A deep clean is about the places everyday cleaning skips: the tops of things, the insides of things and the spaces behind and under things. This checklist walks you through doing it yourself, room by room, in an order that keeps you from cleaning the same spot twice.
Before You Start
- Clear clutter first. You can’t clean surfaces you can’t reach.
- Work top to bottom. Dust falls; do ceiling fans and blinds before counters, and counters before floors.
- Gather tools: microfiber cloths, a vacuum with attachments, a scrub brush and an old toothbrush, a mop, an all-purpose cleaner, a bathroom cleaner and a degreaser.
- Never mix bleach with ammonia or acids. Use one product at a time and rinse between them, with a window open or the fan on.
- Plan one room per session if the whole house feels like too much.
Kitchen
- Empty the fridge, wipe shelves and drawers, and check door seals
- Clean the inside of the oven and the microwave
- Degrease cabinet fronts and handles, especially near the stove
- Wipe cabinet interiors once they are empty
- Scrub the backsplash, sink and faucet
- Wipe appliance exteriors, including the tops
- Pull out light appliances and clean behind them
- Wash the floor, working into the corners and along the toe kicks
Bathrooms
- Scrub shower and tub tile, grout lines and corners; let the cleaner sit before scrubbing
- Clean shower heads, faucets and drains
- Clean the toilet inside and out, including the base and behind it
- Wipe the vanity, mirror and cabinet fronts, then empty and wipe the cabinets
- Dust the exhaust fan cover
- Wash the bath mats and shower curtain
- Wash the floor last, including behind the door
Bedrooms
- Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures
- Dust blinds slat by slat
- Wipe doors, door frames and light switches
- Dust furniture, lamps and frames
- Vacuum under the bed and behind furniture you can move
- Wash pillows and mattress protectors if they’re washable
- Vacuum or wash floors along the baseboards
Living and Dining Areas
- Dust fans, fixtures and the tops of shelves
- Vacuum upholstered furniture and under the cushions
- Dust electronics and the cords behind them
- Clean sliding glass doors and vacuum out the tracks
- Move furniture where you can and clean underneath
- Clean floors last
Whole-House Details
- Baseboards and door frames
- Light switches, door handles and other touchpoints
- AC vent and return covers
- Windowsills
Florida Extras
- Sand: vacuum sliding door tracks and entry rugs, and check under furniture near the doors.
- Humidity: pay attention to grout, caulk and shower corners, where mildew starts.
- Air conditioning dust: wipe vent covers and blinds, which collect it fastest.
When to Call a Professional Instead
A full DIY deep clean can take a weekend or more. If the home hasn’t been cleaned in a long time, you are getting ready to move or list, or you would simply rather spend the time elsewhere, a professional deep clean covers the standard checklist plus blinds, door tracks, the inside of the oven and fridge, cabinets inside and out, doors, behind movable furniture and steam-cleaned tile floors. See what a professional deep clean includes and when it is worth the cost.
To book, see deep cleaning or call 941-894-2543.