As much as I love a clean, maintained home, there are just some cleaning tasks that I flat-out avoid. Maybe it’s because they’re too gross, too tedious, or they just make me question my life choices. Either way, here’s an honest peek at the things I dodge when it comes to cleaning my own house—and thanks to writing this, I probably now need to tackle them.
1. Oven Deep Cleaning
Sure, I’ll wipe up a spill here and there. But scrubbing every inch of baked-on mess inside the oven? Hard pass. That’s what the self-cleaning cycle is for. (And even then, I have to psych myself up for the smoky aftermath.)
2. Blinds
Cleaning blinds is a special kind of tedious. Wiping down each individual slat? Not happening. I do a light dusting when I remember, but deep cleaning? Let’s just say it never happens. And based on the amount of dusty blinds I open during inspections, I know I’m not alone!
3. Dishwasher Filter
Most people don't even realize there’s a filter in the bottom of the dishwasher, which makes it pretty easy to ignore. I know it’s there—and I still don't clean the debris out as often as I should.
4. Shower Heads and Faucets
Ever looked under your sink faucet or around the rubber nipples on your shower head? It gets funky and gunky—fast. These areas actually need a good scrub every so often because just running water over them daily doesn't cut it. (Trust me, I inspect enough houses to know.)
5. Bath Fan Covers
Bathroom fan covers collect a nice coating of dust pretty quickly, especially if you’re using them regularly (which you should be!). Once they're caked in dust, they work less efficiently. I know better—but they're still on my "avoid" list.
6. Ceiling Fans
I have good intentions here, truly. But balancing on a ladder to wipe off a half-inch of dust is not my idea of a good time. If you’ve ever been snowed on by a clump of fan dust, you know the trauma is real.
Final Thoughts
We all have our limits. I’m a home inspector, not a professional housekeeper—and even I have tasks I just can’t bring myself to tackle without first writing them on a to-do list (just to feel better when I cross them off). The important thing is knowing when to hire help, when to delegate to the kids, and when to accept that sometimes, "good enough" really is good enough.
Until next time, keep your home maintained and your inspection stress-free.
- Your Fave Female Inspector