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Set A New Cleaning Standard With These Handy Hygiene Hacks For Forgotten Spaces

Words SHELLEY TUSTIN

You may be no slouch in the housework department, with a weekly roster that is actually followed. But in every home there are hidden corners that quietly gather dust, dirt and worse. Give these out-of-sight or hard-to-reach areas an annual clean and start the spring season with a home that’s fresh from top to toe.

Grimy glass

Washing windows is an oft-avoided chore, but there are worse glass surfaces in the home. The shower screen can easily get out of control, with mineral deposits forming an almost impenetrable film. An abrasive cleaning product, such as Simple Green shower glass restorer, can bring it back to new, 

Dust and grease trap

says Jason Walsh of Simple Green. “This product is used to remove soap and water mark stains on shower screen glass, which is a big issue for a lot of households,” he says. “But when used with a dry cloth it can also clean baked-on oven grease and fat from glass oven doors.” It’s suitable for woodburner heater glass doors, too.

Cr usty cabinets

The kitchen might look pristine, but the tops of the cabinets can tell a different tale. If there’s a gap between the

Mould woes

High humidity and rain mean mould may be hiding where you’d least expect it. As well as in wet rooms, mould might be blooming behind mirrors or furniture, under mattresses or in cupboards – anywhere there’s minimal air flow. If you discover mould, never try to dry brush it, as this releases spores into the air and can make the problem worse. Instead, try using white vinegar and a microfibre cloth. Or if vinegar won’t cut it, try a mould-killing cleaner, ensuring you follow the directions carefully and air out the room thoroughly.

Fuzz y fans

If you’ve never looked at the top of your fan blades, you’re in for a shock –they’re likely sporting a fur coat of dust. If they’re particularly fluffy, try this neat trick to avoid a shower of dust: spray the inside of a retired pillowcase with a mild cleaning solution, pop the case over a fan blade and gently wipe it clean, keeping the dust and dirt inside. Maintain your fan’s dust-free status with an electrostatic duster. Michael Palm at cleaning product supplier Oates says this avoids spreading dust around the home and into other areas. “Its electrostatic properties attract and trap dirt for a thorough clean,” he explains.

Gr ubby walls

cabinets and the ceiling, it doesn’t take long for this space to develop a coating of dust and cooking grease. For a job like this, you need a serious product, like Simple Green all-purpose cleaner concentrate. “This product can be custom diluted using water for anything from heavy duty to light cleaning around the home,” says Jason. Use a little more of the concentrate for kitchen grease and dust and for any other seriously grimy spots, and dilute it further for ordinary, everyday cleaning tasks.

Dust and fly spots multiply on walls and ceilings and make even the tidiest home look dirty. Microfibre cloths are fantastic for cleaning walls with just water – whenever you’ve got a spare 10 minutes for cleaning, dampen a microfibre cloth and spot-clean marks, concentrating on door frames and corners where fingerprints gather. And to clean a whole wall or ceiling in no time at all, here’s an invaluable hack: use a microfibre flat mop!

Musty mattresses

You spend a third of your life on your mattress, so you want it to be free of nasties like dirt, dust mites and dead skin. Give your mattress the TLC it deserves by stripping the bed and vacuuming thoroughly. Sprinkle over a layer of bicarbonate of soda,  which absorbs moisture and odours, leave it for a few hours, then vacuum again. If there are stains that need attention, tread lightly – using a clean cloth, blot with a gentle detergent and cold water, then allow the mattress to dry completely.

Germs at work

With all the time we spend at our desks, tapping away at the keyboard, it’s no wonder the work station is one of the germiest places in the home. Give your desktop devices a deep clean regularly. Power down your computer and gently shake crumbs and dust off the keyboard – a can of compressed air can help clear in between the keys. Isopropyl alcohol is safe to use on electronic devices, as it has a high evaporation rate – spray on lightly, then wipe clean for a sanitised surface.

Pet problems

If you have pets, you’ve likely got hair. While you might regularly brush off the sofa, there could be a build-up of fur elsewhere too – where the dog rubs against the back of an armchair, your cat’s secret sunbathing windowseat, or in the crevices of the car upholstery. Michael Palm suggests the Oates electrostatic pet hair brush to take care of the problem with one swipe. “The electrostatic properties in the rubber bristles collect and gather pet hair from all your surfaces including upholstery, car interiors and clothing,” he says. “And the reusable brush has a unique shaped head so it can fit into tight spots with ease.”

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Want to maintain your sparkling home? Try this efficient schedule: bunnings.com.au/cleaning-routine

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1 Oates soft grip electrostatic duster, $5.37, I/N: 4460392. 2 Vileda ‘Colours’ microfibre cloths, $12.89/pack of 8, I/N: 0065913. 3 Oates electrostatic pet hair brush, $5.50, I/N: 4480627. 4 Simple Green all-purpose cleaner concentrate, $11.49/1L, I/N: 4470509. 5 Diggers isopropyl cleaning alcohol, $9.20/125ml, I/N: 1564443‡. 6 Simple Green shower glass restorer, $17.19/600g, I/N: 0176247. 7 Selleys ‘Rapid’ mould killer, $8.39/750ml, I/N: 0059099. 8 WD-40 specialist dust free air duster, $21.99/350g, I/N: 0241477. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.