A Comprehensive Checklist for Deep Cleaning Your House

Possibly deeper than you wanted, but hey. Can’t say we’re not thorough.

So you’re here to get your deep clean on, eh? We commend you. The deep clean is a massive undertaking. One must be brave and stay vigilant, dodging distractions and resisting the urge to bail and play outside or eat snacks instead.

There will be many challenges on your deep clean journey, but stay strong. Harness the power and determination to extinguish dust bunnies and soap scum, banish bacteria and grease, descale and unclog! You can’t possibly fail with this ridiculously long, comprehensive list of all the things you ought to clean in your house. Clear your schedule, you’re about to embark on a hero’s quest for cleanliness. Godspeed.

Deep clean the bathroom

• Dust from top to bottom.
• We recommend Swiffer Dusters, which trap and lock in dust and hair particles. Plus, you can toss the dust pad when you’re done.
• Be sure to get all ceiling fans and vents.
• Don’t skip the walls and baseboards.
• Sweep, dry mop and/or vacuum the floors.
• We love the Swiffer Sweeper Floor Mop, which can be used for both dry and wet mopping. Plus, the disposable pads are just great. And no mop bucket!
• Disinfect and sanitize door knobs, light switches, hard surfaces and high-touch areas.
• We like Microban 24 Bathroom Cleaner, which initially kills 99.9% of germs, including cold and flu viruses*
• Scrub your shower, bathtub and sink.
• Scrub the grout.
• Clean the showerhead.
• Clean shower doors.
• Clean faucets, handles, hardware and drains.
• Clean mirrors using store-bought cleaner or DIY glass cleaner solution.
• Clean window treatments.
• Dust and wash your blinds.
• Wash the windows.
• Don’t forget the window sills and ledges.
• Organize the medicine cabinet, shelves, drawers and closets.
• Trash expired makeup.
• Wipe out shelves and inside drawers.
• Vacuum linen closet floor.
• Throw in a load of laundry.
• Wash your:
• shower curtain
• towels
• bathmats
• Make sure to read the care instructions on the respective labels.
• Deep clean the toilet.
• Sanitize:
• the nearby floor
• toilet seat
• back of toilet/shelf
• hinges
• flusher
• attachments
• Replace your toothbrush, if necessary.
• Wash out toothbrush caddy. (Just throw it in the dishwasher.)
• Wipe down baseboards.
• Take out trash and sanitize trash can.
• Clean light fixtures.
• Replace any dead bulbs.

Deep Clean The Kitchen

• Clean the stovetop.
• Remove and soak stove grates in a bath of gentle dish soap, like Dawn, and water.
• Break out the beloved Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to get rid of grease and burnt-on food.
• Clean the oven.
• Before you run your oven’s self-cleaning mode, wipe or scrape out any caked-on burnt stuff in there, or you risk starting a fire.
• Clean your microwave.
• The inside and outside, plus the door and handle.
• Clean and descale your coffee maker.
• Pot
• Basket and filter
• Outside
• Clean out your fridge and freezer.
• Throw out expired food and freezer items that are over six months old.
• Wipe:
• shelves
• drawers
• handles
• Vacuum beneath refrigerator.
• Vacuum fridge coils and vent.
• Degrease cabinets and wash the walls.
• Clean both the inside and outside of cabinets, doors and shelves.
• Clean out and organize your pantry.
• Throw away expired items.
• Empty the toast tray in your toaster.
• Disinfect high-touch areas:
• cabinet handles
• light switches
• sinks
• countertops
• sink faucet handles
• refrigerator handle
• Wipe down countertops.
• Clean and sanitize sink:
• basin
• faucets
• hardware
• surrounding areas
• drain
• Clean your garbage disposal.
• Toss a few fresh lemon peels down the drain to freshen its smell.
• Ice cubes in the garbage disposal help knock bits of clinging-on food from the blades.
• Sweep, dry mop and/or vacuum the floors.
• Clean your dishwasher filter.
• Wash your dishwasher.
• Run an empty cycle with Cascade Dishwasher Cleaner to eliminate limescale, grease or odors.
• Clean stainless steel appliances.
• Mr. Clean Clean Freak Mist works great to eliminate fingerprints and grease from stainless steel.
• Clean your kitchen blinds.
• Wash the windows.
• Wipe down walls and baseboards.
• Take out trash and recycling.
• Sanitize trash and recycling receptacles.

Deep clean bedrooms

• Dust everything from top to bottom:
• dressers
• lamps
• bedside tables
• artwork
• knickknacks
• headboard
• shelves
• frames
• Vacuum your curtains and/or wash the blinds.
• Check the label, but you can usually wash your curtains in the washing machine.
• Sweep, dry mop and/or vacuum the floors.
• Clean the floor.
• Wash windows, window sills and ledges.
• Vacuum curtains with upholstery attachment.
• Wash your dirty clothes.
• Put laundry away when it’s done (that’s the hard part).
• Clean out your closet.
• Donate clothes that no longer fit to a thrift store or friend.
• Take shoes out of the closet, and sweep and vacuum closet floor.
• Wash all of your bedding:
• sheets
• pillow cases
• duvet covers
• shams (if they’re washable)
• Be sure to read and follow the care and cleaning instructions on the labels.
• Make your bed (with the clean sheets).
• Rotate your mattress.
• Clean out and organize bedside table drawers.
• Trash expired prescriptions, old receipts, dead batteries, etc.
• Shampoo any rugs or carpets, especially if you’ve got pets.

Deep clean living spaces

• Dust everything from top to bottom.
• Swiffer Dusters are good for reaching all those hard-to-reach areas, plus the dust pads actually trap and lock dust particles instead of spreading them around.
• ceiling fan blades
• vents
• bookshelves
• artwork
• frames
• light fixtures
• screens (including your TV)
• plants
• speakers
• record player or stereo system
• Wash the windows, window sills and ledges.
• Dust and wash doors.
• Wash the walls and baseboards.
• Walls actually absorb and trap all sorts of smells.
• Sweep, vacuum and mop. Then run a wet mop across the hard floors.
• We like the Swiffer Sweeper, which takes care of the dry and wet mopping—no mop bucket required.
• Vacuum everything:
• couches
• chairs
• curtains
• love seats
• chaise longues
• pet beds
• anything that’s upholstered
• Shampoo rugs or carpets with a steam cleaner.
• Or, if you’re feeling lazy, sprinkle baking soda all over your carpet, let it sit overnight to neutralize any smells and vacuum it up in the morning. We’ll give you a hall pass on this one.
• Wash cushions and throw pillow covers.
• Be sure to read the care instructions first.
• If you can’t wash them, hit them with some Febreze Fabric to freshen them up a bit.
• Disinfect:
• remote controls
• high-touch items
• doorknobs
• light switches
• Clean your screens:
• televisions
• laptops
• tablets
• Organize your stuff!
• Declutter items on your tables and shelves.
• Bring unused cups into the kitchen.
• Put your darn shoes away. At least for today.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Replace batteries, if necessary.

Deep clean the garage, yard, and outdoor spaces

• Clean out gutters and downspouts.
• Sweep and power wash:
• decks
• porches
• patios
• Check weather strips and caulking:
• doors
• windows
• Clean your grill.
• Clean patio furniture and outdoor pillows.
• Yard maintenance:
• Rake leaves.
• Mow the lawn.
• Tend to the garden.
• Fill the bird feeders.
• Clean out and organize the garage.
• Sweep.
• Replace furnace filter.
• This should be done every three months.
• Sweep out the chimney.
• Clean out and wash cars.

Deep clean kid areas and playrooms

• Move furniture and vacuum beneath:
• playpens
• beds
• kiddie tables
• crafting stations
• Use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on any wall stains (crayons, anyone?)
• Sanitize plastic toys.
• Add a couple drops of bleach to a gallon of water, soak them overnight and let them air dry.
• Hand wash soft plushies.
• You can use a hair dryer to fluff their fur back up afterward.
• Donate stuff that’s no longer being used or doesn’t fit:
• clothes
• books
• toys
• Organize:
• clothes
• books
• toys

Deep clean pet stuff

• Vacuum:
• carpet
• couches
• pet bed
• Run a dry mop, like the Swiffer Heavy Duty Pet Dry Sweeper, on your hard floors to collect and trap loose hair and dander.
• Wet mop the floor, especially those corners where the dog hangs out and/or around the litter box and food bowls.
• Make this easier on yourself with the Swiffer Heavy Duty Pet Wet Mop.
• Launder the pet beds.
• If they’re really ratty, toss them, and buy new ones.
• Clean and sanitize hard plastic pet toys.
• Throw out any disgusting, torn up toys, and replace them with fresh ones.
• Neutralize potent pet smells.
• Sprinkle baking soda on everything, let it sit overnight and vacuum it up in the morning. It works great on upholstery, pet beds, soft toys, etc.
• Spray Febreze Fabric Pet Odor Eliminator around the pet zones for a burst of freshness.

Wow, you made it to the bottom! You must have the cleanest house ever. Now can you come over and do ours?

*When used as directed and within 60 seconds, effective against bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enterica and viruses including human coronavirus, Influenza A H1N1, and respiratory syncytial virus. Microban does not provide 24-hour residual virus protection.



Source: Home Made Simple

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