As the holiday season approaches, many homeowners focus on polishing visible surfaces and tidying common areas, yet professional cleaners say several key spots are routinely neglected. These overlooked areas not only affect the first impression guests get but can also contribute to mess spreading throughout the house. We asked three cleaning experts to identify the most frequently missed places and how to address them effectively.
Kathy Cohoon, operations director at Two Maids with over two decades of residential cleaning experience, points to the entryway as a prime culprit. “This is the first place guests see and the number one spot where dirt spreads into the rest of the house,” she says. She advises shaking out or vacuuming doormats and cleaning the floor beneath them. Adding a tray or basket for boots can prevent snow, leaves, and water from being tracked indoors.
Tanu Grewal, chief cleaning officer at Pinalen, Cloralen, and Ensueno Laundry, adds that lightly soiled mats can be scrubbed with a sponge, cloth, or brush. For mats with caked-on mud or dirt, she recommends using a power washer or hose for a deeper clean.
Bathroom and Kitchen Hotspots
Overnight guests often mean shared bathrooms, and Jade Piper, operations manager for BetterCleans, notes that shower caddies and shelves are frequently ignored. “It’s likely crusty with old soap scum, stray hairs, and dried-up shampoo rings,” she says. A grimy caddy can make the entire bathroom feel less clean, even if the tub is spotless. Piper suggests removing all items, soaking the caddy in a soap scum remover for a few minutes, then scrubbing before returning everything.
In the kitchen, Cohoon highlights the area behind large appliances. “A lot of crumbs, drips and grease end up behind the major appliances, especially when you are cooking more around the holidays,” she explains. Pulling appliances out to vacuum and wipe the floor, plus cleaning the fridge vent or grille, helps the appliance run more efficiently when it’s working harder to store holiday ingredients.
Cohoon also recommends a deep clean of the coffee maker, which will likely see heavy use during the season. This ensures the coffee tastes fresh for those chilly early mornings.
Dining Chairs: The Silent Collectors
While the dining table often gets thorough attention, dining chairs are another overlooked area. Crumbs and dust accumulate on chair backs, legs, and crevices, becoming noticeable just before guests arrive. Cohoon suggests a quick wipe with a damp microfiber cloth. “A quick wipe with a damp microfiber cloth makes everything feel cleaner and guests notice it even if they don’t realize why,” she says.
These simple steps, according to the experts, can make a significant difference in how clean a home feels during the holidays. By addressing these forgotten areas, hosts can ensure a more welcoming environment and reduce the spread of dirt and grime.
