![\"Credit:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a99c58ea80fcbe4a10c240036df54660.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Credit: David Tsay<\/p>\n
Key Takeaways<\/p>\n
Clean overlooked bedroom surfaces, including light switches, weekly and hampers monthly to prevent grime, germs, and mildew buildup.<\/p>\n
Vacuum under beds, wipe baseboards quarterly, and rotate mattresses every 3 months to reduce allergens and extend mattress life.<\/p>\n
Wash decorative pillows, duvet covers, and bed skirts regularly to remove dust, pet hair, and allergens, maintaining freshness and hygiene.<\/p>\n
When it comes to household chores, the bedroom often feels like the easy zone. All you have to do is tidy up the nightstands, change the sheets, run the vacuum, and you\u2019re good to go, right? Well, not quite. While your bedroom might appear fairly clean (aside from maybe some clothes littering a chair<\/a> or bench), there\u2019s a good chance it\u2019s harboring hidden dirt, dust, and germs in places you rarely think to check.<\/p>\n Fortunately, once you know where those sneaky spots are hiding\u2014and how to clean them properly\u2014keeping your bedroom clean<\/a> is easier than you think. Keep reading to discover the dirtiest places in your bedroom that you\u2019ve probably been overlooking.<\/p>\n Related: 7 Spots You’re Definitely Forgetting to Clean, According to House Cleaners<\/a><\/p>\n Meet Our Expert<\/p>\n Mary Gagliardi<\/a>, also known as Dr. Laundry, is Clorox\u2019s in-house scientist and cleaning expert.<\/p>\n Credit: Noah Webb<\/p>\n The 6 Dirtiest Places in a Bedroom<\/p>\n We spoke with Mary Gagliardi, also known as Dr. Laundry, and Clorox\u2019s in-house scientist and cleaning expert, to find out which areas in your room get the grimiest. According to her, \u201cBedrooms are private spaces in the home, making it easy to ignore (just close the door) and postpone cleaning thoroughly on a regular basis.\u201d Examples of these neglected spaces or items include hampers, baseboards, and light fixtures (to name a few).<\/p>\n 1. Light Switches<\/p>\n Think about how often you touch your bedroom light on and off each day. Now think about how often you actually clean those switch plates. If you can\u2019t remember the last time, you\u2019re not alone. \u201cBecause bedrooms are so familiar, people don\u2019t always look at a light switch when they enter the room,\u201d Gagliardi explains. \u201cOils from hands transfer to the switch plate, and grime builds up without being noticed.\u201d<\/p>\n Light switches are considered high-touch surfaces<\/a>, meaning they\u2019re places for germs to spread easily, especially when multiple people share the same room. The fix is quick and straightforward: wipe them down once a week with disinfecting wipes<\/a> or a cloth dampened with a cleaner to remove oils, fingerprints, and bacteria; do this more frequently if you or your partner is sick. It\u2019s a task that takes less than a minute but makes a big difference in keeping your space clean and healthy. As Gagliardi reminds us, \u201cIt really just takes awareness to make it part of your cleaning routine.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. Laundry Hampers<\/p>\n Your laundry basket<\/a> might be holding more than dirty clothes. \u201cThese pick up dirt and dust when dirty laundry gets tossed in,\u201d says Gagliardi. If you habitually toss sweaty items like your workout clothes, mildew could form as well.\u201cThe laundry may be removed for washing, but the basket or the fabric liner in the hamper can easily be ignored, especially when doing the laundry takes up enough time as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Wipe down hampers with a plastic base monthly with a disinfectant to keep them sanitized. For removable cloth liners, toss them in the washing machine once a month on the warmest setting allowed on the care label. To go the extra mile, Gagliardi recommends adding a laundry sanitizer<\/a> to your machine\u2019s fabric softener compartment to kill germs that may have transferred from the dirty laundry.<\/p>\n 3. Baseboards and Under Furniture<\/p>\n The space underneath and around your bed can quickly become a catch-all for dust, lint, and pet hair. The same goes for baseboards, especially those hidden behind furniture. \u201cEven if you have a bed skirt<\/a>, dust bunnies and dirt will still accumulate,\u201d says Gagliardi. \u201cThis can also be a problem under dressers with low clearance between the underside of the dresser and the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n To tackle the problem, vacuum under the bed with your upholstery attachment, and then use an extendable duster or a microfiber cloth to wipe down the baseboards<\/a>. Doing this at least quarterly can help keep allergens at bay. If someone in the room has allergies, aim to dust more frequently<\/a>.<\/p>\n Credit: Brie Williams | Interior Design: Susan Galvani<\/p>\n 4. Mattresses<\/p>\n Even if you\u2019re regularly washing and changing your bedding, your mattress doesn\u2019t always garner the same kind of attention. \u201cMattresses are generally out of sight, out of mind, making cleaning them easy to put off until later,\u201d Gagliardi says. \u201cCleaning and rotating helps them last longer, so it\u2019s worth making this part of your cleaning routine<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Routine maintenance starts with vacuuming the entire surface<\/a> using your vacuum\u2019s upholstery attachment. Use the crevice tool to reach seams, trim, and stitching where dust and dead skin can accumulate. To remove protein-based stains, including blood, Gagliardi suggests applying a product such as Clorox Urine Remover<\/a>\u00a0directly to the affected area, letting it sit for 3 minutes,\u00a0then blotting with a damp cloth.<\/p>\n Another way to keep your mattress in tip-top shape is to rotate it every three months, which prevents uneven wear and tear. \u201cThis is also the perfect time to remove and wash the mattress pad<\/a> using hot water, your favorite detergent, and bleach,\u201d says Gagliardi.<\/p>\n Related: 21 Easy Low-Cost Bedroom Updates to Refresh Your Relaxing Retreat<\/a><\/p>\n 5. Decorative Pillows and Duvet Covers<\/p>\n You may take pride in creating a hotel-inspired bed<\/a> every morning, complete with perfectly arranged throw pillows and a cozy duvet cover, but just below that aesthetic appeal lies a layer of dust. \u201cThese [things] aren\u2019t exactly hidden, but they aren\u2019t always cleaned regularly either, which means they can accumulate dust,\u201d Gagliardi explains.<\/p>\n Her advice? Vacuum decorative pillows using your vacuum\u2019s upholstery attachment<\/a> to remove surface dust. Wash pillow shams and duvet covers monthly following the care label instructions. This not only keeps the bedding fresh but also helps maintain color uniformity between matching pieces, which can fade unevenly if washed separately.<\/p>\n 6. Bed Skirts<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve ever tried removing a bed skirt<\/a>, you know it\u2019s a bit of a hassle. That\u2019s probably why so many people skip cleaning it altogether, but according to Gagliardi, it\u2019s worth the effort. \u201cBed skirts do get dirty, especially for pet owners with dogs or cats that like to rub up against them,\u201d she says. Dust, pet hair, and dander can all cling to the fabric, making it a hidden hotspot for allergens<\/a>.<\/p>\n To clean, she suggests pretreating stains before machine-washing the skirt in warm water. Instead of tumble drying, iron out any wrinkles and hang it to air-dry completely. Gagliardi recommends washing your bed skirt every 3 months, so feel free to habit-stack this task with rotating your mattress.<\/p>\n Related: Start These Habits Today for a Cleaner, Easier-to-Maintain Home<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Credit:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/35992544440000d1f4061b6fc7f170b3.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Credit:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/5af9d1adc8f247551543d9d9f7eef7a2.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n