You’ve hired a cleaning service before. They came, they cleaned, they left. But something felt… incomplete. Your home looked better, sure, but it didn’t feel truly clean. You couldn’t put your finger on it until you noticed the light switches were still grimy, the baseboards had dust, and don’t even get me started on what was behind your toilet.
Here’s the truth: most cleaning services are in a rush. They focus on what’s visible and move on. But the difference between a “cleaned” home and a genuinely spotless home is in the details – the areas that most services skip entirely.
After cleaning hundreds of Minnesota homes, I’ve identified the 15 most commonly overlooked areas. More importantly, I’ll show you why these spots matter and how to ensure your cleaning service (or you!) never skips them again.
The Visual Areas That Make the Biggest Impact
1. Light Switches and Outlet Covers
Think about it: you touch light switches multiple times every day. Your kids touch them with sticky fingers. Guests notice them immediately. Yet most cleaning services give them a quick wipe at best.
Why it matters: Light switches are bacteria magnets and visual focal points. Clean switches make your entire room feel fresher.
The Scrub Club difference: We remove switch plates when necessary and clean both the switch and the wall area around it.
2. Door Frames and the Top of Doors
When’s the last time you looked at the top of your bedroom door? Probably never. But dust settles there, and it affects your home’s air quality.
Why it matters: Dust on door frames falls onto your clean floors. It’s a cycle that keeps your home from staying truly clean.
What we do: Every door frame gets wiped down, and we use an extendable duster for door tops that are hard to reach.
3. Baseboards Throughout the House
This is the big one. I can’t tell you how many homes I’ve cleaned where the previous service completely ignored baseboards. It’s like mopping the floor but leaving dirt in all the corners.
Why it matters: Baseboards collect dust, pet hair, and grime. When they’re dirty, your entire room looks unkempt no matter how clean everything else is.
Our approach: Every single baseboard in your home gets individual attention. We use the right tools to get into corners and behind furniture.
The Hidden Areas That Affect Your Health
4. Inside Your Microwave (Really Inside)
Most services will wipe down the microwave exterior and maybe give the inside a quick spray. But what about the turntable? The ceiling? The vents?
Why it matters: Old food particles harbor bacteria and create odors that spread throughout your kitchen.
How we handle it: Complete disassembly and cleaning of every removable part, plus detailed cleaning of interior surfaces you can’t remove.
5. Toilet Base and Behind the Toilet
I’ll be blunt: this is where I see the biggest difference between services. Many will clean the toilet bowl and seat but completely miss the base where it meets the floor.
Why it matters: This area harbors bacteria and creates persistent bathroom odors that no amount of air freshener can mask.
Our standard: We move the toilet if necessary and clean every surface, including areas most people never think about.
6. Inside Trash Cans
Your trash can liner protects the can itself, right? Wrong. Liquids leak, and odors penetrate. When’s the last time someone actually cleaned inside your trash cans?
Why it matters: Dirty trash cans are a source of persistent odors and bacteria, even when they appear empty.
What we do: Complete sanitization of all trash receptacles, not just emptying and replacing liners.
The Detail Work That Shows You Care
7. Ceiling Fans (All Parts)
Most services will dust the visible parts of ceiling fan blades. But what about the motor housing? The light fixtures? The chain pulls?
Why it matters: Ceiling fans circulate air throughout your room. If parts of the fan are dirty, you’re literally blowing dust around your clean space.
Our method: Complete disassembly when safe, cleaning of all components, and careful reassembly.
8. Window Sills and Tracks
Even if you don’t get full window cleaning, the sills and tracks collect dirt, dead bugs, and moisture that creates the perfect environment for mold.
Why it matters: Dirty window areas affect both your home’s appearance and air quality.
How we approach it: Detailed cleaning with appropriate tools to remove all debris and sanitize these often-damp areas.
9. Cabinet Hardware and Handles
Kitchen and bathroom cabinet handles get touched constantly but rarely get more than a quick wipe. What about the hinges? The areas where handles attach?
Why it matters: These high-touch surfaces harbor bacteria and show fingerprints and grime that make your entire kitchen look dirty.
Our attention to detail: Individual cleaning of each piece of hardware, including areas where handles meet cabinet doors.
The Areas That Require Special Techniques
10. Appliance Coils and Vents
Your refrigerator, dryer, and other appliances have coils and vents that collect dust and pet hair. Most services don’t even know these need cleaning.
Why it matters: Dirty coils make appliances work harder, use more energy, and break down sooner. Clean coils also improve air quality.
Our expertise: Proper tools and knowledge to safely clean appliance components without damage.
11. Inside Drawers and Cabinets
This is typically an add-on service, but here’s what surprises me: many customers don’t even know it’s an option. Drawers and cabinets collect crumbs, spills, and odors over time.
Why it matters: Even if the outside looks clean, contaminated storage areas affect your dishes, utensils, and food.
When we include it: Always discussed as an option, with transparent pricing and clear expectations.
12. Grout Lines in Tile Areas
Grout cleaning requires special products and techniques. Most general cleaning services will mop tile floors but ignore the grout entirely.
Why it matters: Dirty grout harbors mold and bacteria, and it makes even clean tile look dingy and old.
Our approach: Appropriate grout-cleaning products and tools, plus sealing recommendations when needed.
The Overlooked Safety Areas
13. Stair Railings (All Surfaces)
Railings get touched constantly for safety, but many services only wipe the top surface. What about underneath? The spindles? The connection points?
Why it matters: Incomplete railing cleaning leaves bacteria on surfaces your family touches for support.
How we handle it: Every surface of every railing component gets individual attention.
14. Smoke Detector Areas
Smoke detectors collect dust that can affect their function. The areas around them often show discoloration from cooking vapors and other airborne particles.
Why it matters: Safety equipment needs to function properly, and dirty areas around detectors are often visible from below.
Our standard: Careful cleaning around all safety devices without interfering with their operation.
15. Floor Transitions and Thresholds
Where different types of flooring meet, dirt and debris collect in the gaps and transitions. These areas require specific attention and tools.
Why it matters: Dirty transitions make your flooring look incomplete and harbor dirt that gets tracked throughout your home.
What we do: Specialized tools and techniques for different types of flooring transitions.
Why This Matters for Your Family
As a single mother running my own business, I understand that you’re not just paying for cleaning – you’re paying for peace of mind. When I developed Scrub Club’s 50+ point checklist, every single item on this list was included because I know these details make the difference between a house that looks clean and a home that feels genuinely spotless.
I can’t leave a house feeling like there’s still work to be done. It’s not in my nature. And after seeing the difference this level of attention makes for Minnesota families, I know you deserve nothing less.
