Seven must-clean spots in your home each month for a healthier living space
As we usher in a new month, many households are embracing the “monthly reset” trend - taking time at the end of each month to deep-clean parts of the home often neglected during daily routines.
Health experts and local cleaning professionals say this habit isn’t just about keeping a tidy house; it also promotes better health, particularly in a country where dust, humidity, and urban pollution provide ideal conditions for allergens and bacteria.
Here are seven areas you should never skip during your monthly cleaning, no matter how spotless your home may appear.
1. Water storage containers
With many households relying on stored water, whether in tanks or jerry cans, regular cleaning is essential. If neglected, these containers can become breeding grounds for algae, bacteria, and mosquito larvae.
“Most people clean their drinking water containers once in a while, but monthly is the bare minimum,” says Miriam Wanjiru.
To clean, use a mild bleach solution or white vinegar with hot water, followed by a thorough rinse.
2. Curtains and sheers
Curtains and sheers trap dust, pollen, and odours over time, especially in Nairobi and other dusty regions.
Sheers (light fabrics): Hand-wash or use a gentle machine cycle every 4–6 weeks.
Heavy curtains: Vacuum monthly and wash or dry-clean every 3–6 months, depending on the fabric and exposure.
Always use mild detergents and air-dry in the shade to prevent fading.
3. Gas burners and kitchen tiles
The kitchen, often the heart of the home, sees heavy use, especially in households cooking with gas, firewood, kerosene, or charcoal.
Grease accumulates quickly on walls, countertops, and particularly on gas burners.
Monthly or bi-weekly deep-cleaning helps prevent cockroach infestations and ensures efficient gas burning.
Use a bowl of warm water mixed with lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda, or locally made degreasers to wipe tiles and burners. Remove the burners and scrub thoroughly to eliminate carbon build-up, which can cause the flame to turn yellow instead of blue.
4. Doormats, windows and windowpanes
The doormat is your first line of defence and the first thing guests see, but how often is it cleaned?
Hose down, scrub, or shake out mats regularly, and sweep the entrance from the gate to the doorway.
Use soapy water or a suitable window cleaner to clean your windows and panes at least once a month to prevent dust accumulation, which can trigger allergies and asthma.
You can’t have clean curtains and dirty windows.
5. Ceiling corners and curtain rails
High corners and curtain rails are often overlooked, yet they harbour spiders, cobwebs, and trapped dust.
Use a broom wrapped in a damp cloth or a feather duster to reach these hidden areas.
“Many of our clients in Westlands and Ruiru forget to look up,” jokes Grace Mutheu, who runs a cleaning business in Nairobi. “It’s where all the dust hides. Cleaning it monthly also prevents cobwebs from forming.”
6. Fridge and pantry storage
Cleaning your fridge monthly isn’t just about appearances. Spoiled food, spilt liquids, and mould can develop unnoticed at the back of your fridge or pantry.
Before restocking, wipe down all shelves and surfaces, check expiry dates, and discard expired items. A mixture of baking soda and warm water works well for this task.
7. Indoor plant leaves and pots
Indoor plants are a common feature in modern Kenyan homes, appreciated for their beauty and air-purifying qualities. However, their leaves gather dust, which reduces oxygen output.
Take time each month to gently wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. Inspect pots for signs of mould, insects, or soil deterioration.
“Plants are living things; they need regular grooming, just like pets,” says Mutheu. “Cleanliness is a preventive health measure, and monthly resets empower families to take charge of their living spaces without waiting for illness to strike.”
Social media has also played a key role in normalising monthly home resets across Kenya.
From TikTok home-care videos in Eastleigh to YouTube cleaning hacks from Mombasa, young people are blending traditional habits with modern routines.
Clean homes don’t just happen through weekly tidying. A monthly deep-clean of neglected spaces is the difference between comfort and chronic illness.
Health experts and local cleaning professionals say this habit isn’t just about keeping a tidy house; it also promotes better health, particularly in a country where dust, humidity, and urban pollution provide ideal conditions for allergens and bacteria.
Here are seven areas you should never skip during your monthly cleaning, no matter how spotless your home may appear.
1. Water storage containers
With many households relying on stored water, whether in tanks or jerry cans, regular cleaning is essential. If neglected, these containers can become breeding grounds for algae, bacteria, and mosquito larvae.
“Most people clean their drinking water containers once in a while, but monthly is the bare minimum,” says Miriam Wanjiru.
To clean, use a mild bleach solution or white vinegar with hot water, followed by a thorough rinse.
2. Curtains and sheers
Curtains and sheers trap dust, pollen, and odours over time, especially in Nairobi and other dusty regions.
Sheers (light fabrics): Hand-wash or use a gentle machine cycle every 4–6 weeks.
Heavy curtains: Vacuum monthly and wash or dry-clean every 3–6 months, depending on the fabric and exposure.
Always use mild detergents and air-dry in the shade to prevent fading.
3. Gas burners and kitchen tiles
The kitchen, often the heart of the home, sees heavy use, especially in households cooking with gas, firewood, kerosene, or charcoal.
Grease accumulates quickly on walls, countertops, and particularly on gas burners.
Monthly or bi-weekly deep-cleaning helps prevent cockroach infestations and ensures efficient gas burning.
Use a bowl of warm water mixed with lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda, or locally made degreasers to wipe tiles and burners. Remove the burners and scrub thoroughly to eliminate carbon build-up, which can cause the flame to turn yellow instead of blue.
4. Doormats, windows and windowpanes
The doormat is your first line of defence and the first thing guests see, but how often is it cleaned?
Hose down, scrub, or shake out mats regularly, and sweep the entrance from the gate to the doorway.
Use soapy water or a suitable window cleaner to clean your windows and panes at least once a month to prevent dust accumulation, which can trigger allergies and asthma.
You can’t have clean curtains and dirty windows.
5. Ceiling corners and curtain rails
High corners and curtain rails are often overlooked, yet they harbour spiders, cobwebs, and trapped dust.
Use a broom wrapped in a damp cloth or a feather duster to reach these hidden areas.
“Many of our clients in Westlands and Ruiru forget to look up,” jokes Grace Mutheu, who runs a cleaning business in Nairobi. “It’s where all the dust hides. Cleaning it monthly also prevents cobwebs from forming.”
6. Fridge and pantry storage
Cleaning your fridge monthly isn’t just about appearances. Spoiled food, spilt liquids, and mould can develop unnoticed at the back of your fridge or pantry.
Before restocking, wipe down all shelves and surfaces, check expiry dates, and discard expired items. A mixture of baking soda and warm water works well for this task.
7. Indoor plant leaves and pots
Indoor plants are a common feature in modern Kenyan homes, appreciated for their beauty and air-purifying qualities. However, their leaves gather dust, which reduces oxygen output.
Take time each month to gently wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. Inspect pots for signs of mould, insects, or soil deterioration.
“Plants are living things; they need regular grooming, just like pets,” says Mutheu. “Cleanliness is a preventive health measure, and monthly resets empower families to take charge of their living spaces without waiting for illness to strike.”
Social media has also played a key role in normalising monthly home resets across Kenya.
From TikTok home-care videos in Eastleigh to YouTube cleaning hacks from Mombasa, young people are blending traditional habits with modern routines.
Clean homes don’t just happen through weekly tidying. A monthly deep-clean of neglected spaces is the difference between comfort and chronic illness.
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