop under the furniture

Sliding window and door frames

Although we already know how to effectively clean windows, their frames are a different matter and are perhaps one of the most difficult areas to clean because they are full of nooks and crannies. Even if we clean with a cloth, some of the dirt and dust always gets left behind. Take note about how to clean these difficult areas:

1. Take the vacuum cleaner and a toilet roll core.
2. Fit one end of the cardboard core to the end of the vacuum cleaner and then bend it into shape to fit in the gaps in the frame to vacuum out the dirt.
3. If you want to get rid of all the dirt, use a sponge and make cuts in it to coincide with the grooves of the window or door frame. 
4. Wet the sponge in your usual cleaning products suitable for the material the door or window frame is made from, and slide it along the grooves for deeper cleaning. 
5. Repeat this process as many times as necessary.