The Worst Spots to Clean- And How to Make Them Sparkle

Cleaning may not be at the top of everyone's bucket list, but it's definitely something everyone knows needs to be done. The part that deters most people from taking part in it, though, is the tough spots- the places that seem too difficult to even try to tackle. However, here are the top toughest places to clean in your house along with the ways to make it a little bit easier.

The Shower

Bathrooms are, all around, one of the hardest places to clean. It always seems as if it gets dirty even faster than the time it takes to clean it. However, if you want to really make your shower sparkle, you can mix 1 cup of hot vinegar and 1 cup of dish soap in a spray bottle, then spray every inch of the shower with it, let it sit for 20 minutes, and scrub it away with a sponge or cloth. You can also do a second spray of bleach if you have rough stains or oils that just won't budge.

The Stove

The kitchen is actually the dirtiest room in the house, with about 134,630 bacteria per square inch on the kitchen sponge alone. And majority of cooking is done on the stove, so, whether gas or electric, we all know how filthy it can really get.

There are actually many ways to clean a cooktop, but a few good ones are using a scraper to remove burnt-on stains and pouring boiling water over the less dirty areas before scrubbing away.

The Tile Grout

Grout cleaning can really be the worst. The secret to getting the grime out of the cracks, though, is spraying a tough cleaner, letting it sit for five to ten minutes, and then using a scrubbing brush to wash it all away. You can use a store-bought brush, or you can opt for a regular or electric toothbrush to do the job; toothpicks work for the smaller spots, too.

The Wood Furniture

Wood can be difficult to clean; you don't want to ruin the finish, but you have to polish it up somehow.

To keep the shine lasting though time, you can use a natural cleaner of 1/4 cup vinegar plus 1 cup olive oil. Apply it sparingly with a washcloth, and be sure you only polish up the furniture about once a month- any more often will dull the wood's finish.

The Carpets

You may think that sweeping once a month is enough, but it's actually not. Even if you were to vacuum every single day, there's too much bacteria under the surface to get rid of so easily. The best way to get a clean, germ-free floor is by hiring a professional about every 6 months to steam and clean it.

It also should be noted that washing or steaming the carpets yourself isn't the best idea, either, because this leaves them wet for long periods of time, and mold and even more bacteria can accumulate as a result.

The Toilet

And then there's the worst of the worst- the toilet.

The nasty ring left in the bowl can be cleaned away with a heavy duty spray or powder, such as borax, plus some elbow grease with a pumice stone or piece of sandpaper, which wipes the circle away like magic.

There are also some other strange but very real ways to clean the rest of toilet, like using Coca-Cola to rid the rust stains and even bubble wrap to prevent tank sweat.

Nobody loves to clean, but nobody really wants a dirty home, either. Take into account these top tips, though, and your home can feel clean and sparkly-new once again.