How to Tackle Hard-to-Reach Areas When Cleaning Your Home

When it's time to clean the house, I tend to concentrate on what we can all see: floors, counters and windows. But what about those hard-to-reach places? These little-considered areas can collect dust, dirt and allergens. Whether you need to clean high shelves, under heavy furniture, or tight areas where others can’t goThis hard-to-reach cleaning is a necessary part of maintaining your cordless vacuum cleaner. In this guide, I’m going to share with you some of the most effective tools and strategies that help me to handle these “White Elephants” every day.

Understanding Hard-to-Reach Cleaning

Hard to reach cleaning Hard to reach simply refers to those places in the home which are difficult or even impossible to clean. These areas can be the ceiling, corners, under heavy furniture and equipment. Although these spots aren’t all that noticeable on a daily basis, they are great at becoming dust-collectors and latching dirt or other debris which can manage to degrade indoor air quality.

Some common hard-to-reach areas include:

• Ceilings and high shelves
  
  

• Behind appliances
  
  

• Under furniture
  
  

• Corners and edges
  
  

• Ventilation systems and ducts
  
  

Why Cleaning Hard-to-Reach Areas Matters

You may think that cleaning way up high and really low is a waste of time, but if you never clean those hidden areas, dust and other allergens can gather there and affect your health. Also, bacteria and mold can grow in hidden spaces, especially where there’s not much airflow like behind appliances or under sinks. Frequent cleaning of these trouble spots will contribute to a healthier, cleaner environment for you and your loved ones.

Common Challenges of Hard-to-Reach Cleaning

Cleaning hard to reach places poses a few challenges:

• Physical Barriers: Having a high ceiling, deep cabinets, tight space behind appliances – all stand as physical hindrances that would be challenging to access without suitable tools.
  
  

• Lack of Visibility: Corners and spots behind furniture sometimes can't be seen readily and are easily forgotten.
  
  

• Time-Consuming: It can be time-taking to clean tough spots as it may require you to move furniture or use specific tools.
  
  

• Safety Concerns: Climbing high places or ducking under heavy furniture anywhere can sometimes even be dangerous (if you don’t have the correct equipment) with the most help.
  
  

Tips for Cleaning Difficult Areas

For the hardest-to-remove spots, a bit of creativity and smart technique are needed. Here are some handy manoeuvres to make high and hard-to-reach spots dirt-free:

1. Use Extendable Cleaning Tools

An extendable cleaning tool is your best friend for high-up spots like ceilings, light fixtures and top shelves that are difficult to reach. Flexible dusters, microfiber cloths and mops give you the ability to clean safely and effectively without having to climb a ladder.

If you’re attempting to reach nooks and crannies, like the tops of cabinets or high shelves, a duster with a movable head can make cleaning that much easier. These are wonderful tools that allow you to clean high areas of your home without climbing and risking harm.

2. Move Furniture for Underneath Cleaning

In dusting under furniture or appliances lifting them up can be a difficult task. Begin by reaching under the furniture with a flat mop or vacuum that has an extension hose. And for more comprehensive cleaning, you might want to move the furniture every few months to remove any accumulated dust, dirt, or debris.

3. Dust the Ceiling Fans and Light Fixtures

Ceilling fans and light fixtures are the worst culprits for attracting dust. Using an extendable duster with a microfiber head you can dust away the dirt without having to haul out your ladder. For light fittings, use a soft cloth to dust the glass or plastic well as dust can and will build up.

4. Between Your Seats A Vacuum With Attachments Is Good For Tight Spaces

Vacuuming is one of the most effective methods to eliminate dirt from cracks and crevices. Suck debris from along walls or baseboards, or take out the hose and suck it up in a hard-to-reach place under the couch. This will help ensure that you get rid of dust and allergens, which can collect in hard-to-reach places.

5. Don’t Forget Behind Appliances

It can be hard to clean behind heavy appliances like a fridge, stove or washing machine. You might also want to use a vacuum with the hose attachment, or an appliance roller just for moving these heavy things around to clean behind them. Contrary to belief food particles are not going to ruin your floor. You can also use a duster or compressed air to blow dust out of crevices and other small spaces.

6. Take Advantage of Professional Tools for Difficult Areas

Cleaning accessories with a little professional flair can help make your life easier. For instance, you might use a high-powered vacuum cleaner or specialty dusting attachments that allow you to clean places otherwise out of your reach with average tools. You’ll also want to invest in a microfiber cloth or mop, which is better at trapping dust and dirt than regular cloths.

Hidden Dust Removal Techniques

One of the most difficult things to clean in hard-to-reach areas is dust. Dust on high surfaces may also be easy to ignore, but it can accumulate over time and impact air quality.

We’ve also got some suggestions for dealing with dust that’s hiding from plain sight:

• Microfiber Cloths: They are best for capturing dust instead of spreading it in the air. Slap them on your ceiling fans, vents and tall shelves.
  
  

• Compressed Air: In tight spaces between or behind furniture, or the insides of corners that are hard to reach with a vacuum attachment, you can blast out crumbs and dust using a good old-fashioned can of compressed air.
  
  

• Vacuum with Attachments: In order to vacuum corners and other small areas where dust and debris tend to collect, you may use a narrow crevice attachment with a vacuum.
  
  

How to Safely Clean Tall Places

Dusting in high places, such as ceilings, top shelves or light fixtures, can also be a dangerous task. Here’s how to safely clean those spots:

1. Use a Stepladder or Ladder: For those high-up spots, invest in your trusty stepladder or ladder. Do not stand on furniture to avoid a fall.
   
   

2. Secure Your Ladder: Ensure that your ladder is on level ground, preferably have someone hold it while you clean.
   
   

3. Work in Sections: Clean in sections when cleaning higher areas to not get overwhelmed. It’s easier and less dangerous to clean in chunks.
   
   

Deep Cleaning Hard Spots: DIY vs Professional

Some hire services, others are do-it-yourselfers in the never ending battle to keep our homes clean. A professional cleaner may also have access to special tools and tricks for stubborn spots that are simply too difficult for DIY cleaning. And they have the know-how to get through them effectively and without damaging them.

Professional cleaning companies have commercial vacuum cleaners, long extension poles and powerful dusters, which can easily get to those hard-to-reach places. They can also be helpful for more involved tasks, like cleaning HVAC ducts or thoroughly wiping under large appliances.

Cleaning Under Furniture and Appliances

Areas under large furniture and appliances are easily overlooked. However, the problem with these areas is that they tend to collect dust and pet hair as well as debris which could compromise clean liness of the home and quality of air.

To clean under furniture:

• Reach with a long flat duster or vacuum attachment.
  
  

• Physically raise each piece of furniture to clean the area underneath (for smaller pieces, if feasible).
  
  

• For bigger pieces of furniture or appliances, grab some furniture sliders and scoot items around to get to those tough-to-reach places.
  
  

Best Tools for Hard-to-Reach Cleaning

The ideal cleaning tools for tackling those hard-to-clean areas can actually make a huge difference. Here are some of the best products for those hard-to-reach spots:

• Extendable Dusting Poles: Great for high ceilings, ceiling fans, light fixtures and hard to reach places.
  
  

• Crevice Tools: Perfect for tight gaps, corners and edges.
  
  

• Flat Mops: Ideal for cleaning under heavy furniture and appliances.
  
  

• Microfiber Cloths: These are awesome for catching dusty spots on high and low.
  
  

• Vacuum with Attachments: A vacuum that has a hose and/or crevice attachment is necessary for small area cleaning.
  
  

Final Thoughts on Hard-to-Reach Cleaning

The need for hard-to-reach cleaning is necessary in any home. With the proper tools and techniques, you can attack hard-to-reach places such as high shelves, beneath furniture, and tight corners. Whether you’re DIYing it or getting someone in to take care of business, these little neglected spots will leave your house so fresh and so clean (clean!).

And for help removing messes from hard-to-reach places, be sure to check out our cleaning services page to learn more about professional cleaning assistance.