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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz

Cleaning expert's tips on 'forgotten areas' as millions have never cleaned under bed

We're all busy – whether that be from the stress of work, childcare or social commitments, it's sometimes hard to find time to clean.

While most of us do what we can to keep our homes neat and tidy, it seems many of us are forgetting to clean a few key areas – including under the bed.

According to research conducted by Property Rescue, 14% of households, or 3.9million homes, have never cleaned under their bed.

While this may seem trivial to some, the build-up of dust under your bed can cause allergies and impact your breathing while you sleep or relax. And this is far from the only place people are forgetting to clean.

The build-up of dust can be harmful (stock image) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

One in 10 people, or 10%, have never cleaned behind their sofa and 8% of Brits don't feel the need to clean inside their cupboards and drawers in the kitchen.

Another 'forgotten' area is behind the cooker hood, which is being neglected by 13% of households. The oven is also a no-clean zone for around 9% of people.

The problem is, if you don't clean your cooker hood, over time, grease will block the filters, reducing its effectiveness. A dirty oven can also become a fire hazard.

Emily Barron, cleaning expert at Property Rescue, told The Mirror: "It's easy to understand why some parts of housework are overlooked. If you use the space under your bed for storage, moving things out to vacuum can be time-consuming and awkward, but it’s important that you do it at least on a monthly basis."

Many forget to clean inside their oven (stock photo) (Press Association Images)

Sharing her best advice on how to clean these areas, Emily explained: "If you clean your cooker hood regularly, it rarely needs more than a wipe down with a cloth and soapy water.

"Paper filters can be simply replaced while metal grills and filters should be soaked in soapy water and scrubbed with a toothbrush for a sparkling finish."

When it comes to your oven, Emily said: "You can get spray foams that more or less do the job for you in a very short space of time or, if you prefer to go chemical-free, if you fill an oven-safe bowl with water and place it in the oven for 20 minutes directly after use, it will produce enough moisture to loosen the grease and built-up dirt, so you can more effectively clean it (do wait for the oven to completely cool before attempting to clean it).

"And bed sheets should always be changed regularly, especially between users. Apart from the fact that it's not very nice, making guests use dirty sheets, if bed sheets aren't washed regularly, they can cause allergies, asthma, skin conditions, and other health problems."

She added: "So, the lesson is, even though certain chores might not seem a priority, it’s always a good idea to clean everywhere that you can, as frequently as possible."

Do you have a story to share? Email us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk

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