Learn how to deep clean your house with this room by room guide. Get the list of tasks, how often you should deep clean your home, and follow these tips. These simple tips and a free checklist will have your home clean in no time.
It’s not something we like to think about, but your home does need a deep cleaning from time to time. You don’t have to do it all at once but there are some tips you should follow when you deep clean your house to make sure it’s done properly. Let’s take a closer look at how to deep clean your house.
How to Deep Clean Your House
As you go room to room in your home you’ll want to start with these deep cleaning tips to help make the process easier.
Throughout the house
Start decluttering
First thing you’ll want to remove the clutter. A room free of clutter will appear a lot cleaner. Start by seperating clutter into 3 piles; keep, toss, donate.
Toss all of the garbage, bag up all of the items you want to donate, and put the items you want to keep away in their correct spot.
This is a work in progress if you’re wanting to remove clutter.
Work from to bottom
When cleaning, you’ll want to start at the top. Clean the cobwebs from the corners of the room, wipe down ceiling fans, dust the tops of doorways, mirrors, etc. You may even want to dust your ceiling, especially if you have a popcorn ceiling, just do it carefully. This allows the dirt to fall to the bottom where it can be cleaned up when dusting and vacuuming.
Clean windows and doors
Once you’ve cleaned the ceiling, light fixtures, and ceiling corners it’s time to clean your doors and windows. Using white vinegar and a microfiber cloth is all you need for this step.
Add white vinegar to a spray bottle and spray it on your windows and doors. Follow up with a microfiber cloth for glass to create a streak-free finish.
With a damp rag wipe down the trim and sills to remove any dust or dirt. For doorways use a vacuum to remove any dirt, pine needles, or dust.
Wash window treatments and blinds
Next, you’ll dust your blinds. If you live in an area that has a lot of humidity, you may need to spray your dust blinder with some all-purpose cleaner or white vinegar to release the dust.
You also want to wash your curtains (if applicable) and dust window hardware. Keep an eye on washing instructions for your curtains. Here’s an article on how to read laundry labels.
Thoroughly dust surfaces
Dusting becomes a forgotten task. For most surfaces using a simple duster is all you need. You can also you a dusting rag. When you find a tough to dust item or stuck on dust use some all-purpose cleaner or vinegar to help release any dust.
Wipe down the walls
If you have a room with a lot of humidity, such as your bathroom, your walls may be dirty. Also, if you have pets you might notice dirt lines on the walls.
The easiest way to clean the walls is to use a magic eraser with some warm water.
You can also use an all-purpose cleaner or a mixture of warm water, vinegar, and a couple of drops of dish soap. Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle and grab a rag then you’re ready to go.
Deep clean the floors
Last, but not least, it’s time for the floors. Move the furniture like beds, couches, and chairs so you can clean under them. Don’t forget to vacuum the corners and baseboards.
For hardwood, vinyl, or tile flooring you can use a steam mop with a couple of drops of your favorite essential oils to clean your floors.
For carpets, now’s the time to rent a professional grade cleaner. This will help remove dirt and spots. If you’ve got kids and or pets you might want to invest in your own.
Why it’s important to deep clean your house
Germs and dirt are everywhere! Deep cleaning your house after the change of seasons needs to happen to get rid of all the dirt and grime.
How often should you deep clean your house?
This can vary…but at a minimum, you should deep clean your home at least 4 times a year or seasonally. Many people don’t tend to do this, but it’s a goal to strive for! Make it a plan to clean after Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall!
How to deep clean my house in a day
Did you know that it’s possible to deep clean your house in just one day? Grab your cleaning supplies, start in a room, clean in a loop, and remove distractions is the best way to deep clean your house in a day.
Put together a cleaning bucket (see below what all you need) so you can take it from room to room.
Start cleaning at one end of the house. If your home is arranged in a line, move from one end to the other. If your home is arranged in a square you’ll want to make a loop with your cleaning. This is the most effective way to deep clean your home.
Remove any distractions like your favorite TV show to help you stay focused on cleaning.
Deep clean your house room by room
Now let me walk you through how to deep clean your house room by room. These will focus on the tasks you’ll want to follow for each room.
Bedroom
Bedding – Strip the bed and wash all of your bedding. Remove your mattress protector, wash it. Clean your sheets. Separate your duvet cover from your insert and wash that too.
Pillows – Remove your pillowcase and wash that. Then add your pillow in the wash on the gentle cycle. When drying your pillows add a few tennis balls to the dryer to fluff your pillows. How to wash pillows
Mattress – Refresh your mattress by vacuuming it. If you need to remove odors or stains then you’ll want to spot treat any stains with a mild dish detergent and water mix and sprinkle a bit of baking soda on your mattress to soak up any odors. How to clean a mattress
Closet, drawers, bedside table – Remove any garbage or clutter from your bedside table. Clear out old clothes and either donate them or store off-season clothing. Fold and organize clothing by type.
Toys – Put toys in their proper places like baskets, toy boxes, or bins. Remove any broken items.
Kitchen
Cabinets – Wipe down cabinets tops, doors, and pulls. Removing any dust, food, or grime that’s collected over the months. Use a spray bottle with vinegar and a rag for this process.
Appliances – Clean your appliances inside and out. I have detailed posts about cleaning your kitchen appliances. You can check them out below:
Wipe down the fronts with a combo of vinegar and a rag.
Countertops – Clear any clutter on your kitchen countertops. Remove all items from your counters and clean your counters. Wipe down any items that belong on your counters like spice racks, coffee pot, knives, etc. Make sure they’re free from dust, grime, and food.
Odds and ends – Items that you might store in your kitchen on shelves or on display need attention too. You’ll want to dust and wipe down those odds and ends.
Sink and garbage disposal – To clean your sink cut a lemon in half, dip in coarse salt and scrub the sink thoroughly. When you’re done rinse with water. To clean your garbage disposal toss that lemon in and allow your garbage disposal to run.
Sink drain – Sprinkle some baking soda down the drain and follow with white vinegar. Once the bubbling has stopped and you don’t see any more baking soda, take a small scrub brush or old toothbrush and scrub around the drain. Finish by pouring boiling water down the drain.
Bathroom
Shower – Spray your favorite bathroom cleaner or white vinegar on the shower walls. Scrub the walls with a scrub brush or a magic eraser. Polish and remove soap scum from the faucet and drain.
Curtain and liner – For cloth shower curtains toss the curtain in the washer and follow the label for washing instructions. For your plastic shower liner you can toss that in the washing machine on the gentle cycle with some baking soda. Here are the full instructions.
Cabinet – Go through old bottles and containers and remove empty or almost empty bottles. Toss any that you won’t use to help clear up space in your bathroom.
Toilet – Toss in a toilet bowl cleaner tab and allow to sit for a few minutes while you spray down your toilet seat and toilet bowl with white vinegar. Wipe down with a cloth or rage. When the toilet bowl cleaner tab has dissolved, scrub the bowl with a toilet bowl scrubber.
Sink and counter – Using your all-purpose cleaner or white vinegar spray the entire area, scrub any stuck on grime and wipe clean.
Mirror – Using a microfiber cloth and white vinegar, spray the mirror with vinegar and wipe clean with a glass microfiber cloth for a streak-free finish.
Drain – Follow the same steps as you did in the kitchen for the drains in your bathroom. You’ll want to do this for your tub and sink.
Living Room/Family Room
Freshen furniture – Remove throw pillows and blankets from the couches and chairs. Vacuum your furniture with an upholstery attachment. For leather furniture follow with a damp rag with warm soapy water to wipe away any stains.
Frames and decor – Dust and wipe down frames and fronts removing dust and dirt. Follow up with any other decor, plants, or items that need attention.
Electronics – Dust the top and bottom of electronics and wipe down the TV
Pillows and throws – Launder throws and pillows. Replace pillow covers if you change those seasonally.
Flat surfaces – Wipe down and remove clutter from tables, shelves, and other flat surfaces.
Entryway
Clear shoes – Put away extra shoes, coats, and bags. Dust and clean shoe holders.
Declutter closet – If you use an entryway closet to store coats and other items. Go through items to keep with the season.
Baskets and table – Clear your entryway table and baskets making sure they’re storing the correct items. The entryway table can be a dumping ground for paper clutter and other items. Clear items that don’t belong.
Supplies to use
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Microfiber cloths
- Spray bottle
- Gloves
- Essential oils
- Scrub brushes (in different sizes)
- Steam mop
- Magic Eraser
- All-purpose cleaner
- Duster with extender
- Blind duster
Deep cleaning a house takes some serious work, but the reward at the end is amazing. Sitting down and seeing your home clean will make you feel very productive.
Plus, the more that you deep clean your home, the easier it will get each and every time!
