1. Under the Stove

I have avoided cleaning under my stove for quite a while now, mainly because I know it’s going to be terrifying. And, well, how am I supposed to get anything cleaned with a half-inch opening to do so? However, if you do a lot of cooking on the stove, food, grease, grime, and debris all find a way down in those crevices between your stove and countertops.

Move your stove forward in order to see and access the debris underneath. Another way to clean in those crevices is to take a regular butter knife and wrap a slightly damp cloth around it. Pull the knife through the cracks a few times to remove grease and gunk.

2. Toothbrush Holder

It’s easy to remember to switch out your toothbrush for a new one (most of the time), but cleaning your toothbrush holder? That’s a different story.

Soak your toothbrush holder in three parts water and one part bleach for about an hour. Rinse it with clean water and then let it drip dry upside down on a towel.

3. Ceiling Fan Blades

I didn’t realize how much dust had accumulated on my ceiling fan until I turned it on for the first time in the spring. Dust rained down on me like the first snow of the winter season. Disgusting.

I strongly recommend that you clean your fan blades with a dust cloth before turning it on. Otherwise, you’ll end up vacuuming dust up from all over the room– take it from me.

4. Dishwasher

You regularly use your dishwasher to clean your dinnerware, but when was the last time your dishwasher got a good wipe down? If you’re anything like me, the answer is never.

Run your dishwasher with some dishwashing detergent and vinegar. But make sure there are no dishes inside– letting the appliance go through a cycle without anything inside it can help rinse the interior and rid it of any bacteria.

5. Garbage Can

That disgusting smell in your kitchen? It may not be coming from the garbage— the culprit could be the can itself. Empty it out and use a bit of soap and water to rinse and clean the interior. When it’s fully dry, sprinkle a bit of baking soda in the bottom– this will help absorb odors in the future and keep your kitchen smelling pleasant.

6. Knife Block

If you don’t clean your knife block every once in awhile, you might as well just store your knives in the garbage. You may not realize it, but grease and food particles can easily sneak into the cuts of your knife block, and they’re not coming out.

Take a hand-held vacuum and try to suck any excess particles out. If that method isn’t working, you can stick a 12-inch pipe cleaner inside to get rid of any dust or food that might have gotten stuck in there over time.

7. Under the Bed

I keep my suitcases under my bed for easy access whenever I decide to head home for the weekend. I recently pulled a suitcase out and 10 different and terrifyingly large clumps of dust came with it– not exactly what I wanted to pack.

It’s so easy to forget to clean under our beds because we usually have no reason to look under there. Take a gander under your bed frame– what you see might be scarier than the monsters you thought were hiding there when you were a kid.

Take out anything you might be hiding under your bed, like suitcases or plastic storage containers. Then, if possible, move your bed to make it easy to wipe those floors clean. If you can’t move your bed, you may want to use a mop or a broom with a long handle to get to those hard-to-reach places.

8. Light Switches

You touch your light switches every single day, so think about how much bacteria can accumulate within a very short amount of time. Uhh … a whole lot. Your spring cleaning checklist won’t be complete until you use an antibacterial wipe to go over each light switch in your apartment.

9. Salt and Pepper Shakers

Before you season your food, clean your shakers. There are lots of hands that make contact with these items, which can easily spread germs. Wipe them down with antibacterial wipes to feel better about seasoning your food.

10. Pillows

It’s natural to toss your pillowcases in your load of laundry each week. But how often do your actual pillows get a good cleaning? Read the care label on your pillow for instructions on how to clean it. If you’ve torn that tag off like me, simply toss your pillows in the washer and use warm water on a gentle cycle.