Media release / 3.7.2025
These places are often left uncleaned – make the most of rainy days by thoroughly cleaning your home
The cool and rainy weather has not been kind to Finns on holiday during this early summer. However, the cold weather is ideal for the annual cleaning of the home. A Lumo home expert explains which places in homes are often left uncleaned and how to clean them.
Lumo Homes has nearly 41,000 rental apartments around Finland. Director of Property Management Ville Kilpi knows from experience which places Finns most often forget to clean.
"Weekly vacuuming and dusting are part of everyday life, and the windows and oven, for example, are also usually washed well. On the other hand, the places that are typically forgotten when cleaning are the filter of the cooker hood, the exhaust air valves of the apartment, the floor drain and the drain traps of the sinks," says Kilpi.
In a fast-paced everyday life, the refrigerator and oven are also cleaned less frequently.
"In connection with a thorough summer cleaning, it is also a good idea to move large household appliances, such as the stove and refrigerator, and take a look at what has accumulated under and behind them over time. Dust and rubbish should be vacuumed, as they pose a fire safety risk and increase energy consumption," says Kilpi.
Summer cleaning checklist:
Refrigerator
In addition to keeping the refrigerator’s shelves and drawers clean, it is good to make sure that the drain tube inside the refrigerator is open. The opening of the drain tube can be cleaned with a cotton bud or a small brush intended for drain tubes. It is also a good idea to pull out the refrigerator so that dust and rubbish can be cleaned from behind it.
Cooker hood filter
Remove the filter from the underside of the cooker hood and clean the filter in hot water with a dish brush and grease-cutting dishwashing detergent or put it in the dishwasher. The grease filter should be washed up to once a month depending on how much you cook at home, but at least a couple of times a year.
Exhaust air valves
Wipe the exhaust air valve in the wall or ceiling of the apartment with a damp cloth. The valve should not be opened to avoid changing the ventilation settings. The valve can be cleaned as deeply as possible with a cloth without disassembling it. Test if the ventilation works by placing a piece of paper over the valve. If the paper remains at the mouth of the valve, the ventilation is working as it should. The valves should be cleaned twice a year.
Make-up air valves
The make-up air valves in the window frames should be cleaned twice a year. At the same time, check that the valve is open so that fresh air can flow into the apartment. Most models have separate filters. Remove the filter and wash with hot water and dishwashing detergent.
Floor drain
You can clean the floor drain by first lifting and removing the grating. The drain's inner lining and the bottom plug should not be removed. Next, empty all water, hair and dirt from inside the drain. Different types of filters can also be used in the floor drain to prevent hair and other larger debris from entering the drain. The filter is easy to clean or replace at regular intervals.
Drain traps
All drain points have a water seal that prevents the drain odours from entering the apartment. Unscrew the drain trap under the sink and clean it regularly. If the drain has not been used for a long time, such as during a long holiday, the water seal may dry out and cause a drain odour in the apartment. The problem can be fixed by pouring water into the drain.
See Lumo homes' video instructions for cleaning: