What workarounds did people try for "Why are toilets and kitchen sinks impossible to clean behind?"?

Community members documented 56 workarounds: 1. Using a steam cleaner and a small brush 2. Replacing fixtures with straight-sided alternatives 3. Taking out the bottom half of pantry shelves to hold a trash can 4. Refusing to install glass shower doors during bathroom redos 5. reading books from the library 6. watching short-form video creators on TikTok and YouTube 7. asking parents for guidance 8. learning through direct trial and error 9. dropping a cleaning sponge with dish soap and shaking 10. descaling 11. using citric acid or denture pods 12. using cleaning beads 13. soaking in vinegar overnight followed by dish soap and a thin bottle brush 14. Getting on the roof near the edge 15. Using an extendable hose with a flexible end and high-pressure water 16. Using a Swiffer or long-handled duster with an extended handle 17. Buying an extendable duster that reaches 25 plus feet 18. Having someone spot you on a step stool or small ladder 19. Leaving them uncleaned until scaffolding is brought out 20. using a quick hand vac for missed spots 21. using deep cleaning modes in specific rooms 22. accepting manual maintenance for complex furniture areas 23. Using a shop vac 24. Using paper towels, old toothbrushes, and disposable food skewers 25. Soaking with vinegar overnight and scrubbing with a sponge 26. Using a paintbrush 27. running vinegar 28. checking rubber seals and cleaning traps 29. removing and cleaning the arms 30. using a toothbrush 31. using a bottle cleaner 32. taking the top off 33. hot water dawn foaming spray and a bottle brush 34. rubbing alcohol soap and water mixture 35. Using a regular mop with washable microfiber pads 36. Using an O-Cedar spin mop with a brush head 37. Using a stiffer style floor sweeper with an extension handle and reusable microfiber covers 38. Using a Swiffer with an extension handle and a spray bottle 39. Popping off the sliding piece forcibly using a tool or utensil 40. Soaking lids in hot water with denture tablets or dish soap 41. Replacing or retiring difficult-to-wash tumblers in favor of models with easier-to-clean caps 42. Avoiding mugs with this specific lid design altogether 43. Sitting on a rolling stool to move along the wall. 44. Putting a sock over a foot and wiping the boards while standing. 45. Using a pivoting floor mop with a wet rag or microfiber cloth. 46. Sweeping the dust off with a broom or a stick vacuum brush attachment. 47. Attaching a small dish mop to a longer handle to avoid bending. 48. Refusing to install glass shower doors and opting for curtains or a wet bathroom. 49. Preparing all food in the sink to avoid getting crumbs in textured countertop grout. 50. Using the 'don't care' technique and simply ignoring the water spots on glass. 51. Arguing with contractors to ensure gaps are left wide enough for a hand to fit for wiping. 52. Avoiding heavily carved furniture, intricate chandeliers, or maximalist decor that requires dusting. 53. Using muriatic acid to easily dissolve hard water stains in the toilet bowl. 54. Using a scrub brush and an acid-based bathroom cleaner 55. Using a triangular shaped wand meant for cars that has washable heads. 56. Using a dish wand with disposable sponge heads.

Why are toilets and kitchen sinks impossible to clean behind?

Bathroom and kitchen fixtures are often built with narrow gaps against walls and convoluted curves around plumbing bases that make physical access impossible. Trying to reach these tight spaces forces people into awkward physical positions and leaves trapped dirt and dirty water permanently out of reach.

Overview

Last updated Oct 31, 2026

People affected30 accounts across 3 forums

Workarounds found56 items attempted

Community agreement8,830 total upvotes

What the numbers show

Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count

The most recent one is from October 2026.
This comes up 21.5× more often in r/CleaningTips than across the site as a whole.

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

56 items+ Contribute

Found another way around this?

Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.

1
Using a steam cleaner and a small brush
2 people mentioned
Did this help you?
2
Replacing fixtures with straight-sided alternatives
Did this help you?
3
Taking out the bottom half of pantry shelves to hold a trash can
Did this help you?
4
Refusing to install glass shower doors during bathroom redos
Did this help you?
5
reading books from the library
Did this help you?
6
watching short-form video creators on TikTok and YouTube
Did this help you?
7
asking parents for guidance
Did this help you?
8
learning through direct trial and error
Did this help you?
9
dropping a cleaning sponge with dish soap and shaking
Did this help you?
10
descaling
Did this help you?
11
using citric acid or denture pods
Did this help you?
12
using cleaning beads
Did this help you?
13
soaking in vinegar overnight followed by dish soap and a thin bottle brush
Did this help you?
14
Getting on the roof near the edge
Did this help you?
15
Using an extendable hose with a flexible end and high-pressure water
Did this help you?
16
Using a Swiffer or long-handled duster with an extended handle
Did this help you?
17
Buying an extendable duster that reaches 25 plus feet
Did this help you?
18
Having someone spot you on a step stool or small ladder
Did this help you?
19
Leaving them uncleaned until scaffolding is brought out
Did this help you?
20
using a quick hand vac for missed spots
Did this help you?
21
using deep cleaning modes in specific rooms
Did this help you?
22
accepting manual maintenance for complex furniture areas
Did this help you?
23
Using a shop vac
Did this help you?
24
Using paper towels, old toothbrushes, and disposable food skewers
Did this help you?
25
Soaking with vinegar overnight and scrubbing with a sponge
Did this help you?
26
Using a paintbrush
Did this help you?
27
running vinegar
Did this help you?
28
checking rubber seals and cleaning traps
Did this help you?
29
removing and cleaning the arms
Did this help you?
30
using a toothbrush
Did this help you?
31
using a bottle cleaner
Did this help you?
32
taking the top off
Did this help you?
33
hot water dawn foaming spray and a bottle brush
Did this help you?
34
rubbing alcohol soap and water mixture
Did this help you?
35
Using a regular mop with washable microfiber pads
Did this help you?
36
Using an O-Cedar spin mop with a brush head
Did this help you?
37
Using a stiffer style floor sweeper with an extension handle and reusable microfiber covers
Did this help you?
38
Using a Swiffer with an extension handle and a spray bottle
Did this help you?
39
Popping off the sliding piece forcibly using a tool or utensil
Did this help you?
40
Soaking lids in hot water with denture tablets or dish soap
Did this help you?
41
Replacing or retiring difficult-to-wash tumblers in favor of models with easier-to-clean caps
Did this help you?
42
Avoiding mugs with this specific lid design altogether
Did this help you?
43
Sitting on a rolling stool to move along the wall.
Did this help you?
44
Putting a sock over a foot and wiping the boards while standing.
Did this help you?
45
Using a pivoting floor mop with a wet rag or microfiber cloth.
Did this help you?
46
Sweeping the dust off with a broom or a stick vacuum brush attachment.
Did this help you?
47
Attaching a small dish mop to a longer handle to avoid bending.
Did this help you?
48
Refusing to install glass shower doors and opting for curtains or a wet bathroom.
Did this help you?
49
Preparing all food in the sink to avoid getting crumbs in textured countertop grout.
Did this help you?
50
Using the 'don't care' technique and simply ignoring the water spots on glass.
Did this help you?
51
Arguing with contractors to ensure gaps are left wide enough for a hand to fit for wiping.
Did this help you?
52
Avoiding heavily carved furniture, intricate chandeliers, or maximalist decor that requires dusting.
Did this help you?
53
Using muriatic acid to easily dissolve hard water stains in the toilet bowl.
Did this help you?
54
Using a scrub brush and an acid-based bathroom cleaner
Did this help you?
55
Using a triangular shaped wand meant for cars that has washable heads.
Did this help you?
56
Using a dish wand with disposable sponge heads.
Did this help you?

Tried another approach not listed above?+ Share your workaround ↑

In their words

Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.

r/CleaningTips28 people · January 2026 – October 2026

“I have personal beef with 1. Cabinets that dont reach the ceiling 2. Textured concrete floors 3. Badly laid out tiny mechanical closets.”source ↗

TheAutisticGooseGirl · r/CleaningTips · 2,938 upvotes

“Bathroom designs where you have to hug the toilet to clean behind it. 🤮”source ↗

FionaGoodeEnough · r/CleaningTips · 2,477 upvotes

“I have a kitchen that has no designated space for a rubbish bin…”source ↗

Presence_of_me · r/CleaningTips · 1,737 upvotes

“And why do toilets have to have curves and crevices in the base for the plumbing?”source ↗

DisplacedEastCoaster · r/CleaningTips · 884 upvotes

“Everything about our kitchen sink is poorly designed for cleaning. There's a tiny space between the back of the sink and the wall that just gets covered in weird dirty water...”source ↗

Arete108 · r/CleaningTips · 403 upvotes

“The glass shower door gets covered in water spots. The faucet has all these little gaps that are impossible to wipe properly.”source ↗

talk2myreps · r/CleaningTips · 123 upvotes

“I never for the life of me understood why anyone thought sliding glass doors in the tub-shower was a good idea…it’s impossible to clean the overlap without taking one of them off”source ↗

CombatCrayon25 · r/CleaningTips · 113 upvotes

“To be clear, the plastic part in the middle that covers the opening does not come out, and liquids seem to get caught under it, making it incredibly difficult to clean.”source ↗

ChocolateCake16 · r/CleaningTips · 31 upvotes

“I used to clean this bottle frequently but as you can see here the corner is not able to be reached for cleaning. Does anyone have any idea how to clean this part?”source ↗

“I used a brush which can be curved to reach there but still it has some limits.”source ↗

maverickPrem · r/CleaningTips · 29 upvotes

“How would you clean this light fixture on the very left? It's difficult to use a ladder because of the height.”source ↗

Guilty-Falcon4941 · r/CleaningTips · 20 upvotes

“I have a new black kitchen faucet that i just constantly wipe down even when visibly clean just because i know it will get dirty soon literally just from hard water.”source ↗

lickmyfupa · r/CleaningTips · 15 upvotes

“I was just complaining about the books and crannies inside my water bottle lid. Ridiculous.”source ↗

littlescreechyowl · r/CleaningTips · 12 upvotes

“My kitchen countertops aren’t flat. They have grouted grooves. It is HELL trying to wipe them off. Stuff gets stuck in the grout every single time.”source ↗

PrinceWendellWhite · r/CleaningTips · 12 upvotes

“complete coverage is impossible.”source ↗

m3kkuzzz · r/CleaningTips · 7 upvotes

“My answer is range hoods. Every one I've had has these layered mesh filters that drip grease on you while you're trying to clean them, and the area behind the filter is somehow worse.”source ↗

Neat-Mirror607 · r/CleaningTips · 7 upvotes

“It's the hard-to-reach spots that we're most frustrating.”source ↗

“Took forever, though, and hoping that someone has some wisdom that will speed the process up in the future.”source ↗

catalinashenanigans · r/CleaningTips · 4 upvotes

“So I moved to a second floor apartment, and I wanted to clean the outside of these UPVC windows.”source ↗

“There is no latch, hinge or button to open it and slide it to the side.”source ↗

“This is driving me crazy!!!”source ↗

noodlesailor · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

“How would you go about cleaning sconces suspended high up in the air?”source ↗

“The issue with the sconces is that we can't use a ladder.. the sconces are on the floor of a very tiny balcony, so there is a risk of falling when trying to reach the sconces.”source ↗

International-Owl453 · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

“edges are fine on mine, it's the corners behind chair legs it never gets. i just do a quick hand vac there once a week.”source ↗

chai_and_chores · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

“It's the hard-to-reach spaces that I'm really interested in feedback on. Used a sponge and it just didn't cut it for a large portion of the area.”source ↗

catalinashenanigans · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

“Any good recommendations on like a type of mop designed to clean walls and ceilings? Just something I can use so I don't have to constantly climb a stool to reach the high spots”source ↗

Yard-Ornament · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

“Well, apparently we have the same lid and the same problem. 😂”source ↗

EastCoastWildling · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

“The sliding piece doesn't come off.”source ↗

ChocolateCake16 · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

“It broke from doing that.”source ↗

ChocolateCake16 · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

“Mine is currently in its second soak in hot water. I haven't figured out how I will manage it either. Such a pain!”source ↗

New_Fix_9950 · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

“Admittedly, my baseboards have gotten pretty bad... anyone have a technique that doesnt involve scrubbing on my hands and knees? My cronic back pain has had me avoiding this chore for way too long”source ↗

cozy_with_tea · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

“I've tried everything to no avail. I use those thick yellow auto micro fiber clothes. I dampen them and clean on my hands and knees. I do have a GSD and two cats which is why I think nothing else works.”source ↗

mabel55 · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

“I had to have an argument with both my husband and my bathroom installer about making sure the gap between the shower cubicle and the sink cabinet was wide enough for me to put my hand in for cleaning.”source ↗

CptFrankFurillo · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

“I don’t understand how the hell this part of the tub even got this grimy. How does water even get under here?”source ↗

littleladym19 · r/CleaningTips · 1 upvotes

“too much info at once or trying to overhaul my life can make me freeze up and spiral in shame lol.”source ↗

Defiant_Morning_02 · r/CleaningTips

“I hate cleaning bathrooms, but I’m on the hunt to find products that make it suck less.”source ↗

“I’m looking for a cleaning gadget that’s kinda like the Clorox disposable toilet scrub brush, but it’s just a disposable sponge that absorbs stuff and I can spray down say, the base of a toilet with my own cleaning product, scrub, then toss.”source ↗

autumnglorysugarbee · r/CleaningTips

r/HomeImprovement1 person · September 2026

“Looking for some good options on how to clean gutters on a tall 2 story house.”source ↗

“I have been getting on the room but I don’t want to get so close to the edge anymore”source ↗

“Does anyone know of an extender pole with an attachment that I can use to walk on the roof to clean the gutters but not come so close to the edge?”source ↗

Pretend-Expert2554 · r/HomeImprovement · 2 upvotes

r/appliancerepair1 person · October 2026

“I've tried a tooth brush, a bottle cleaner, I took the top off, but I cant get to it. Any suggestions or tools?”source ↗

SteadyWealthio · r/appliancerepair · 1 upvotes