Deep Cleaning Your House: Room-by-Room Checklist

Even most tidy homes could use good deep cleaning every now and again. Of course, keeping up with dishes, laundry, and vacuuming on a daily basis can go a long way to maintain clean living space. Nevertheless, deep cleaning your house every six to twelve months is a must to make sure you don’t leave out any hard-to-reach spaces that are neglected during the regular cleaning sessions.

What is Deep Cleaning of a House?

Deep cleaning is a cleaning session aimed at reaching the deep dirt and grime in your home that can be found in hard-to-reach places, which makes it different from regular or spring cleaning.

It’s time to give your home a little extra love this spring with the deep cleaning checklist from Peachy Interiors. In this article, you’ll find:

• How is deep cleaning different from regular cleaning
• Tips on how to deep clean your house
• A list of required cleaning supplies
• Detailed room-by-room cleaning checklist
• Printable deep cleaning checklist infographic

What is Included in a Deep House Cleaning?

Deep cleaning covers areas that aren’t traditionally cleaned during a regular cleaning session:

• Under the sink
• Behind large appliances like the oven or washing machine
• Inside the window frames and patio doors
• Inside the oven, including the oven door
• Washing your blinds
• Inside and outside of all windows
• Scale removal from all kitchen and bathroom tiles, showerheads, taps, etc.
• Full and deep dusting including all the corners of rooms

How to Deep Clean Your House: Important Tips

Now, that you know what exactly deep cleaning your home entails, let us take a dive into a few important cleaning tips for a successful deep cleaning session.

1. Clear the clutter. Before you start your deep cleaning journey, you’ll need to do a light one. Collect any items that have accumulated on the top of tabletops and counters, on the floor, or that are thrown across the furniture. This will allow you to easily get to places that need cleaning.
2. Make a plan. Think about which rooms you are going to tackle, in what order, and how long you expect each one to take. Don’t be afraid to break the task up into several days or even weeks.
3. Take stock. Make sure that you have all the needed cleaning supplies before you dig in. When you are in the middle of a cleaning session, the last thing you’ll want is to have to break for a cleaning supply run.
4. Start high, go low. Follow this general order when tackling large or hard-to-reach surfaces: ceiling, ceiling trims, ceiling lighting (including light bulbs), walls, the rest of the trims, and, finally, baseboards.

Home Deep Cleaning Supplies

• A pair of rubber gloves
• Microfiber cleaning cloth set
• Non-scracth scrub sponges
• Heavy duty scour pads
• Deep cleaning brush set
• Vacuum cleaner
• Long-handle broom and dustpan set
• Spin cleaning system with 3 microfiber mop heads
• High-reach duster kit with a telescopic pole
• Garden hose (for yard work)
• Multipurpose cleaner and disinfectant spray
• Dish soap and degreaser
• Window and glass cleaner
• Hardwood floor ultimate care kit
• Fabric and upholstery stain remover
• A multi-purpose bucket on wheels
• Baking soda and white vinegar

Room-by-Room Deep Cleaning Checklist

Follow these steps when deep cleaning your house to make every room in your home sparkling clean.

How to Deep Clean the Kitchen

Main Items

• Defrost the freezer and clean out the fridge. Take all the food items out of the fridge and freezer, so that you can clean out any debris from inside walls and shelves. We recommend starting from the top and working your way down. Once you put the items back, don’t forget to check the expiration date and throw anything that has expired. Finally, wipe down the front of the freezer and fridge and disinfect the door handles.
• Vacuum out refrigerator vent and coils. Use the vacuum’s brush or hose extension to get rid of all the dust and dirt from the fridge vent and coil. Alternatively, you can rent or buy an air compressor to blow it out.
• Scrub the vent and stovetop. You can use mineral oil to wipe away a greasy film covering stovetops and range hoods. Then, remove the oil with some dish soap diluted in warm water.
  
  • • PRO TIP: To make future spills easier to clean up, coat the gas stovetop surfaces with car wax, and then wipe it off.
• Clean the oven. Make a DIY oven cleaner by mixing 5 drops of dish soap, 5 tablespoons of baking soda, and 4 tablespoons of vinegar into a paste. Then, slather the paste on the worst spots inside the oven. Let the paste sit for several minutes and scrub it with a non-abrasive brush or sponge. For extra stubborn stains, put several drops of dish soap on top of a lemon half and rub it on the problem areas. Finally, scrub and wipe clean.
• Wash the microwave. While a microwave that looks like your kid’s art project may look daunting, cleaning the microwave might be the easiest task in the entire kitchen. Simply mix a tablespoon with a cup of water and microwave it on a high setting for five minutes. The vapour from the heated solution will coat all the food debris on the walls and make it easier to wipe them clean.
• Clean the dishwasher. Use vinegar and baking soda to remove soap residue that accumulates inside of the dishwasher over time. Simply run the machine empty with a cup of vinegar and ½ cup of baking soda.

Miscellaneous Items

• Disinfect the sink. If you cook raw meat in your kitchen, the kitchen sink has a chance of becoming the germiest place in your entire house. Give the sink a good scrub with a bleach or disinfectant solution to kill any unwelcome bacteria.
• Throw away old sponges. Kitchen sponges are germ magnets. It is recommended to disinfect them every couple of days by letting them soak for five minutes in a solution of ¾ cup bleach and 1 gallon of water. After a few weeks of use, however, the sponges should still be thrown out and replaced.
  
  • • PRO TIP: Swap dish sponges for reusable silicone scrubbers that are easier to disinfect.
• Sanitize garbage cans. Wipe garbage cans with a multipurpose cleaner and sanitize them with a disinfecting spray.
• Wipe down cabinets. Use a damp rag to gently clean any dust and dirt on the outside or inside of cabinet doors, as well as on all the sides and the top of the cabinets themselves. Use undiluted vinegar to rub off any grease, and then wash it off with a wet rag. Wooden cabinets may swell if they are exposed to too much moisture, so make sure to dry the surface quickly with a dry rag or paper towel right after cleaning.
  
  • • PRO TIP: After you clean the top of the cabinets, cut a newspaper to fit and place it in the space. As time goes by, the dust will collect on top of the newspaper and not on the cabinets, so you will only need to replace the newspaper when deep cleaning your house next year.
• Organize the pantry. Once you remove everything from the shelves and wipe them down, place the pantry items back, organized according to their purpose. For example, collect all the baking items together and place them inside a clear tub or bin. That way, whenever you are ready to bake muffins, you already have everything you need in one spot and can easily carry all of the items to the countertop. Similarly, you can use clear containers to separate breakfast ingredients from dinner items or snacks.
  • • PRO TIP: Place a dry-erase board inside your pantry to easily keep notes of what items you are running out of.
• Wipe the countertops. Remove all the items from the countertops, including knife blocks and appliances, and then use cleaning wipes or a disinfectant spray to get spaces in the back and corners that don’t usually get a lot of attention. While at it, wipe down the backsplashes or walls as well.

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How to Deep Clean the Bathroom

Main Items

• Scrub all the sinks, toilets, showers, and bathtubs. Before starting the bathroom deep-clean, spray your bathtub, toilet, and sinks with a multipurpose cleaner to let it soak and break up any accumulated oil and soap before you circle back to it later on.
  
  • • PRO TIP: Don’t skip the base of the toilet near the floor, as this is where dribbles and dust accumulate over time.
• Wash glass shower doors. To remove the soap scrum, apply some vinegar-water mixture let it sit for 30 minutes, reapplying as needed. Then, put a little bit of baking soda on top and gently scrub the dirty spots away.
  
  • • PRO TIP: You can also use a slightly damp dryer sheet.
• Don’t skip the grout. You can make your own grout cleaner using baking soda, vinegar, and water. First, spray the grout with a half-water, half-vinegar mixture until the area is well-saturated. Let it sit for several minutes, scrub with a bristled brush or an old toothbrush, and rinse. Then, mix baking soda with water to form a thick paste, apply it to the grout with a brush, and spray it with vinegar and water. The bubbles that form will start cleaning the grime and grit, and your brush will finish the job. Finally, rinse the grout with warm water.
  
  • • PRO TIP: Carpet cleaner also works very well on grout!
• Wipe down mirrors, windows, and light fixtures. Take the time to thoroughly clean out the gunk that is stuck in the corners and around the edges. Wipe items down with a little vinegar on a damp rag to remove any dust or grime.

Miscellaneous Items

• Disinfect handles and doorknobs. Often neglected, doorknobs and handles are among the germiest places in the house. It’s a good idea to give them a good wipe with a disinfecting spray or wipes.
• Toss any bath mats or cloth curtains in the washing machine. Don’t forget to check care tags to see what setting items should be washed on. To prevent your mat or curtain from getting wrinkled in the drier, use the low heat setting and take the items out while they are still a little wet. Then, hang them back in the bathroom to let them dry completely. You can also wash a plastic shower curtain liner in the washing machine on cold and hand it back to dry (or simply replace it with a new one).
• Clean out inside drawers and under the sink. With time, the spaces under the sink and inside drawers become overly cluttered. Take all the items out and wipe down the bottom of the drawer and cabinets. As you are placing items back, throw out expired items or things that you no longer need, and organize the rest. Make sure to put the items that you use the most near the front for easy access.
• Don’t forget the toothbrush holder. Over time, toothbrush holders can get quite nasty. Soak your toothbrush holder for a few minutes in hot soapy water until any stuck-on residue is softened. Then, give it a good scrub with a straw cleaner or a small brush that fits inside the brush holder. Finally, disinfect the holder by running it through the dishwasher.

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How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom

Main Items

• Mop or vacuum under the furniture, including under beds and behind dressers. While doing this, pay extra attention to baseboards and corners.
  
  • • PRO TIP: If you can’t move the furniture, use various vacuum attachments or a telescoping pole mop to reach even the most challenging places.
• Wash the bedding, including shams, pillows, duvet covers, and bed skirts. If some of the items don’t fit in the laundry machine, you can bring them to dry cleaners or a laundry mat.

Miscellaneous Items

• Clean ceiling fans, headboards, and window treatments or other neglected surfaces. Don’t forget to dust blinds or, if you have drapes in your bedroom, launder or vacuum them as well.
  
  • • PRO TOP: When wiping ceiling fans, be careful, as dust clumps could fall on you while dusting. To avoid this, slide each fan blade into a pillowcase to get most of the dust off before using a rag.

• Flip your mattress. Sleeping in the same spot for too long can cause grooves to develop in the mattress over time. To avoid this, make sure to flip your mattress to the other side every now and again. You can also refresh it by spreading some baking soda around, letting it sit for 45 to 60 minutes, and vacuuming it.
  • • PRO TIP: You can remove mattress stains by spreading some foam shaving cream around and letting it sit for 15 minutes. Then, wipe it off with a rag dipped in water-vinegar solution.

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How to Deep Clean the Living Room and Family Room

Main Items

• Wipe baseboards, light fixtures, window treatments, and ceiling fans. Use a vacuum cleaner extension or a telescoping pole to reach corners and high ceilings. Toss the drapes in the laundry and use glass cleaner to clean the windows. And, of course, don’t forget to disinfect door handles!
  
  • • PRO TIP: Remove any pet hair or dust from lampshades with a lint roller.
• Polish your wooden furniture. Remove all the items from coffee tables or bookcases and clean every surface with a dust rug, followed by wood cleaner and polish. Fix any scratches by using a stain pen or rubbing a walnut along with the scratch.
  
  • • PRO TIP: You can remove water stains on the wood by blasting it with a close-up hairdryer and finishing it up with a furniture polish or mineral oil.
• Shampoo carpets and rugs. To save time, you can spot-clean stains with a steam cleaner or pet stain remover. Or you can hire a professional carpet cleaning company!
  
  • • PRO TIP: You can use the “steam” setting on your regular iron in place of a steam cleaner.
• Wash the doors. Wipe doors and doorframes for smudges and fingerprints. Don’t forget to sanitize all the door handles and light switches throughout the house.

Miscellaneous Items

• Take off cushions from chairs or couches and vacuum underneath. Pay special attention to the crannies and nooks where dust or crumbs tend to accumulate.
  
  • • PRO TIP: Use rubbing alcohol to get rid of stains on microfiber fabrics. Simply dab the stain with a white sponge to avoid any colour transfer and then scrub it with a white-bristled brush.
• Dust your décor. Gently brush away or wipe the dust from all of the décor items, clocks, and picture frames. Depending on how many décor items you keep in your home, this can take most of the time of your deep cleaning house task.
• Clean your electronics. Just think of all the sticky hands that touch your TV remote controls. Thoroughly wipe all of your electronics, including the top of your TV, DVD player, and streaming device. Use a feather duster or microfiber cloth to dust the front of the screens, making sure to get all the corners.

• Don’t overlook vent covers. Remover the vent covers and wash them in a sink with soapy water.

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How to Deep Clean Closets

Main Items

• Vacuum carpet and ceilings. Remove everything from the floor and vacuum any dust that might have collected under your nostalgia box or shoe rack. Don’t forget to clean the corners of the ceiling to get rid of any cobwebs.
• Wipe down inside drawers and shelves. Take all the items out and wipe the space with a damp rag. As you place the items back, think about how you can organize them to make it easier to maintain the order.
  • • PRO TIP: Use fabric bins or drawer dividers to organize small items like underwear or hand towels.

Miscellaneous Items

• Get rid of all unused items. If you can’t decide on whether or not you want to keep the item, ask yourself 3 questions: 1. Have I used it in the past year? 2. Does it fit? 3. Is it flattering on me? If you answer “no” to any of these questions, strongly consider selling or donating your clothing item.
  • • PRO TIP: Turn all of your hangers backward and only turn the hanger the right way after you’ve worn the item. This way, when you are deep cleaning your house the following year, you will know exactly which items are never worn.
• Rotate seasonal items. If you are deep cleaning your house in the spring, pack all the heavy coats and bulky sweaters and store them at the back of your closet until next winter. You can also do the same in the fall for summer outfits and accessories.

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How to Deep Clean the Mudroom

Main Items

• Remove everything and wipe shelves and hooks. Use a multipurpose cleaner or a damp rag to clean dirt off any hooks or shelves, especially shoe racks.
• Throw away or store unused items. Get rid of any items that family members have outgrown or you no longer use, including seasonal shoes or jackets. Wash and pack away items you want to keep and sell or donate the rest.

Miscellaneous Items

• Organize items by practicality and purpose. Entryways tend to get cluttered very quickly. To make it easier to keep the space clean, think about where you normally tend to place which items and organize accordingly. For example, if shoes are often thrown on the ground, place a storage bin near the floor. Multiple hooks are great for storing winter jackets and backpacks, while baskets are perfect to keep small items like earphones or keys.

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How to Deep Clean the Laundry Room

Main Items

• Wipe the washer, dryer, and countertops. You can usually find a light dusting of lint that settles on all the surfaces in the laundry room. Use a damp rag to wipe all the countertops and laundry machines.
• Sanitize the washing machine. It is recommended to leave the washing machine door open after every load to prevent mould from growing inside and let it air out. However, it is still a good idea to sanitize the washing machine when deep cleaning your house to get rid of any mould or detergent build-up. Use a vinegar solution or multipurpose cleaner to clean inside the dispensers and around the door of the machine. If the machine doesn’t have a self-cleaning cycle, run the machine empty with hot water and a little bit of bleach.
• Clean out your dryer vent and lint trap filter. Clogged lint trap filters and dryer vents pose a fire hazard for your home, and restricted airflow can lead to accumulating condensation on your walls. After each load of laundry, clean out the lint from the lint trap and, at least once a year, vacuum any remaining debris in the trap itself and within the space where it is located inside the dryer. Then, unplug the dryer and disconnect the dryer duct. You can use a special duct cleaning kit or a vacuum to remove debris inside the line. Once you’re done, reconnect everything and put the machine back into its original position.
  • • PRO TIP: If your vent line is a lot longer than your vacuum hose can reach (or you want to save some extra time), consider hiring professional duct cleaning services every few years to ensure the line is clear.

Miscellaneous Items

• Throw away any empty detergent bottles or rogue dryer sheets. Look behind the doors, between the machines, or under cabinets for lint clumps or dryer sheets and toss any outdated cleaning supplies.
• Organize supplies. Neatly line up all the cleaning supplies, so that you can easily find and access them when needed. If you have small children or pets at home, make sure that dangerous cleaning supplies are kept in a secured cabinet or out of reach.
• Vacuum or mop the floor. When everything else in the room is clean, mop or vacuum the floor. Make sure to reach behind the machines and in the corners with vacuum extensions or periscopic handles.

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How to Deep Clean the Garage

Main Items

• Declutter. Many times, we tend to put unused items in the garage. Take a good look around and ask yourself whether you really need all of this. Get rid of broken equipment, old cleaners, abandoned projects, or anything else that you can no longer use.
• Maximize your space. Investing in sturdy shelves to place above the garage door is a great way to store rarely used items like beach umbrellas or Christmas trees. Similarly, seasonal garden equipment can be hung high up on the wall or on the ceiling to make the best use of available space.

Miscellaneous Items

• Clean and disinfect recycling bins and wastebaskets. Wipe inside and outside of the recycling bins and wastebaskets with soapy water, followed by a disinfecting cleaner.
• Sweep the floors. Finally, remove everything from the garage floor and use a broom to sweep out the leaves, dust, and other gunk that have accumulated there over the years.

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Deep Cleaning Your House… Inside and Out!

• Tidy the yard. Remove any weeds growing in your garden or lawn. Lay down compost or mulch and plant flowers or edible greens if you’d like.
• Give your yard a wash. Get out the hose and spray all the decks, porches, patios, playground equipment, lawn furniture, – and any other large space or items you have outside of your house. If you have siding, you may want to invest in a power washer to remove dust buildup on the outside of the house.

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Printable Deep Cleaning Checklist Infographic

Now, that you have a better idea of what home deep cleaning entails, you can print out this deep cleaning checklist to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

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Now, that you’ve deep-cleaned your house with our comprehensive deep cleaning house checklist, it’s time to sit back and relax… Until the next year!