10 spots in your home you may be forgetting to clean

These easy-to-miss spots provide the perfect breading ground for bacteria.

Do you follow the same auto-pilot routine when cleaning your home: vacuum, mop, dishes, laundry, some dusting now and then? There are many places in the home that we wouldn't even think of when cleaning the house but are just as important as your standard household jobs.

Here, we uncover some of the dirtiest places in your home and how to tackle them.

1. BEHIND THE TOILET

Cleaning the toilet is a no-brainer but what about around and behind it? Often hard to get to, the back and sides of toilets not only accumulate dust and dirt but harmful bacteria. Put on those rubber gloves and give it a good scrub with disinfectant and hot water.

2. INSIDE THE COUCH

Crumbs, rubbish, pet hair and maybe a few coins (if you're lucky!) are just some of the interesting things you'll find if you dare to take off your couch cushions. Give your couch a good vacuum at least once a month and wash the cover, if you have one, to instantly freshen up your living room.

3. TV REMOTE

Although they are handled every day, TV remotes are often overlooked when it comes to household cleaning. Multipurpose antibacterial wipes are great to have on hand for quick and easy jobs like this.

4. DOOR KNOBS AND LIGHT SWITCHES

Like the TV remote, these are something we handle every day in our homes. Give them a wipe down at least once a week to prevent bacteria build up, especially in the kitchen and bathroom.

5. CURTAINS AND BLINDS

Curtains and blinds collect dust and mildew just like the rest of your home. Depending on the material, fabric curtains can be machine washed or dry-cleaned. Roller, vertical and venetian blinds can be wiped down with a damp cloth. For tough stains, scrub them gently with an old toothbrush and detergent.

6. YOUR TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER

If your toothbrush holder is hard to see inside, chances are it hasn't been cleaned in a while. Rinse, scrub and repeat until the grime is gone. You can even run it through the dishwasher to kill any bacteria.

7. THE DISHWASHER

How is your dishwasher supposed to clean your dishes if it isn't clean itself? If you've noticed your dishwasher isn't quite doing its job (or it smells a bit off) it may be time for a clean. Scrub with a solution of baking soda and white vinegar and then run a cycle with nothing in the dishwasher to get that sparkle back!

8. THE WASHING MACHINE

Like dishwashers, washing machines need to be cleaned to wash your clothes effectively.

Again, using bicarb soda and cleaning vinegar, add ¼ cup of bicarb soda to the detergent container of your machine and pour 2 cups of vinegar into the drum. Run normal hot cycle and let the machine do all the work. Give the whole machine a wipe down with vinegar or multipurpose spray.

9. UNDER THE BED

When was the last time you vacuumed under your bed? You'll be surprised at how quickly dust accumulates under there, especially if you use that area for storage. Pull everything out and give it a good vacuum and a mop if you have floorboards or tiles.

10. RUBBISH BINS

You change your bin liners regularly to prevent rubbish sitting inside for too long, but what about the bin that holds said rubbish. To prevent nasty odours and bacteria building up, it's a good idea to wash your bin weekly with disinfectant and hot water.

Source - Homestolove.com.au