Life Hack: How to clean forgotten areas like doors and skirting boards

Fancy a bank holiday deep clean? Here are the areas to look at

You touch door handles every day, but are you cleaning them as often? Warm, soapy water can be used to clean the door handle.

The days have been sunnier, which means one thing: everywhere I look, that extra sunshine beaming through the window has been highlighting the hidden corners of dust around my home. 

Despite our best attempts, there are certain areas in every living space that tend to get neglected — out of sight and out of mind, right? Well, a quiet bank holiday Monday is the perfect time to reset those areas in no time.

These are the kind of jobs that don’t need to be done very regularly, but when they are completed, they can help your home feel cleaner and more comfortable.

Here’s what I’ll be tackling today, and when coupled with an open window and a summer breeze, it will be worth the effort.

Skirting boards 

The floors get mopped and hoovered regularly but when’s the last time you ran an eye (or, more damning, a finger) along the skirting boards? If it's a neglected area, take a closer look and you will likely see a buildup of dust and pet hair as well as some unsightly scuffs in high-traffic areas.

To clean this properly, first vacuum with the brush attachment to remove the dust. Next, use a microfibre cloth dipped in warm, soapy water to wipe the skirting board. You can add vinegar to this mixture to tackle tougher residue. 

The corners can be tricky to get into, so for this, use an old toothbrush and soapy water to gently scrub at them.

Dry the skirting boards with a cloth to prevent water marks from developing and you can also wipe them with a dryer sheet to prevent dust from gathering.

Radiators 

When’s the last time you cleaned behind/inside your radiator, not just a wipe-down of the exterior? Not only is the gathered dust messy, but it can also affect your air quality and block the flow of heat, meaning you may be increasing your heating temperature because of this situation and paying more in your utility bills. Save yourself some money by paying some extra attention to them.

A radiator brush is the ideal tool to get into the nooks and crannies, but if you do not have one to hand, you can use a long-handled duster instead. If you have a radiator cover, remove this before cleaning and ensure the heat is turned off. 

These warmer days are the best time to clean them as you are less likely to have the heating on and risk burning yourself. Use the brush to dislodge the dust within the radiator. 

This will fall onto the floor, so use a vacuum to clean beneath the radiator as well as around it.

Once the dust has been removed, you can wipe the outside of the rad with a mild detergent for a clean finish.

Doors

You touch them every day, but are you cleaning them as often? Door handles gather bacteria and dirt from our hands and should be cleaned regularly, especially in areas like the kitchen and bathroom.

Warm, soapy water can be used to clean the door handle. You can use a disinfectant spray to remove bacteria, but let it sit on the surface for a few minutes so it kills the germs.

Don't forget to wipe down the door itself too  — the edges of the door are a high-touch area and can get dirty easily, and should be cleaned. Use a microfibre cloth to remove dust from the top of the door frame

Hidden dirt 

Finally, if you have time, it’s worth moving some furniture to get at the dirt, dust, crumbs and even lost items you’ll find hidden underneath and behind them. It’s important to monitor those hidden nooks — the aforementioned crumbs could attract pests, so keeping them tidy can prevent unwelcome house guests like mice.

Move the furniture, taking care to protect your back. Get some help moving them if it’s too heavy for one person to do it alone. You can put felt pads under furniture legs to make moving them easier, which will help make deep cleaning more accessible next time you're doing it.

Vacuum the area, using a crevice tool to get into tight corners and wipe the floor with a damp microfibre cloth.