Sometimes, keeping the house totally clean can be a daunting task. Often a little stain, dirt, or dust can become large piles of dust within a short period. That is why deep house cleaning is a necessity.
Aside from the usual day-to-day cleaning of the house which typically takes 2-4 hours weekly according to a survey, there are certain things that are still left undone and deep cleaning seeks to correct them.
Now, what is included in a deep house cleaning and how can you go about it? Let’s find out.
What is Deep House Cleaning?
Deep house cleaning involves cleaning areas that are often left out in daily house cleaning. It is a cleaning exercise that takes care of all the little details that are essential to have an overall clean house.
Deep house cleaning is an activity that can be done within a three or six-month interval. However, you can choose to deep clean your house depending on the number of people living with you.
You need just a handful of equipment and products to start off your deep house cleaning. Things like vinegar, baking soda, scrub brushes, microfiber cloths, rubber gloves and many more.
Now that you have known what is included in deep house cleaning and materials to use for it, it is important to have a house cleaning list to enable you to clean thoroughly.
The Ultimate Deep Cleaning Checklist
To thoroughly clean every corner of your house that needs to be cleaned, you will need a deep cleaning schedule. Having a game plan in mind will enable you to clean in a systematic and organized manner, resulting in a thoroughly cleaned home.
Before you start cleaning, you need to get rid of clutter. Take inventory of your belongings and determine which ones are still important to you and which ones are not. The fewer items you have lying around, the less time and energy you spend cleaning.
Additionally, you need to turn off light bulbs, ceiling fans and other electrical appliances before you start cleaning. If there are certain parts of your house that you tend to neglect while cleaning, it is time to clean and organize them. Let us now dive right into the deep cleaning house checklist that can give you a clue on how to deep clean your house efficiently and thoroughly.
Kitchen Deep Cleaning Checklist
- Cabinets, fridge and other kitchen furniture
Unplug your fridge, electric cooker and every electronic appliance in your kitchen before you start cleaning.
Clear out every food item in your kitchen cabinets and fridge, using this opportunity to throw out expired food. Then, use warm water mixed with a gentle dish soap, which breaks down any oil or grease that might have built up, and a sponge to clean both inside and outside of the cabinets.
Pay close attention to crevices in the cabinet. You can make use of a vacuum cleaner with the crevice attachment to thoroughly clean out kitchen cabinets and cupboards. You can also utilise this opportunity to replace or install drawers and cabinet liners.
Clean both the interior and exterior of the fridge, taking care to follow the instructions of the manufacturer. Clean under the fridge if it is movable.
Wipe down the legs of kitchen tables, chairs and other kitchen furniture. Wash the trash can and recycling bins with a sponge and warm soapy water.
- Dishwasher and Microwave
If you have a dishwasher, you can clean the interior by first emptying it out, cleaning its filter and running it on the hottest setting with a cup of vinegar. Once the first cycle is complete, run the dishwasher again on the hottest setting, this time with a cup of baking soda. You can then clean the surface with a glass cleaner and wipe it off using a microfiber cloth.
Clean the interior of your microwave with a suitable cleaning product, and don’t forget to clean the tray as well. Alternatively, you can use a microwave-safe bowl that is filled with a cup of water and half a cup of vinegar. Place it in the microwave and heat it up on high power until the microwave window becomes steamy.
Turn it off and allow it to cool down for a couple of minutes before opening the door. Remove the bowl and wipe the interior of the microwave with a sponge. Scrub the exterior with a sponge and soapy water and wipe down with a microfiber cloth.
- Countertops and Kitchen Sinks
Clean the sink and countertops with warm soapy water and a scrubbing brush, paying closer attention to areas around the faucets and other inner crevices.
Sanitize your countertops and sinks.
- Stovetops and Ovens
Soak the metal tops of your gas stove in warm soapy water. Let it sit for a couple of minutes and scrub with a brush to remove grease and dirt. Alternatively, you can make use of baking soda to clean the entire stovetop. The baking soda can also be used to clean electric stoves effectively without causing any damages.
If you have a self-cleaning oven, simply remove any bits and pieces of food leftover in the oven and run the self-cleaning cycle, making sure that the kitchen is well ventilated while doing this.
However, if your oven is not self-cleaning, you have nothing to worry about. You can still remove grease and dirt from it effectively. Make a paste with baking soda and apply it in the oven. Allow the paste to sit for some hours, preferably, overnight. Scrub off the dirt with a brush and wipe clean.
Kitchen deep cleaning is very important as grease and dirt builds up over time. Food is prepared in the kitchen, and leaving this build-up for months without any kitchen deep cleaning will prove to be very detrimental to your health.
Bedroom Deep Cleaning Checklist
Ensure that you turn off every electrical appliance in the bedroom, including light bulbs and ceiling fans, before you start cleaning.
- Curtains and Other Bedroom Linens
Most bedroom linens are not washed as frequently as others in everyday cleaning. Some linens like duvets and comforters, curtains, pillows and pillowcases, and many more.
These should be a part of your bedroom deep cleaning checklist. Wash these linens according to the care instructions provided by the manufacturer in the label.
Since duvets often come with a duvet cover, it makes it easier to wash the cover separately without having to wash the entire duvet. However, with a comforter, it is a different case as it does not come with a cover.
When washing both duvets and comforters, bear in mind that the materials used in manufacturing them are often natural feathers and fibers. So, it is best to use cold water and avoid any high heat.
Alternatively, since you can not wash these linens as frequently as possible, endeavor to flip them from time to time. If you notice any little stain on it, rather than taking it to the laundry facility, you can spot clean them using baking soda.
You can also freshen them up using your dryer. Just place the duvet, comforter, or pillow in the dryer and set it to a cool or air setting. Add in a few dryer balls or clean tennis balls. Allow it to run for a few minutes.
- Bedroom Furniture
Clean every other furniture in your bedroom such as chairs, bed, dressers, using a damp microfiber cloth. If you can move your bed, clean behind the headboard and underneath the bed to remove dust.
Deep clean your dresser, removing clutter and reorganizing every item in it. Wipe down the shelves and baseboards with a microfiber cloth. Ensure that the dresser is not too clustered to prevent the build-up of mites and dust.
Living Room Deep Cleaning Checklist
The living room is one of the most frequented parts of the house. This makes it more prone to the accumulation of dust and grime. Let us take a look at some deep cleaning house tips that focus on the living room.
Use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of dust and furs, especially if you have a pet. When there are stains on the upholstery, you can spot clean them depending on the type of the stain and the amount of space it accumulated.
Wipe tables and chairs with a damp microfiber cloth. Move the cushions and clean underneath them to get rid of accumulated dust.
Shine your wooden pieces of furniture using furniture polishes.
- Deep Clean Floors
Cleaning the floors using various methods such as mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming are things that are often done in everyday house cleaning. However, when it comes to deep cleaning houses, it is pertinent that you pay extra attention to stains.
For high traffic areas like the living room, it is very easy for dirt to accumulate quickly. Therefore, deep cleaning tends to remove stains on carpets, rugs and grout on tiled floors.
If your floor is carpeted, you can use a carpet cleaning product to remove any stains. Before using such products, however, it is important to test it on a small portion of the carpet that is hidden so as to determine if the product will discolor the carpet or cause any damage to it.
Alternatively, you can use a mixture of equal parts of vinegar and water with a few drops of soap, depending on the size of the stain. Allow it to sit for a couple of minutes, then use a damp towel and make tapping motions on the stain, rather than rubbing it so as not to spread the stain.
However, if you just want to refresh the carpet or rug, you can sprinkle it with baking soda and allow it to stay overnight. The next day, use a vacuum cleaner to remove the baking soda and the carpet or rug will look fresh.
On the other hand, if your floor is tiled, you can make a paste using baking soda and vinegar. Apply it to the tiled floor, especially on the lines in-between the tiles or grout, and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Use a brush to scrub the stubborn stains away and wipe it clean with a damp microfiber cloth.
Bathroom Deep Cleaning Checklist
Before you start cleaning the bathroom, remove bath mats, rugs and wastebaskets. Wash them thoroughly and leave them out to dry.
- Shower Heads, Racks, and Curtains
The bathroom accumulates dirt over a long period. A bathroom deep cleaning schedule includes such things as washing the shower curtains and cleaning any dirt, soap scum, and rust on the showerhead.
The showerhead is not often cleaned in the daily house cleaning. Deep cleaning house allows you to focus more on removing any dirt that builds up on the showerhead.
You can either use cleaning products and tools suitable for cleaning the showerhead or prepare a solution using natural ingredients like vinegar.
To prepare the cleaning solution, mix two cups of vinegar with one cup of water. Pour the solution into a plastic bag and wrap it around the showerhead, leaving it for a couple of hours.
However, the amount of time the vinegar solution stays on the showerhead depends on the coating. If it is coated with metals like gold, nickel, or brass, do not allow it to stay for a long time. Let it sit for about 30 minutes.
If your shower curtain is a fabric, you can follow the washing instructions given by the manufacturer, taking care not to skip a single step.
On the other hand, if you have a plastic shower curtain and liner, you can either wash it using a washing machine. First, remove the metal hangers and toss the shower curtain and liner into the washing machine. Set it to spin on a delicate setting and allow it to air dry once it is clean.
- Bathtub and Other Bathroom Fixtures
Soap scum tends to make the bathtub very dirty over long periods. Sometimes, these stains can not be removed simply by using soap and water.
To get that sparkling clean bathtub free of soap scum, you can make a paste using baking soda and water. Apply this paste on the bathtub and scrub with a brush until it is clean. Wash it out with clean water. You can also apply the paste on some other bathroom fixtures using a detail brush or an old toothbrush to scrub in and around to clean them.
Apply a tile and grout cleaner on the bathroom walls and floor, and allow it to sit for a couple of minutes. Then scrub with a brush, rinse and dry off with a microfiber cloth.
Clean the entire floor and walls using an all-purpose cleaner. Use a glass cleaner to clean the bathroom mirror using a soft cloth. Shine the faucets and countertops.
Once you are done cleaning, replace the bath mats, rugs and waste baskets that you had removed earlier.
Other Parts Of The House
This house cleaning list seeks to focus on other equipment and parts of the house that are included in the deep house cleaning process. They include:
- Washing Machine
Use a washer cleaning product to clean the interior of your washing machine. Alternatively, you can clean it using a solution of vinegar and water. Spray the solution in the washing machine and leave for a few minutes.
Wipe it using a damp microfiber cloth, with the main focus on the rubber gasket that is found on the door of the machine. After that, pour in two to three cups of vinegar in the drum and set to spin on the hottest setting. Then add a cup of baking soda into the drum and repeat the same cycle.
Once the cycle is complete, wipe the machine with a dry cloth and allow it to air dry by leaving the door open. Clean your dryer and suck up any debris using a vacuum cleaner.
- Windows
Dirty windows are not only an eyesore but also prevents the penetration of natural light into the house. To get that sparkling clean window, you will need to do more than just dusting the glass.
It is advisable to clean your windows on a dry and cloudy day to prevent the occurrence of streaks. First, remove any dirt and dust particles on the window before cleaning.
Spray a small quantity of streak-free glass cleaner on the glass and clean with a microfiber cloth. If your window is large and hard-to-reach, you can clean it using a squeegee.
Remove the window screen from the frame and scrub with a mixture of warm water and all-purpose cleaner. Rinse the screen with clean water and insert it back into the window.
If you have a wooden window sill, do not spray too much of the cleaning products or water to prevent damage. You can clean it using a gentle all-purpose cleaner or wood cleaner and a damp microfiber cloth.
On the other hand, to clean sliding window tracks, vacuum using the crevice attachment of the vacuum cleaner and spray with an all-purpose cleaner. Allow it to sit for some minutes and wipe off with a soft fabric.
If your window has blinds, you can use a damp cloth and some soap to wipe off any dirt and dust particles on it.
- Vacuum Cleaner
The vacuum cleaner is a very handy tool in house cleaning. However, it also accumulates a lot of dust particles and dirt as a result of cleaning different areas in the house.
House deep cleaning can never be complete without cleaning the vacuum cleaner. To do this, replace the vacuum filter if it is very dirty or torn.
Cut off any thread attached to the brush a pair of scissors or a seam ripper. Additionally, to keep the vacuum cleaner’s suction very strong, you can change the bag when it is halfway or three-quarters full.
- Ceiling Fans and Light Bulbs
Just as a dirty window prevents natural light from penetrating into your house, a dirty light bulb can adversely affect the quality of light. These light fixtures tend to accumulate a lot of dust, but if you reach them, you can make them very clean.
Start with switching the light bulbs off to prevent any risk of shock. Then wipe clean with a damp microfiber cloth. Cleaning your light fixtures helps to improve the quality of light in your house.
Clean the ceiling fans using an all-purpose cleaner and a microfiber cloth, wiping each blade carefully and thoroughly.
- Use an ammonia-free glass cleaner to clean picture frames.
- Use a non-abrasive sponge and a soft cloth to clean walls and baseboards.
- Remove cobwebs using damp microfiber cloths tied to the ends of tall brooms and mops.
- Sweep, mop, and dust every nook and cranny in the house.
Deep Cleaning Services
It is not often easy to juggle work and housekeeping, especially in our fast-paced world where 7 out of 10 people say that they have no time to clean their properties. Additionally, advanced age can limit the energy and time that some people have to deep clean their house.
It is for this reason that deep cleaning service companies like Soji Cleaners are in business. We are professional deep cleaning house cleaners who help busy people and households with aged ones to deep clean their homes.
As part of our value proposition, we offer a wide range of deep cleaning services that clients can choose from. Our team of home cleaners are skilled and experienced when it comes to cleaning both home and office spaces.
Before you use our deep cleaning service, we’ll provide you with a professional house cleaning checklist so that you have an idea of what we are coming to do.
At best, is also easy to schedule deep cleaning from the comfort of your home. Using the Soji mobile app, you can arrange for a day that will be suitable for you to have your house deep cleaned, and we’ll be sure to deliver the best cleaning experience.
Final Words
In this article, we explained how to deep clean your house, even if it is your first time. Having a personal deep cleaning checklist or a professional house cleaning checklist from a cleaning company at hand will enable you to remember things to be cleaned and how to clean them in a systematic and organized manner.
Deep cleaning is very crucial to having a clean home and it gives your house a facelift. However, you must bear in mind that to maintain the cleanliness of your home, the regular day-to-day cleaning is a must.
Now that you know what is included in a deep house cleaning, make use of this house cleaning list on your next deep house cleaning and you wouldn’t have to remember everything that needs to be cleaned.