The Ultimate Home Deep Cleaning Checklist & Guide

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If You Schedule It, Then Do It

As stated, you choose a cleaning schedule based on your daily responsibilities of work, life, and family. But when the time comes to complete cleaning tasks, ensure yourself that you'll do them right then and there. This commitment will prevent procrastination, which can accelerate finishing the list.

Be realistic with the time you allow yourself to clean, and remember, you don't have to do it all in one day.

Care of Children and Pets

The biggest distractions with any home task are child and pet care. Make sure you're distraction-free by enlisting the help of grandparents and sitters to keep the kids busy and out of the designated areas you intend on cleaning.

If an additional caretaker isn't an option, you can keep your kids busy by including them in the fun. Small children can handle small tasks like picking up toys, and you can even get creative and make it fun by turning it into a game with prizes they could win.

How to Work Each Room

Jumping into a room and cleaning can quickly get overwhelming without any plan to tackle the mess. So instead, you should have a general outline of action that'll work for any space.

For example, you can clean each room starting left to right, back to front, and top to bottom for maximum efficiency.

Prepare Your House in Advance

Decluttering while deep cleaning can drag out the process longer than necessary. Instead, declutter your home before conducting your deep clean dive. Get rid of apparent trash throughout the home by carrying trash bags room to room, leaving no drawer or cupboard unturned.

In the rubble, you may find salvageable items. If you don't feel comfortable tossing them out, consider giving them a new home by giving them to loved ones, hosting a garage sale, donating to local shelters and organizations, or repurposing them to become reusable for later.

Once that's taken care of, finish up by taking a basket and filling it with misplaced items found throughout the home. Then go around putting them back where they rightfully belong.

Pace Yourself

Within your plan, it's easy to forget that you're not a cleaning machine. Don't forget to plan breaks to eat, drink water, and rest. This step will prevent burnout and keep you energized throughout the process.

You don't have to do this alone. You can also prevent overexertion by enlisting help from family and friends. For example, you can give everyone a zone and cut the cleaning time in half.

Entryway Cleaning Tips To Try

Did you know that washing your walls helps you breathe better? This issue happens because dust and allergens stick to the walls and stay there for years without proper care.

You can solve this by wetting a microfiber cloth and wiping the walls in downward motions. No towels? A barely damp mop works just as well.

Living Room Cleaning Tips To Try

Your living room is the hub and center of your home, so it tends to become one of the dirtiest spots in your house. You can change this by doing basic cleaning daily to prevent dirt buildup.

Fabric couches and rugs tend to hold a lot of dirt and odor. Sprinkle baking soda and let sit for 1 hour before vacuuming. It will get rid of any odors and help pick up more dirt.

Kitchen Cleaning Tips To Try

Your kitchen space will be the most extensive part of your deep cleaning process because it's an area where potentially harmful bacteria can grow. But you can save some time by implementing some easy hacks.

Scrub the countertops and backsplash with soapy water for faster cleaning and wipe down with a cloth when done. You should also throw lemons into the garbage disposal and run them for 3 minutes. This step will eliminate and help prevent any future smells.

Your dishwasher becomes dirty after a few cycles. Empty the dishwasher and run it on the highest setting with a bowl of vinegar. This tip will cleanse the system thoroughly and prevent bacteria from growing.

Lastly, to save time, check for a self-cleaning option on your oven, and let it run while you finish the rest of the kitchen.

Playroom Cleaning Tips To Try

Always remember to sweep, mop, and disinfect areas where food is present. The amount of time you spend occupying this space will determine the length of time it takes to clean. If daily cleaning is already included in your regimen, a simple sprucing will do the trick.

Playroom Cleaning Tips To Try

By now, any broken trinkets and toys have been thrown away during the decluttering process. So now you set out cleaning the bins and re-organizing the toys to be neat and uniform.

When the kids come to play, fill them in on the new order of things and make cleaning up afterward fun with rhymes and songs.

Office Cleaning Tips To Try

Your office is where the most productivity occurs, so it's essential to keep the space tidy and organized. Keep junk mail to a minimum and throw it away as soon as it enters the home.

You can keep separate folders for important occasions and file them away once finished. This step will prevent giant stacks of paperwork from building up on your desk.

Bedroom Cleaning Tips To Try

Your bedroom, a space that should be relaxing and calming, can become a nightmare when not thoroughly cleaned. Strip the bed entirely and sprinkle the mattress with baking soda when deep cleaning. It will freshen up any odors and help lift dirt built up in the fibers.

After sitting for 1 hour, vacuum up the baking soda, check for mattress stains and clean with a damp microfiber towel. You can repeat these steps for fabric-based furniture like headboards and corner armchairs.

Remember to change your pillows annually. Then, when it's time to wash them, make sure to dry them to prevent any mold from growing inside.

Bathroom Cleaning Tips To Try

It can be challenging to keep up with bathroom maintenance, leaving soap scum and hard water stains to grow on every wet surface. You can eliminate tough stains with your choice of cleaning solutions, but if they aren't strong enough, try soaking your shower head and fixtures with vinegar and baking soda.

These ingredients break down tough stains without the harsh chemical smells. This same method can clean dirty grout and won't erode any adhesion like some other cleaners.

Another tip to keep in mind is regularly cleaning your shower curtains and liners. Most plastic-based liners can be placed on a delicate wash cycle in your washing machine and reused to save money. Remember to remove any metal clips and hang them to air dry.

Closet Cleaning Tips To Try

Closet clutter can add up quickly if you don't pay attention. Prevent mess by organizing items with bins and labels and giving them designated spots within the closet. If everything has a home, it'll be easier to find when you need them later on.

Laundry Room Cleaning Tips To Try

While rushing to complete daily laundry, many people forget that, like all appliances, upkeep of your washer and dryer are required to keep them running well. They pose significant health and fire hazards if improperly maintained.

You should clean the lint trap before drying every load. It’s also a good idea to clean the exhaust ventilation annually. It occasionally sucks up lint and blocks the vent from moving hot air out of your home.

Similarly, washing machine drums need to be scrubbed and cleaned to prevent mold buildup. Most newer washing machine models come with a self-clean feature. If yours does not, you can invest in a washing machine solution or can spray vinegar in the drum and run it on the hottest setting.

Garage Cleaning Tips To Try

Your garage is a great multi-purpose storage space. Keep it organized by categorizing seasonal and daily used items for easy access. Tools and car items can be placed along the walls with tool holders, and always make sure to properly clean or dispose of car fluids to prevent local pollution.

Front Yard Tips To try

When cleaning the outside of your home, it's best to do it on a day with clear skies. Grab a ladder and take your time going through each task diligently and safely.

Start from the top of your house and work your way down to ground level. Finish off with a good rinse of all your tools and equipment.

Backyard Tips To Try

Your backyard is your outdoor oasis of recreation fun. Unfortunately, it's usually only cleaned once a year before summer begins. You can kickstart the summer months early by maintaining the upkeep year-round.

You can save even more time by investing in covers for your outdoor furniture and grill, so they're protected from rain and rough weather.