What is Deep Cleaning?
Deep cleaning is a thorough, extensive cleaning process that goes beyond the standard cleaning routine. It involves meticulously cleaning every nook and cranny of a home to eliminate dirt, grime, germs, and allergens.
The main differences between deep cleaning and regular cleaning include:
Frequency
- Regular cleaning is done more frequently, such as daily or weekly. Deep cleaning is done less often, like seasonally or annually.
Level of Detail
- Regular cleaning involves general surface cleaning of floors, countertops, bathrooms etc. Deep cleaning goes deeper into the details, like baseboards, ceiling fans, window tracks, furniture upholstery etc.
Time Spent
- Regular cleaning takes about 1-2 hours for general tidying and surface cleaning. Deep cleaning can take multiple hours or days to complete the entire home.
Cleaning Products
- Regular cleaning relies on mild, everyday cleaners. Deep cleaning uses more powerful cleaning solutions to sanitize and degrime.
Areas Cleaned
- Regular cleaning focuses on high traffic living spaces like kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms. Deep cleaning expands to every area like basements, garages, walls, windows, appliances etc.
Why Choose Deep Cleaning?
Here are some top reasons to do periodic deep cleaning:
1. Eliminate Hidden Germs
Deep cleaning reaches areas that harbor germs like door handles, remote controls, and kitchen sinks. Thorough disinfection helps create a healthier home.
2. Reduce Allergens
Deep cleaning removes dust, pet dander, mold spores, and other allergens that get embedded in soft furnishings over time. This helps allergy sufferers breathe easier.
3. Extend Carpet Lifespan
Thorough carpet cleaning extracts deep-down dirt, grime, and oils that damage fibers. This extends the carpet’s appearance and lifespan.
4. Improve Air Quality
Deep cleaning eliminates dust buildup on walls, vents, baseboards, and ceilings. Reducing airborne contaminants improves indoor air quality.
5. Organize Clutter
A deep cleaning is a great opportunity to declutter closets, cabinets, and storage areas. Toss or donate unused items to free up living space.
6. Refresh Your Home
After deep cleaning your home will look, feel, and even smell refreshed. It restores your home to a cleaner, healthier living environment.
Deep Cleaning Checklist
To tackle a thorough deep cleaning, follow this room-by-room checklist:
Kitchen
- Clean inside appliances like oven, refrigerator, dishwasher
- Wash cabinets, drawers, and pantry inside and out
- Clean walls, floors, and baseboards
- Wash windows, screens, sills, and window treatments
- Clean light fixtures, fans, and exhaust hood
Bathrooms
- Clean and disinfect sinks, showers, tubs, toilets
- Wash walls, floors, mirrors, and windows
- Clean exhaust fans and replace filters
- Organize cabinets and dispose of expired products
Bedrooms
- Vacuum mattresses, flip and rotate
- Wash bedding and blankets on hot water setting
- Clean under beds and furniture
- Dust ceiling fans and lamp shades
- Wash windows, sills, tracks, and window treatments
Living Areas
- Vacuum and clean upholstered furniture
- Wash walls, baseboards, ceiling fans
- Clean under and behind furniture
- Dust shelves, windows, window treatments
- Clean electronics like TV screens and remote controls
Whole House
- Vacuum and mop all floors, including closets and basements
- Dust ceiling corners, vents, light fixtures, and fans
- Clean blinds, drapes, and curtain rods
- Organize clutter from closets, garages, storage areas
- Disinfect doorknobs, switches, handles, and railings
Tips for an Effective Deep Clean
Here are some handy tips to make your deep cleaning as effective as possible:
-
Work top to bottom – Start with ceilings and high areas, progressing downwards. This avoids drips onto already cleaned areas.
-
Clean room by room – Moving methodically from one room to the next helps break the big project into smaller, more manageable tasks.
-
Inspect as you go – Examine areas up close to catch any lingering dirt or stains that need extra attention.
-
Use the right tools – Invest in quality cleaning tools like microfiber cloths, scrub brushes, and vacuum attachments suited for deep cleaning tasks.
-
Protect furnishings – Use drop cloths and lift furniture to clean underneath. Open windows and turn on fans to prevent fumes from harsh cleaners damaging surfaces.
-
Take breaks – Deep cleaning is exhausting work! Take regular breaks to maintain energy and productivity.
Make Deep Cleaning a Priority
While regular, light cleaning helps maintain tidiness in between, periodic deep cleaning is still essential for a healthy, contaminant-free home. So be sure to set aside time at least annually for an intensive deep cleaning session. Your home will sparkle and you’ll breathe easier knowing hidden dirt, dust and grime have been eliminated.
