12 of Those Things You Never Clean (But Really, Really Should)

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Dirty dishes can be done in the morning, and you'll investigate the smell coming from the garage this weekend. But cleaning it immediately is not only good for productivity and peace of mind; sometimes, it's absolutely necessary. Here are the ew-yuck things in your home you should 100 percent clean.

Photography: Mike Krautter

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Your Wooden Cutting Board

Both wooden and plastic cutting boards should be washed after each use -- plastic ones in the dishwasher and wooden ones by hand. And not just rinsed under the sink (or, even worse, wiped down with the bacteria-infested kitchen sponge!) The grooves in wooden cutting boards can harbor dangerous bacteria such as E. coli -- especially if you use wooden cutting boards to slice raw meat. Wash once with every use, and rub down with lemon juice and coarse salt occasionly for persistent smells.

Tips on How to Keep a Clean Cutting Board
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The Kitchen Sponge

Your favorite all-purpose kitchen sponge -- used to wipe down counters and sweep up crumbs -- is the coziest of homes for bacteria like salmonella, E. coli, and staphylococcus. Because it's a cleaner itself, it's hard to imagine needing to clean it. Cleaning a sponge is simple: Just really rinse and wring well -- and then don't leave it at the bottom of the sink! Place it on a dish where it can air out. Most important, though: Replace your sponge every two weeks.

More on How to Clean the Cleaners Themselves
Photography: Bryan Gardner

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The Walls

But you sweep the floor! You wash the windows! Yes, but the walls need to be cleaned, too. You'll be surprised what a good cleaning can do for walls -- it may even look like you've repainted the walls. Get rid of grimy handprints and scuff marks (from that time you tried to do a headstand, remember?) with a simple wash job.

How to Clean Your Walls Properly
Photography: BEN ALSOP

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Your Cosmetics

From bad habits like sticking your pinky down your bottle of foundation (get that last drop!) to mixing water into your mascara to reduce clumpiness, cosmetics can get pretty gross -- not to mention, they do expire. The high water content in most cosmetics means your makeup bag can quickly become a bacteria hotel. The best advice: Buy small and throw out any cosmetics over a year old. Make sure to wipe down the rims of bottles after use so that bacteria don't collect. Similarly, try not to wipe the mascara brush on the rim of the bottle -- it will leave a deposit that'll clump and invite bacteria to stay.
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Bathtub Toys

Because bath toys sit in water nearly everday, they are excellent breeding grounds for bacteria (and yucky-looking mildew.) Clean them once a month: Fill a bucket or a large bowl with warm water and add 1/2 cup white vinegar per gallon of water. Soak in the solution for about 10 minutes, then rub gently with a sponge.

More Bathroom Cleaning Tips
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The Bottom Floor of Your Oven

The floor of your oven has been collecting stray Brussels sprouts and grease drippings and other foodstuffs for some time now. Does your food always faintly smell like Brussels sprout? Is there a taste of char in everything you make? Time to clean. No need to purchase a special commercial oven cleaner, either: Just use our DIY oven cleaner.

Get the DIY Oven Cleaner How-To
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The Refrigerator Grill

The vent at the bottom of the fridge spends its life cooling the old freeze box -- it also collects dust in pretty impressive quantities (especially if you don't dust/sweep/mop regularly). You only need to clean it once or twice a year, but it's worth it; it'll preserve the life of the machine. Use a vacuum with the crevice attachment over the vent to remove dust bunnies.

More on Cleaning the Fridge
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The Shower Drain

Got some standing water in your shower? It's probably because you haven't cleaned the shower drain in a while -- particles, oils, and your own hair collect in your shower drain and will eventually leave you with a small pond in your bathroom. Clean your shower drain regularly to prevent this, using our DIY drain cleaner.

Get the DIY Drain Cleaner How-To
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Your Mop

Again: The objects you use to clean your home are often the most dirty. A particularly dirty mophead can leave a sour smell on your floors. Rinse your mop after each use in a bucket of clean, hot water. Hang the mop to dry in a well-ventilated area. Alternatively, you can actually clamp an old towel onto a sponge mop head. Then, when it's time to clean, you can just detach the towel and throw it in the washing machine.

The Basics on Mop Upkeep
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Light Switch Plates

Maybe you have the Clapper. But if, like most of us, you must use your hands to summon the lights, your switch plates are probably covered in grime -- courtesy of our oily fingertips. Clean them with a cloth with warm water and mild dishwashing liquid. Wring the cloth well before using. To avoid damaging the switch, never spray cleaner directly on the plate. To clean very dirty plates, remove them from the wall and wash them in warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
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Your Damp Rolled-Up Umbrella

But the rain washes it, right? Wrong. You should rinse your umbrella regularly with a spray hose to prevent buildup of mildew. In addition, be careful not to store the umbrella when it's still damp. Mildew will move in and stay. For persistent stains, remove the cover (if possible) -- check to see if it's machine-washable -- and launder with cold water and a cup of oxygen bleach.
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Your Computer

Be it a laptop or a desktop, it's probably dusty. Electrical equipment generates static, which means your computer is prone to attracting dust. The keyboard especially can get grimy as a result of constant contact with your technology-loving hands. Plus, let's be honest, how often do you eat over that keyboard? And you do remember when that chord was white, right? You should dust your computer weekly. For LD and plasma screens, you'll have to purchase a spray and cloth specifically designed for the product. It'll be worth it, though -- Netflix will look 10x better.

How to Clean Your Computer