A good deep clean goes well beyond your usual cleaning routine. It’s a thorough, lengthy process that targets stubborn grime and hidden areas. While satisfying, the process can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. We’ll walk you through how to deep clean your home, including preparation, making your own cleaner, and a logical room order to follow.
Preparing for A Deep Cleaning
Before beginning a deep cleaning, you’ll need to gather tools and supplies and prepare your home properly. Follow the steps below.
Cleaning Solutions and Products
Stock up on all-purpose cleaners, glass cleaners, disinfectants, and specialized products for different surfaces. For tough stains and grime, consider products like Magic Erasers or specialized degreasers.
Consider using environmentally friendly cleaning products to reduce your ecological footprint. Vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice can be effective for many cleaning tasks. Look for biodegradable and nontoxic commercial cleaners when needed. Microfiber cloths and reusable cleaning tools can help reduce waste.
Equipment and Accessories
Invest in quality microfiber cloths, scrub brushes, a reliable vacuum cleaner with attachments, a mop, and a bucket. Telescoping dusters and extension poles can be invaluable for hard-to-reach areas. For tasks involving strong chemicals, don’t forget protective gear like gloves and a face mask.
Decluttering Your Home
Before beginning the cleaning process, take some time to declutter and organize your home. Remove unnecessary items from surfaces, making it easier to clean thoroughly. Open windows to improve ventilation, especially when using strong cleaning products. Create a checklist for each room to ensure you don’t miss any areas during your deep clean.
Deep Cleaning Your Living Room
Even if you clean on the regular, dust and dirt have a way of redepositing themselves. Now’s the time to wash or dry-clean window coverings and fabric upholstery, following care labels. Then, tackle surfaces you usually bypass, starting at the highest spot in the room and working your way down.
- Ceilings: Sweep over them with a telescoping microfiber wand, making sure to get into cobwebby corners.
- Light fixtures: For pendants and chandeliers, turn off fixtures and spray a 1-to-4 solution of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water on a lint-free cloth. Wipe down, and follow with a dry cloth.
- Ceiling fans: Slip an old pillowcase over each blade to trap dust as you wipe it with a microfiber cloth sprayed with a dust repellent like Endust.
- Heaters: “If heat registers are filthy, pop them out and run them through the dishwasher,” says American Janitor Service owner Keith Goldstein. For radiators, he suggests vacuuming with a radiator-brush attachment, then using a microfiber dusting wand.
- Walls: Dust from ceiling to base molding with a microfiber cloth or Swiffer duster; tackle scuffs with a Magic Eraser. Then gently go over walls with a Swiffer wet mop. To fight grease, first dip the mop in warm water mixed with a few drops of mild detergent.
- Carpets: Vacuum well, then spot-treat stains with a 1-to-5 solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide and distilled water with a few drops of plain dish soap (spot-test first). Got pets? Order a black-light flashlight—its UV wavelengths cause the phosphorus molecules in old urine stains to glow in the dark; treat with an enzyme cleaner like Nature’s Miracle. Steam clean or call in a pro if carpets still look dingy.
- Wood Floors: Avoid dousing them with water. Rely on a microfiber mop and a cleaning spray with a pH level of 7, like Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner. Goldstein recommends a coat of paste wax every few years to create a water-resistant finish, so liquids bead up.
How To Deep Clean Your Kitchen
Extend regular surface cleaning to cabinets with a 1-to-1 solution of distilled white vinegar and water. Freshen up the garbage disposer by running it with 2 tablespoons of rock salt, a handful of ice cubes, and some lemon peel. Scrub garbage bins with hot, soapy water, starting on the outside; once dry, spritz with a deodorizer, such as Zero Odor Multi-Purpose spray. Then clean appliances inside and out—they’ll work better and last longer, says Repair Clinic pro Chris Zeisler.
- Oven: Tough, baked-on spills? These may require commercial oven cleaner. Or try this GE tip to loosen crusty residue: Place 1/2 cup of ammonia in a shallow glass pan and let sit in a cold oven overnight.
- Cooktop: Zeisler likes tackling greasy gunk on burners, caps, and grates with hot, soapy water or a degreaser like Fantastik, and a nylon scrubber. To clean glass cooktops, Goldstein swears by non-gel toothpaste and a Dobie pad.
- Vent-hood filter: Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of hot water and add a scoop of OxiClean laundry powder. Soak filter for 10 minutes and rinse.
- Refrigerator: Wipe down the inside, door, and gasket with hot, soapy water mixed with 1 tablespoon of baking soda. To keep gaskets from sticking (and ripping prematurely), Zeisler suggests coating them lightly with petroleum jelly. Dust coils with a long, flexible appliance-cleaning brush or a universal vacuum-brush attachment designed for the task.
- Dishwasher: Clear the drain of debris, wipe the gasket channels with hot, soapy water, then run a hot cycle—Zeisler likes Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner tablets.
Deep Cleaning Your Bathrooms
Stubborn stains from limescale, rust, mold, and mildew require a targeted approach. For mineral deposits, Goldstein swears by a squeeze of lemon juice. “In most cases, it dissolves the stains right away.”
- Shower doors: To clear away cloudiness, spray on undiluted white vinegar. Follow with a sponge dampened with water and a few drops of dish soap.
- Shower heads: To de-scale these, fill a plastic bag with white vinegar. Secure it to the showerhead with a rubber band so the head is submerged overnight. Remove and flush with hot water. Tackle stuck-on buildup with a toothbrush or toothpick.
- Drains: Over time, hair and product residue can cause a black slime that makes drains sluggish. Sprinkle in 4 tablespoons of baking soda and follow with 2 cups white vinegar. Once the bubbling stops, flush with boiling water. You can also try a biodegradable enzyme drain cleaner like Green Gobbler Dissolve.
- Grout: This Old House’s Tom Silva brightens dingy grout this way:
- Pour vinegar directly on grout lines
- Use a stiff grout brush to scrub with a mix of baking soda, water, and a few drops of dish detergent.
- Let sit for 5 minutes, then brush again.
- Wipe up with a damp sponge and rinse. Follow up with a grout sealer.
- Toilet: To nix rust stains, pour 2 cups of white vinegar in the bowl, wait 30 minutes, then scrub. Avoid chlorine bleach, which can set rust stains.
How To Sanitize Laundry Room Appliances
Just because a washing machine circulates sudsy water doesn’t mean it’s free of dirt or potentially dangerous bacteria like E. coli and MRSA—especially if you opt for the energy- and fabric-saving cold cycle. Dryer vents that see a lot of action should be deep cleaned once a season to get rid of flammable lint buildup, according to the pros.
- Washing machine: To sanitize the drum, pour in 1 quart of white vinegar with 1 cup of baking soda, scrub with a stiff nylon brush, then run a heavy-duty cycle at the hottest setting. Use a toothbrush and vinegar to scrub detergent compartments or toss removable ones in the dishwasher. Use hot, soapy water to de-slime the door gasket, then dry. Zeisler also likes Affresh Machine Cleaning Wipes.
- Dryer: Clean the lint trap with a crevice vacuum attachment, then wipe down the drum with a 1-to-1 solution of diluted white vinegar. To rid the exhaust of lint buildup, unplug the machine and remove the duct at the back of the dryer. Use a rotary brush to pull out lint and debris, then vacuum up any remaining fibers. Be sure to remove and clean the exterior vent, too. A specialized kit, such as the Gardus LintEater Rotary Dryer Vent Cleaning System, which includes a spinning auger-brush drill attachment, flexible extension rods, a lint brush, and a wet/dry vacuum attachment, makes the job easier.
Other Areas to Deep Clean
Don’t neglect to clean these other, less visible areas of your home.
Basement and Attic
These often neglected areas can accumulate dust and moisture over time. Start by decluttering, then address any moisture issues to prevent mold growth. Vacuum or sweep thoroughly, and consider using a dehumidifier to maintain optimal humidity levels. Check for signs of pests and seal any entry points.
Home Office and Study Areas
Dust and sanitize all surfaces, including keyboards, mice, and phone handsets. Organize cables and declutter drawers and filing cabinets. Remember to clean and disinfect frequently touched items like staplers and pens.
Outdoor Areas
Extend your deep cleaning efforts to outdoor living spaces. Power wash decks, patios, and siding. Clean outdoor furniture and cushions according to their care instructions. Don’t forget to clean gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage.
Professional Deep Cleaning Services
For some tasks, professional services may be worth considering. This is particularly true for specialized cleaning needs like carpet shampooing or tackling severe mold issues. Professional services can also be helpful for annual deep cleans or when preparing a home for sale.
Benefits of Hiring Professional Services
Hiring professional cleaning services offers numerous advantages, especially for busy homeowners. Professionals bring expertise, high-quality products, and efficient techniques to tackle even the toughest cleaning challenges. They can save you considerable time and effort, allowing you to focus on other priorities. Additionally, scheduling regular professional deep cleans can significantly prolong the lifespan of carpets, furniture, and appliances, making it a wise long-term investment.
Identifying Tasks for Professionals
Certain deep cleaning tasks are best left to professionals due to their complexity or the need for specialized equipment. Carpet shampooing, for example, may require industrial-grade machines that provide a deeper clean than consumer-grade options. Upholstery cleaning often necessitates advanced techniques to preserve the fabric while removing built-up dirt. Mold remediation is another area where professional help is invaluable; specialists can safely and thoroughly address mold problems, preventing recurrence and safeguarding indoor air quality.