On top of your standard cleaning, there are 5 things that you really should clean every month to keep your house looking (and smelling) great.

1. Dishwasher filter.

You may need to google your make and model in order to find yours, but usually, the filter is found on the bottom of your dishwasher, and it just takes a simple twist to pull it out. Bring it over to the sink and rinse it with hot water to remove all the food debris and hard water deposits. You can GENTLY scrub it with a brush, but be careful as the screen is very delicate. Check the surrounding area for more stray food, and then twist it back into place. See here if your whole dishwasher could use a scrub.

2. Fridge.

We aren’t talking about a full-on fridge clean every month (see here if you need that), but once a month, you should give it a scan.  Wipe down any spills, vacuum up any crumbs, and toss anything expired or slimy. Ideally, you should do this before a big grocery run when your fridge is empty and you need to make room for new food.
Pro Tip: Use paper towel in your drawers to catch any crumbs or spills, making cleanup easy.

3. Washing machine – bleach cycle.

Again, this isn’t a situation where we are scrubbing down our entire machines (here are instructions if it’s time for that). But once a month it’s a good idea to check the seal of your washing machine for mold/mildew, and run a long, hot cycle with bleach or our favorite, Tide® Washing Machine Cleaner. 
Pro Tip: Always leave your door propped open between loads to keep mold and mildew at bay.

4. Indoor garbage/compost bins.

It goes without saying that these get gross. Garbage and compost bins, by nature, are slimy and stinky places. Often that leaches into the surrounding area if we don’t stay on top of it. So vacuum and then wipe down the entire area with a bit of water, bleach and powdered Tide®. For stuck-on food, use straight Mr. Clean®. For more, see here.

5. High touch areas.

Doors, door handles and walls all accumulate fingerprints and germs daily. Once you notice the dirty handprints on the walls, it’s so hard to ignore them. So once a month, whip up a batch of water, bleach and Tide® or use a Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser and give those high-touch surfaces a quick wipe down.

In case you missed it, we also have articles with things you should clean every day and week, with more in this series coming soon.

For a list of our favorite products, click here. 

-Becky @GoCleanCo