12 Spots You're Missing That Professionals Always Clean

You make your bed every day, dust once a week, and keep the books on your shelves arranged just so... but, you’re still missing some spots. Crud can sneak up on you! From the baseboards to the back of the toilet, we asked the pros about the places they always clean and how to get them spotless.

Even if you clean your windows, you’re probably forgetting about the tracks, says Becky Rapinchuk, the author of "Simply Clean" who dispenses housekeeping advice at CleanMama.net. "You open the window, and it’s like, 'Ew, it’s all black dirt!'" Rapinchuk says. Use a scrub brush to loosen the dirt, and wipe it clean with a microfiber cloth dipped in hot, soapy water, she says.

Mind the gap! It’s a magnet for crumbs, splatters, and little bits of whatever food you’ve prepared in the kitchen. Scrape out crumbs with the tip of a butter knife, then spray a countertop cleaner on a paper towel and wipe the gap. A vacuum with a narrow attachment can suck out the crumbs and goo, too.

They’re not at eye level so they get overlooked, Rapinchuk says. And they collect dust and dirt and get grungy. She cleans them with a microfiber cloth dipped in a mix of warm water and castile soap. She also recommends vacuuming where the baseboard touches the carpet because dirt and dust collect there. "Clean baseboards will make your room look so much brighter and better," she says.