32 Unexpected Places You Should Be Cleaning In Your Home

Gross. Just...gross. The products in this post were updated in April 2018.

Andrew Richard / BuzzFeed

1. Lampshades

creeklinehouse.com

They can collect dust like nobody's business and dim your lamp's light output. Make a few passes with a lint roller about once a week to de-fuzz them and brighten the room.

Get a five-pack of disposable lint rollers from Amazon for $9.54.

2. Kitchen utensil drawer organizers

amazon.com

Take special care with ~adjustable~ organizers like this one because they're prone to dirt falling into their nooks and crannies. Once a week, wipe them out with any all-purpose cleaner you use on the rest of your kitchen surfaces.

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

3. Knife blocks

amazon.com

Those slots that protect your prize knives are also a prime spot for dust. Once a month, remove the knives and use the crevice tool on your vacuum cleaner to suck out dust. Don't have one? Blast it with your hairdryer on High or use a long pipe cleaner. Sanitize it by rinsing the block in hot soapy water, then soaking in a solution (1 tbsp. of bleach to 1 gallon of water) for 1 minute. Dry on a towel with slots-side down.

Get it from Amazon for $29.99.

4. The tops of ceiling fan blades

wikihow.com

Halt an allergy storm before you need a seasonal indoor breeze. Use an old pillowcase to sweep off — and contain — the dust. Read the full tutorial on WikiHow.

5. Dishwasher

onegoodthingbyjillee.com / Via onegoodthingbyjillee.com

It's always important to clean the things that clean your things. Get the instructions on One Good Thing by Jillee.

6. Cookie sheets

Emily Shwake / Buzzfeed / Nifty

No, but like, really clean them. Check out our two-step trick here.

7. Wood cutting boards

Goodful / BuzzFeed

Obliterate the aftermath of raw chicken breasts with vinegar and hydrogren peroxide. Check out more Clever Vinegar Tricks That'll Make Cleaning So Easy.

Get the supplies from Amazon: 1 gallon of distilled vinegar for $11.79 and three 24 oz. spray bottles for $9.71

8. Clothes iron

thriftyandchic.com

Annihilate rust from your hard-working iron with vinegar and baking soda. Get the full how-to on Thrifty & Chic.

Get 3.5 lbs. of baking soda from Jet for $3.74. (It can be used to clean lots of other stuff on this list, too.)

9. Hairbrushes

passionforsavings.com

Loosen hair strands and mix up a batch of hot water and baking soda for a good soak. Get the deets on Passion for Savings.

10. Flat irons

onegoodthingbyjillee.com

Styling products and hair oils can build up into a gross residue. This works for curling irons, too! Read the full how-to on One Good Thing by Jillee.

11. Jewelry

amazon.com

Spiff up everything from your eyeglasses to your engagement ring (separately) with this little machine that uses sonic-wave technology to loosen grime and shine surfaces.

Get it from Amazon for $34.99.

12. Sunglasses

amazon.com

Sweat, makeup, and sunscreen can have them looking worse for wear. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions. But everyone should invest in a microfiber cleaning cloth ($8.99 for a pack of six).

Get the sunglasses from Amazon for $11.17. / Available in 15 color combos.

13. The grooves of sliding-glass door tracks

amazon.com

Brush away debris that can clog up your track with this handy little brush.

Get it from Amazon for $5.98.

14. Pet bowls

amazon.com

Wash bowls daily as you would human bowls. It'll even help with the pet smell!

Get it from Amazon for $7.35+. / Available in four sizes, four colors.

15. Clothing drawer organizers

amazon.com

Give them an occasional wipe down because even though your clothes in storage are clean, dirt can get in from rummaging around to find the right bra.

Get them from Amazon for $11.51.

16. In between blinds

amazon.com

Make the task simpler on the reg with this specially made tool. Get it (and five microfiber sleeves!) from Amazon for $7.99.

If you're dealing with a horror show of dust — and they're not wood — remove the blinds from the window and dunk them in a bath of hot, soapy water.

17. Makeup organizers

amazon.com

It isn't enough to clean your makeup containers and tools. Wipe down organizer surfaces with hot, soapy water or a cleaning wipe.

Get them from Amazon: Makeup organizer for $11.99 and 225 Clorox wipes for $9.97

18. Around plumbing fixtures

amazon.com

Sometimes you need some tiny tools to get into allllll the crevices.

Get it from Amazon for $5.99. (It'll work on shower-door tracks, too.)

19. Dryer lint trap

amazon.com

Built-up lint can infringe upon — and lengthen — your machine's drying process. Plus, it's a fire hazard!

Get them from Amazon: Vacuum attachment for $21.75 or a standalone brush (you can also use on your fridge condenser coil) for $12.99

20. Basically everywhere in your car

amazon.com

Keep this little hand-vac in your car, plug it into the cigarette lighter, and use the slim nozzle to get into every feasible spot. Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

And learn other ways to de-slime your ride with our 23 Genius Solutions To Issues Every Car Owner Faces.

21. Phone and computer screens

amazon.com

Dust, oil from your skin, and every little piece of lint to ever float through the atmosphere ends up on your electronics' screens. Make a pass with this little roller every day you use them to see a difference.

Get it from Amazon for $19.88.

22. Toothbrush holder

amazon.com

All those bathroom germs have to go somewhere. Wipe it down at least weekly during your normal bathroom-cleaning seshes.

Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

23. Trash cans and recycling bins

amazon.com

Nope. That smell wasn't your actual bag of trash. Empty, rinse out with a garden hose (or in your bathtub), and then douse in disinfectant.

Get this easy-to-remove-and-clean set from Amazon for $79.99.

24. Plastic shower curtain liners

amazon.com

Fight off in-shower mildew by tossing your liner in with some towels in the wash. Read the deets on Life at the Drafty Doublewide.

Get it from Amazon for $17.80. And read my glowing review of this shower curtain liner!

25. Bath mat

amazon.com

Throw it in the wash once a week so you won't instantly dirty your clean feet post-bath time.

Get it from Amazon for $12.99. / Available in three sizes, six colors.

26. Bedskirts

amazon.com

Aka dust ruffles. Wash them weekly with the rest of your linens. Or this cat will judge you.

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+. / Available in four sizes, five colors.

27. Toaster (the inside and outside)

amazon.com

Actually crisp toast — not crumbs and debris from toast of yore — by emptying the crumb tray once a week. (Even the cheapest of toasters, like this one, have it.) And give the exterior a good wipe down with a stainless-steel cleaner, too.

Get it from Amazon for $19.96.

28. Pet beds

amazon.com

All the snuggles and treat-gnawing can leave them smelling worse than your actual pet. Remove further traces of your beloved family member with our 23 Tips And Products That’ll Save You From Being Covered In Pet Hair.

Get this machine-washable bed from Amazon for $22.49+. Available in seven colors.

29. Makeup bags

amazon.com

Take some brush cleaner or just good ole hot soapy water to the interior to pick up all matter of powders and liquids.

Get it from Amazon for $13.99.

30. Throw pillows

amazon.com

They get nearly as much contact as your bed pillows. Remember to clean your pillowcases and inserts as directed on the label so you won't luxuriate among filth.

Get this pair of pillow cases from Amazon for $11.98. / Available in three sizes, eight colors.

31. The bottom of your shoes

amazon.com / Via amazon.com

A few passes on the welcome mat is NOT ENOUGH to really get in the treads of your footwear. A boot scraper stationed at the door of your mudroom will do wonders for your floors.

Get it from Amazon for $16.97.

32. And lightbulbs

amazon.com / Via amazon.com

Dust 'em for an instantly brighter look!

Get these LED bulbs from Amazon for $24.98.

Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!

Allison Krausman / BuzzFeed