Even with regular cleaning that you do daily or weekly, some parts of your home require occasional deep cleaning to keep your space sparkling. But how do you remember what needs to be cleaned, how often it needs to be cleaned, and how to clean it? And where do you start?
Deep cleaning can feel a bit overwhelming, but we’ve got you covered with a list of 10 steps to properly deep clean your home from top to bottom and get the job done right.
So what’s the difference between regular cleaning and deep cleaning? Well, deep cleaning usually builds on the cleaning tasks you do regularly but goes a bit further and deeper in what is cleaned and how. For example, vacuuming is regular cleaning, but shampooing the carpet is deep cleaning.
You can always hire professional cleaners to take care of the deep cleaning if it’s not something you want to tackle yourself. Deep cleaning generally requires a bit more time and effort, but the benefits are worth all the extra energy whether you do it yourself or not.
In this first part of our list, we will focus on deep cleaning the higher spaces of your home and follow up with the lower areas in part 2 to come.
So let’s get started with the first 1-5 steps:
1.Dust
No matter how often you wipe it up, there always seems to be more dust. But letting it collect can cause or worsen health problems like allergies, asthma, or emphysema. To prevent issues from excess dust and keep your home clean, you should dust weekly and do a more thorough dusting as part of a deep cleaning routine.
It’s also a good time to mention the importance of changing the filter of your air conditioning/heating systems in your home. Old filters can cause more dust to blow throughout your home. This is also true of fans that are not regularly dusted.
When deep cleaning, you should dust using a damp cloth. Many dry dusters will move the dust around more, only to settle somewhere else later. Microfiber cloths with a bit of water or disinfectant are the best for dusting hard surfaces. Be sure to rinse the cloth, so you don’t end up transferring wet dust to other surfaces.
Remember that dust will also collect on softer surfaces, even if it might not be as noticeable as on harder surfaces. Most curtains, pillows, blankets, and plush toys can be thrown in the washing machine to quickly get rid of dust hiding in the fibers, but be sure to read the tags for specific cleaning directions.
2.Windows
You may occasionally clean your windows if they become smudged or noticeably dirty, but a deep cleaning of windows usually includes more than just wiping down the glass. You will also want to clean the window sill and tracks of the windows.
It’s important to clean the corners and crevices of the windows in addition to the glass and flat surfaces of the window sill. Sometimes cotton swabs or an old toothbrush can help you reach all the nooks and crannies around your windows.
Just be sure that all of the window areas, including the tiny or tough-to-reach spaces, get completely dry. You don’t want to clean out the dirt and grime only to create a home for mildew.
If you want to use a more natural cleaning solution than a glass cleaner with harsher chemicals, you can mix three parts warm water with one part distilled white vinegar to use on the entire window area, not just the glass. This can be applied to a soft cloth or even mixed in a spray bottle to use throughout your home as an alternative cleaning solution.
3.Appliances
Your daily or weekly cleaning routine might include wiping down appliances, but some of those appliances can get pretty gross if you don’t do some deep cleaning once in a while. For example, you might wipe the exterior of your washer and dryer when doing laundry, but how often do you clean the drum of the washer or really clean out the lint filter and surrounding area of the dryer?
Cleaning the inside will be more specific to each appliance. Kitchen appliances, in particular, may need specific care to prevent contamination of food and preparation areas. Refrigerators might need to be emptied and wiped down. Water filters may need to be changed, and freezers may need to be de-iced.
Both washing machines and dishwashers can be cleaned using the vinegar solution mentioned above, and some even have their own programmed self-cleaning cycle. If you are unsure of how to deep clean an appliance, be sure to read the maintenance manual or ask a professional.
4.Shelves
Many of the shelves in our home display important items or mementos and other shelves are used to store items between uses. Either way, you don’t want them to also showcase the dirt and grime that may be in your home.
Start by removing all of the items on the shelves and giving them a good scrub if needed. It can be surprising how dirty things like picture frames or extra linens can get from sitting on a shelf for a long time. Start on the highest shelf and work your way down.
Once the shelf is empty, use a damp cloth with a cleaner to wipe off any dust, dirt, or other grime that has accumulated on the shelf. If you use shelf liners, make sure to wipe them off or replace them as needed. This will make the next deep cleaning a bit easier and protect your belongings between cleanings.
5.Countertops
Countertops seem to be an easy place for things to collect. Keys, snacks, homework, magazines, mail, you name it, it all lands on the counter throughout the day. Most people will give their countertops a quick clean daily, but that doesn’t mean the countertops are staying clean.
Just like deep cleaning your shelves, start by removing everything from the countertop. Just because you wiped near the toaster yesterday doesn’t mean you got all the crumbs hiding underneath it.
There are many cleaning products for countertops, including the vinegar solution mentioned before, but even mild dish soap and warm water can do wonders for your countertops. Scrub the entire countertop – don’t forget the backsplash – and wipe dry before replacing items. Some prefer to use a disinfectant or sanitizing solution just to be safe.
And that’s the first half of our list! Be sure to come back for part 2, coming soon.
Daisy Maids Will Deep Clean Your Home for You
If you are looking for a little extra help keeping your home clean, call Daisy Maids! Unlike many other cleaning services, we charge by the job, not by the hour, and we are committed to getting the job done right the first time. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee means if you report an issue within 24 hours of the service, we will return and make it right.
With over 15 years of experience, Daisy Maids offers licensed and insured house cleaning services by a team of professionals. We offer deep cleaning, move-in/out cleanings, and regular cleaning services as often as you desire. Get an estimate for your customized deep cleaning today!
