9 Spaces in Your Home that You May be Forgetting to Clean
As the calendar turns to March, I feel that familiar, beautiful pull to open the windows and invite freshness into our home. For me, this isn't just "spring cleaning;" it is the Annual Spring Refresh. I know it may sound a bit unconventional, but the intentional, head-to-toe cleaning of our space is one of my most satisfying rituals. It's less about a frantic rush and more about honoring the home that holds our lives—there is a deep, quiet contentment that comes from tending to every corner and truly clearing the slate.
We spent the earlier part of the year slowing down and curating our home by decluttering, so now we move onto the deeper work. My hope is that with less stuff to navigate, this process will feel more like a nourishing ritual than a chore, leaving more time to simply enjoy the lovely warmth and light that is settling over our Florida preserve.
Here are 9 often-forgotten spaces I focus on to bring a complete sense of calm and cleanliness to our home:
The Unseen Surfaces
These are the surfaces that frame our life but often slip right past our attention. Giving them a dedicated moment makes the entire room feel crisp and renewed.
Walls & Ceilings
Take a slow walk through each room, letting your eyes travel up and down the walls. A soft, clean cloth or a good wool duster can work wonders. This is not about scrubbing—it’s about removing the dust, the stray marks, and the quiet build-up of the season. Getting rid of the cobwebs, inside and out, instantly brightens the energy of a room.
Baseboards
In a home surrounded by nature, dust and sand feel like a constant companion. They inevitably settle along the baseboards. Instead of a standard rag that just pushes debris around, I love to use a dryer sheet here. The anti-static quality is actually brilliant for capturing the dust, leaving the baseboards truly clean and lending a subtle, fresh scent to the air.
Ceiling Fans & Vents
If you haven't attended to these in a while, be warned! A slow-living home still needs efficient air. I gently slide an old pillowcase over each fan blade before wiping—this ingenious little trick captures all the dust inside the case instead of letting it bomb the room. The air returns and vents also gather so much dust; use the brush attachment on your vacuum to pull it from the hidden corners and crevices.
Deep Comfort & Care
This is where we tend to the true workhorses of the home—the furniture that supports us and the appliances that sustain us.
Underneath Large Furniture
This is a yearly necessity. Allergies aside, there is something deeply grounding about knowing the space under the sofa or the bed is clean. Moving the largest pieces—the bed frame, the main sofa, the dresser—to vacuum and mop the entire floor underneath is a commitment, but it makes the whole house breathe easier.
The Mattress Refresh
We spend a third of our lives here, so caring for the mattress is a beautiful act of self-care. It's surprisingly easy:
Pour a cup of baking soda into a bowl. I add just a few drops of lavender essential oil—it's optional, but it offers a lovely, calming scent that truly supports restful sleep.
Sprinkle the mixture liberally over the entire mattress surface.
Allow it to sit for about 15 minutes to absorb any odors and moisture.
Use the handheld hose of your vacuum to gently suction all the baking soda away. Fresh and clean!
Appliances: The Home's Unsung Heroes
These machines work tirelessly for us. Taking the time to care for them is a conscious practice in sustainability. Give the washing machine and dryer a deep cleaning—they will function better, and your clothes will thank you. And the refrigerator? It's on duty 24/7. It deserves a little seasonal TLC to keep things running smoothly and hygienically.
Kitchen Cabinetry
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and the cabinetry catches all the splatters and grease from daily life. I like to tackle this twice a year to prevent buildup. Once they are scrubbed and dried, the whole kitchen takes on an extra cared-for quality.
Extending the Boundaries
Our home’s cleanliness always starts at the threshold.
The Garage
In many homes, the garage is the main point of entry, and what happens here is inevitably tracked inside. I see cleaning the garage as protecting the floors of the entire house. Move the cars out, use a leaf blower to clear the majority of the loose debris, then follow up with a strong broom in the corners. It minimizes the grit that gets carried into our living spaces.
What quiet, often-forgotten corners do you tend to during your own annual spring refresh? Share your favorites in the comments below—I'm always looking for ways to deepen the sense of peace in our home.
Happy, Intentional Cleaning!
