Maintaining a clean home relies pretty heavily on messes you can see—if you can’t see it, you probably won’t clean it, unless you’re an incredibly thorough cleaner who gets every corner spotless. But when your taller friends come over, they probably notice all the grimy spots you’re not seeing. (And they’re probably too polite to tell you about them.)

Unfortunately, it doesn’t really matter how tall your tall friends are: If they’re taller than you by anything more than a few inches, they’re probably spotting places in your home that you haven’t even thought about cleaning. Those extra inches give your visitors a whole new perspective on your home, one that reveals spots in desperate need of a wipe-down. And the taller they are, the more dusty spots they’re likely spotting.

So how can you keep up with these unseen (to you) spots? Try climbing up on a step stool and surveying your home: What surfaces can you see now that you couldn’t before? Those are a good place to start. Otherwise, read on for our list of dirty crevices, surfaces, and spots that your tall friends probably notice every time they visit.

1. The Top of the Refrigerator

Unless your kitchen contains just a mini-fridge, you’re probably not peeking at the top of the fridge too often. Big mistake: Kitchens get plenty dirty already, but the top of your refrigerator can be a veritable dust trap. Give it a good scrubbing before your next event, then be sure to run a duster over the surface (even if you can’t see it) every so often to prevent the dust bunnies from returning.

2. The Cabinet Above the Stovetop

You’ve probably already noticed how grease can build up on all the cabinet fronts in your kitchen, but that build-up can get especially extreme in the cabinets right above your stovetop (if you have them, though a range hood will also get dirty fast), where oil splatter, steam, and smoke can all combine for a sticky mess. Even worse, because those cabinets above a stovetop are so high, you may not notice the layer of gunk on the cabinet doors. Be sure to include those cabinets in any de-greasing work you do.

3. The Tops of Kitchen Cabinets

This one’s for your very tallest friends: If your cabinets don’t go all the way to the ceiling, the tops of those cabinets are a prime spot for dust accumulation—and if your friend is tall enough and your cabinets are a little low, they might get an eyeful of that dust with every visit. Try to remember to pull out a step stool and get up there with a duster or hand vac every so often.

4. The Top Surfaces of Bookshelves, Hutches, and Other Shelving Units

We can’t say it enough: Just because you can’t see the dust doesn’t mean it isn’t there. That top surface of your beloved shelves is probably covered in a nice layer of dust that’s built up since your last move. Take your duster to it as part of your regular cleaning routine, and never worry about your tall friend spotting the mess again.

5. All the Shelves You Can’t Reach

It doesn’t matter if they’re floating shelves with artfully arranged tchotchkes, a mounted plate rack, or open shelving in your kitchen. Any shelf that’s open to the air and so high that you can’t see the surface itself is going to get very, very dusty, and many of them are probably at the eye level of your taller friends. Keeping these shelves relatively dust-free will also allow you to keep the items on them cleaner and better preserved.

6. The Tops of Floor Lamps

Whether the uppermost point of your floor lamp is an artful dome, a frosted globe, a lampshade, or a metal stand (for arched floor lamps), dust is going to gather there, and if the lamp is so tall that you can’t see it or easily reach the top (or you’re on the shorter side), you’re probably not cleaning it all too often. Be sure to add “dust lamps from top to bottom” to your cleaning list, too. 

7. The Top Edges of Picture Frames and Wall Art

We love a good gallery wall, but just like everything else in your home, those frames can gather dust. Even if you remember to dust the fronts of your frames regularly, you may be forgetting to get the tops of the frames, where dust can accumulate the most. (This is particularly true if those frames stretch above your eye level.) When you dust your beloved family photo wall, make sure you’re getting every edge of those frames.

8. The Top Part of the Bathroom Mirror

You probably keep your bathroom mirror spotless (or at least free of huge globs of toothpaste), but are you going all the way to the top of the mirror? You may be missing water stains and dust on the top bit of the mirror—the exact spot your tall friends will be looking while they wash their hands. Make sure your mirror-cleaning covers the full mirror, even if it requires pulling out a step stool.

9. The Tops of Chandeliers and Hanging Light Fixtures

Delicate chandeliers and other suspended light fixtures require a gentle touch, but you still have to keep them clean—and that includes getting the highest bulbs and surfaces. (Cobweb-strewn chandeliers are fun in gothic mysteries, not in your dining room.) This is especially true if your light fixture hangs above a table, and is thus a little lower—even your regular-height friends might be able to see the dust on that one. Commit to cleaning the full fixture every time.

10. Built-in Shower Shelves and Tall Shower Organizers

Your tall overnight guests will thank you for this one. You know to keep any shelves in your shower (built-in or otherwise) free of soap scum, but how often are you looking at the highest shelves? Some showers have shelves set pretty high up on the walls—you may be missing build-up there. Be sure to clean those shelves while you’re prepping for your guest’s arrival.

11. The Showerhead

Ask any tall person—all too often, showerheads are too low for them, so they have to stoop to wash their hair. This becomes a problem for you when you realize that, if they’re eye-level with your showerhead, they can see all the gunk that builds up on your showerhead behind the nozzle, on the back of the showerhead, and on the piping. We recommend cleaning your showerhead at least once a month—try to include cleaning the back of the showerhead in that chore.

12. The Top of Stacked Washer/Dryer Units

Why is your visitor using your laundry room? That’s a question for another time—but if they’re tall enough to see the top of your dryer, they’re probably spotting leftover lint and lots of dust. Give this surface a light dusting every so often to keep it clean.