Cleaning your home thoroughly can seem like a daunting task. Dirt, dust, and grime can build up in places you don’t even think about. However, with some time and effort, you can tackle the hidden hot spots and leave your home gleaming. Here are my tips for how to deep clean your home and reveal the sparkling space underneath.
Focus on Floors First
Floors accumulate dirt, dust, pet hair, crumbs, and more. To really clean floors well, you need to clear away surface debris and tackle embedded dirt.
Clearing Surface Debris
Start by vacuuming or sweeping floors to remove loose dirt, dust, and crumbs. Use the wand attachment to vacuum along baseboards, under furniture, and in corners. Mop hard floors with a microfiber mop and cleaning solution to grab surface dust and stains.
Lifting Embedded Dirt
To lift up that embedded, ground-in dirt, you need a deeper clean. Steam mops use hot steam to loosen stuck-on dirt and grime from tile, sealed hardwood, linoleum, and other hard floors. The heat sanitizes the floors too.
For carpets, rent or buy a carpet cleaner to deep clean periodically. The hot water extraction method lifts dirt from deep in the carpet fibers. Vacuum carpets weekly as well to prevent buildup.
Scrub Kitchens and Bathrooms Thoroughly
Kitchens and bathrooms tend to be the grimiest rooms in a home. Food splatters, soap scum, mold, mildew, and bacteria can thrive if not cleaned properly.
Clean Inside Appliances
Over time, food particles, oils, and minerals leave deposits inside your appliances. Give the oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, coffee maker, and microwave a deep clean. Check manuals for cleaning instructions. For ovens, a strong oven cleaner helps lift burned-on food and grease.
Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces
Kitchen sinks, faucets, counters, tables, stovetops, and appliances accumulate lots of dirt with daily use. Disinfect with a chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide cleaner.
In bathrooms, scrub the tub, tiles, sinks, faucets, shower doors, and toilet with a bathroom cleaner or disinfecting solution. Let it sit before rinsing for maximum effectiveness.
Dust All Surfaces
Dust accumulates everywhere, even places you can’t see it. It contains dirt, skin cells, pet dander, and more. Regular dusting keeps these particles from building up.
Use Microfiber Cloths
Microfiber dusting cloths are the best tool for dusting. The tiny fibers grab and hold dust better than cotton cloths or paper towels.
Lightly dampen the cloth with water or a dusting spray. Wipe down walls, baseboards, windowsills, fans, lamps, electronics, and knickknacks. Get into corners, crevices, and ornate surfaces.
Target Hidden Areas
Don’t forget hidden dust traps like under beds, behind furniture, on top of cabinets and the refrigerator, and on ceiling fan blades. Also remember to dust window blinds and curtains regularly.
Deep Clean Upholstered Furniture
With regular use, upholstered furniture collects dirt, oils, hair, and more. To extend the life of your sofa, chairs, and cushions, deep clean the fabric and stuffing periodically.
Vacuum and Spot Clean
Start by vacuuming furniture thoroughly with a hose attachment. Then, spot treat stains with a bit of mild dish soap and warm water applied with a sponge. Rinse with clear water and pat dry.
Freshen Stuffing
Every few months, sprinkle baking soda liberally over furniture cushions and fabric. Let sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum up. The baking soda helps absorb odors and freshen the upholstery.
Steam Clean or Shampoo
For a deeper clean once or twice a year, use an upholstery steam cleaner or rent a carpet shampoo machine. This hot water extraction method thoroughly cleans fabric, removing ground-in dirt and reviving colors.
Conclusion
Deep cleaning your home thoroughly pays off with a healthier, shinier space. Focus on clearing away surface debris before using heat, steam, scrubbing, and disinfectants to lift embedded dirt and grime from floors, appliances, furniture, and more. The effort leaves your home gleaming and removes allergens for a fresher indoor environment. Maintain the deep clean by quick-cleaning hot spots daily and doing a thorough clean once a season.
