3 genius ways professionals clean behind appliances without having to move them – to save hours of backbreaking work

The small gaps behind your fridge or stove are where dirt, pests, and even mold can hide. But how do you clean these spots while cleaning a kitchen without moving heavy appliances?

Professional cleaners have tried-and-tested tricks for reaching out-of-sight areas. With the right tools and techniques, you can achieve spotless results without back-breaking effort.

Here’s how to clean behind appliances when cleaning a kitchen, keeping it pristine and hygienic.

Cleaning behind appliances without moving them

While pulling appliances away from the wall can be the best way to access every inch of space behind and beneath them when cleaning, these quick cleaning tips avoid you having to move heavy furniture by yourself, limiting the risk of injury.

1. Long-handled microfiber mop

One of the easiest ways to clean floors and clean walls behind appliances without moving them is with a microfiber mop, such as the Swiffer Sweep and Mop from Walmart.

Debbie Lovett, professional cleaner and owner of Plan B: Cleaning, says that these long-handed tools allow you to easily reach beneath and behind large appliances such as stoves and refrigerators, catching dust and cutting grease when paired with a quality degreaser, such as Attitude Kitchen Cleaning Spray, from Amazon.

Alternatively, Derek Christian, chief cleaning officer at All Star Cleaning, adds, ‘Another tool that does a great job is to use a Cuban mop, available at Amazon.

‘It is, essentially, a T-shaped wooden pole. You fold a microfiber cloth over the top of the T, and then you can reach behind the appliance, and the microfiber will grab onto debris and dust. The shape of the Cuban mop makes it so the microfiber cloth will not fall off easily.’

2. A long vacuum hose

Tackling the grime behind appliances is another unusual way to use a vacuum cleaner, making the best use of your vacuum cleaner attachments.

Derek continues, ‘The best way to clean behind appliances without moving them is to use the hose attachment on your vacuum. Many vacuums come with two plastic extender poles, which you can attach end-on-end to get into tight places.

‘If you need some agitation to dislodge stuck debris when cleaning a kitchen floor, a brush can be put on the end of the tubes.’

Need more reach? Cylinder cleaner vacuum wands at Amazon, or Dyson extension wands at Amazon, make it easy to tackle those tricky spots.

3. Remove kickboards

The area behind and underneath appliances and cabinets is one of the dirtiest hidden areas of a kitchen that we forget to clean, which can often attract indoor pests.

To tackle them together, Tim Conn, co-founder of Image One Cleaning, reminds us to remove the kickboards periodically to tackle these problem areas.

She says, ‘This makes it much easier to vacuum or wipe out the buildup underneath. Once removed, a quick pass with a microfiber mop or vacuum attachment can make a big difference in preventing dirt and bacteria from spreading.’

To make cleaning these spots easier in the future, Taylor Riley, partner at AMR US Commercial Cleaning, suggests, ‘One simple fix is cutting a piece of wax paper to fit behind the appliances. The wax paper [available from Walmart] acts like a shield, catching grease, crumbs, and dust before they stick to hard-to-reach surfaces. When it gets dirty, all you have to do is pull it out and toss it away.’

This is also a great hack for cleaning kitchen cabinets where the tops do not reach the ceiling. Looking to avoid creating unnecessary waste at home? Old newspapers also do the trick.

What to shop

FAQs

Why should you clean behind appliances?

Even if it’s out of sight, dust, grime, and dirt behind appliances can create serious kitchen problems. Dust buildup can trigger allergy symptoms and reduce air quality, while crumbs in damp areas can encourage mold growth. Left unchecked, debris can also attract pests – from harmless spiders to more serious intruders like mice and ants – making it a risk you don’t want to take.

Meet the experts

Debbie Lovett

Debbie Lovett is the owner of Plan: B Cleaning, a locally owned residential cleaning company serving the northside of Indianapolis that offers detailed cleanings to help clients reclaim their time.

Derek Christian

Derek and his wife own one of the largest home cleaning companies in America. Before owning his own cleaning company, he worked for Procter & Gamble for 13 years and was one of the authors of the book and training program used to certify home cleaners by the trade association, ISSA. 

Tim Conn

Tim started cleaning at just 14 years old, when he set up a janitorial company for a family-owned commercial office building, giving him over 35 years of experience in the janitorial industry.

Taylor Riley

Taylor Riley began his journey into the cleaning world in 2019, when he started working with Impact Cleaning Professionals of Polk County, Florida. Alongside raising a family, Taylor also founded Boom. Facility Service Advisors later on in his career, where he assists other cleaning business owners with his passion for Lead Generation.

Understanding how often you should clean a kitchen can help prevent hard-to-shift build-up. Luckily, when it comes to the areas behind appliances, Tim assures us, ‘You don’t need to do a deep clean every week. A quick vacuum or dusting with one of these tools once or twice a month helps prevent the need for a major clean later on.’