Deep Cleaning Checklist

Need to deep clean but aren’t sure where to start? This deep cleaning checklist will help you clean your home room by room. It also works well for spring cleaning too or anytime you need to go beyond regular cleaning.

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Woman using an electric mop to clean the floor

When Should You Deep Clean?

At least once a season. The term “spring cleaning” refers to doing an annual deep clean of your home, but ideally you should do a deep cleaning at least once every season (about every 3 months) to keep dust, clutter, and build-up under control.

You can certainly do a lighter deep clean each season, and do a more comprehensive deep clean each year.

How to Deep Clean the Bathrooms

  1. Remove all toiletries, cosmetics, personal care products, etc. from the medicine cabinet, drawers, and cabinets. Toss out any expired, old or broken items.
  2. Dust and wipe down all surfaces in medicine cabinet, drawers, and cabinets. Be sure to organize items you put back.
  3. Scrub grout and caulk in showers, tubs, and floors to remove mildew, mold, and soap scum build-up.
  4. Clean shower heads, faucets, and drains to remove limescale build-up.
  5. Use drain tools as needed to remove hair or other build-up from sink and shower drains.
  6. Dust and wipe down window blinds, and wash curtains.
  7. Dust and wipe down baseboards, window sills, and other nooks and crannies.
  8. Dust and wipe down light fixtures, mirrors, and medicine cabinets.
  9. Dust and clean air vents.

Cleaning Tip

I use Thieves Household Cleaner for everything in the bathroom – from the windows/mirror to tubs and toilets to the floors. It’s a multi-purpose cleaner that’s great for both light cleaning and deep cleaning. If you’ve got some extra goo or dusty gunk (you know that build up dust that’s hard to clean with just a cleaning cloth alone), use a few drops of Lemon essential oil. It’s a natural goo gone remover. I dab Lemon oil on the spot and then spritz Thieves Household Cleaner to really get out the dust and gunk.

Use this DIY Soft Scrub Cleaner for sinks and bathtubs. It’s a gentle abrasive cleaner that helps to get rid of the build-up on tile and porcelain surfaces. Use these Homemade Toilet Fizzies to clean toilets and use a toilet brush to scrub surfaces inside the bowl.

a large modern white bathroom

How to Deep Clean the Bedrooms

  1. Remove all items inside dresser drawers, nightstands, and closets. Dust and wipe down surfaces, including the inside of drawers and cabinets.
  2. Review items before returns to drawers, nightstands, and closets. Purge anything broken, unused, or unwanted.
  3. Remove sheets, pillowcases, blankets, etc. Sprinkle carpet refresher (see below) on mattress, let sit for 20 minutes, and then vacuum to freshen. Flip or rotate mattress if needed.
  4. Vacuum or mop under the bed, and remove any items not needed.
  5. Dust and wipe down ceiling fans, light fixtures, mirrors, and picture frames.
  6. Dust and wipe down window blinds, and wash curtains.
  7. Dust and wipe down baseboards, window sills, and other nooks and crannies.
  8. Dust and clean air vents.

Cleaning Tip

If you’ve got carpets or rugs in the bedrooms, use this DIY Carpet Refresher. It helps to deodorize carpets (great if you have kids and pets) and mattresses, and all you do it vacuum it up.

Clean and tidy bedroom

How to Deep Clean the Kitchen

  1. Remove items from cabinets, drawers, pantry, and fridge. Use a telescopic wand on a vacuum to remove dust, crumbs, and debris, then wipe down surfaces.
  2. Toss out any old, expired, unwanted food, food storage containers, utensils, etc.
  3. Wipe down kitchen appliances like the stove, oven, microwave, and fridge. You may need to use baking soda and water to make a paste to remove caked on build-up, or use the oven clean setting on your oven.
  4. Scrub grout and caulk in sinks, floors, and backsplashes to remove mildew, mold, and stains.
  5. Dust and wipe down the range hood and exhaust fan, inside and out. Remove the range hood screen and clean according to manufacturer’s instructions.
  6. Clean behind and underneath kitchen appliances and furniture.
  7. Dust and wipe down ceiling fans, light fixtures, mirrors, and picture frames.
  8. Dust and wipe down window blinds, and wash curtains.
  9. Dust and wipe down baseboards, window sills, and other nooks and crannies.
  10. Wipe down and sanitize trash cans, recycling bins, and trash drawer cabinets (if needed) to get rid of odors.
  11. Dust and clean air vents.

Cleaning Tip

Use Thieves Household Cleaner to or this DIY Household Cleaner to clean counters, sinks, refrigerator, freezer and pantry. I prefer natural cleaners anywhere food is located. Natural cleaners are safe and effective – plus who wants chemical cleaners anywhere near food. This DIY Disinfecting Spray helps to kill germs and bacteria without harsh chemicals. It’s great for cleaning the fridge and freezer.

Use this DIY Soft Scrub Cleaner for sinks or surfaces that need a gentle abrasive cleaning. I use extra Lemon essential oil to get out stains and goo or gunk.

a woman in a kitchen with a mop and bucket

How to Deep Clean the Living Room

  1. Remove all items from tables, shelves, entertainment centers, and bookcases. Purge any unwanted, old, or expired items.
  2. Dust and wipe down tables, shelves, entertainment centers, TVs, and bookcases. Be sure to clean inside of cabinets and drawers too.
  3. Vacuum upholstery and cushions. If needed use a carpet cleaning machine to remove stains.
  4. Clean behind and underneath furniture.
  5. Dust and wipe down ceiling fans, light fixtures, mirrors, and picture frames.
  6. Dust and wipe down window blinds, and wash curtains.
  7. Dust and wipe down baseboards, window sills, air vents, and other nooks and crannies.
  8. Dust and wipe down TV removes, gaming consoles, etc. to remove dust, grime, and build-up.
  9. Dust and clean air vents.

Cleaning Tip

Use this DIY Fabric Refresher Spray on upholstered furniture and curtains to help freshen up the scent and remove odors naturally. This spray really helps to deodorize – great if you have kids and pets.

a tidy and clean living room

How to Deep Clean Miscellaneous Rooms

If you have other rooms in your home like halls, entryways, laundry rooms, linen closets, coat rooms, basements, or home offices, use this as a guide to deep clean those areas.

  • Remove all items from tables, shelves, bookcases, cabinets, coat racks, and shoe racks. Purge any unwanted, old, or expired items.
  • Dust and wipe down tables, shelves, bookcases, and cabinets. Be sure to clean inside of cabinets and drawers too.
  • Vacuum upholstery and cushions. If needed use a carpet cleaning machine to remove stains.
  • Clean behind and underneath furniture, appliances, and electronics.
  • Wipe down doorknobs, handles and banisters.
  • Clean lint trap of the dryer in laundry room.
  • Dust and clean air vents.
  • Dust and wipe down banisters and stairways.
  • Dust and wipe down ceiling fans, light fixtures, mirrors, and picture frames.
  • Dust and wipe down window blinds, and wash curtains.
  • Dust and wipe down baseboards, window sills, air vents, and other nooks and crannies.

Cleaning Tip

Use this DIY Air Freshener in all the rooms – especially miscellaneous areas like closets. It will help to naturally deodorize and make the room smell amazing.

This DIY Natural Pine Cleaner is great for cleaning wood furniture and wood floors. It’s like an all-natural Pine-Sol to clean wooden surfaces.

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Deep cleaning doesn’t have to be tedious or hard. If you stick to this list, you’ll be able to tackle every room in your home in less than a day.

Top Tips for Your Deep Cleaning Checklist

  • Use natural cleaners anywhere food is located. Natural cleaners are safe and effective – plus who wants chemical cleaners anywhere near food.
  • A DIY Disinfecting Spray helps to kill germs and bacteria without harsh chemicals. It’s great for cleaning the fridge and freezer.
  • Using a DIY Fabric Refresher, really helps to deodorize – great if you have kids and pets.
  • When cleaning sinks, you can use extra Lemon essential oil to get out stains and goo or gunk.

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Did you try these deep cleaning tips? Don’t forget to comment below to let me know how you found out. You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

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Photo credit: Bigstockphotos.com / style-photographs, ismagilov, Kasia Bialasiewicz, XArtProduction

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