What is Deep Cleaning?
When conducting a deep clean, the goal is to make sure that every single surface, appliance, and object in the property is thoroughly cleaned to the point of where they look practically brand new. This ensures that the whole property is sparkling clean, ready to be sold, ready to be moved into by new residents, or ready for a new year of wear and tear.
Contents
- What Is deep Cleaning?
- Why Do I need it?
- Deep Cleaning Checklist
- How Often Should a Deep Clean Take Place
- Deep Cleaning Services
- Deep Cleaning Tips
The main difference between a deep clean and a regular clean is that a deep clean is conducted less regularly (hence the term ‘regular clean’). This is because a deep clean is not just about maintaining a tidy home, but about making sure that every corner and crevice is reached. It is more than just a quick wipe around and vacuum.
Many if the areas around the home tend to get neglected during a regular clean. Deep cleaning makes sure that your entire property is cleaned from top to bottom, targeting any areas that may have been forgotten, and are in need of a good clean.
Deep cleaning is extensive, and can take a lot of time to complete. Appliances and furniture must be pulled out, and some cleaning products must be allowed to sit for a recommended amount of time. For this reason, deep cleaning is not something that takes place very frequently.
Why do I Need It?
Consider how much time you have been spending in your house in the last few months, and also how long you are likely to be spending in it in the foreseeable future. For many of us we have seen a transformation of our home from a place of relaxation that we spend just over 50 % of the day into a combined working and home environment where we are spending the vast majority of our days. Generally, people are now spending a significantly larger amount of time in their homes and obviously this has the unfortunate side effect of creating more dust and dirt.
Think of a home deep cleaning as a spring clean with even more added. For example, consider your kitchen. A usual clean would usually be along the lines of a wipe down of all visible surfaces, putting away anything on the stove and draining boards and a quick wipe down of the oven, dishwasher and microwave followed by a mopping and hoovering of the floor. A professional deep cleaning would go well beyond this, emptying all kitchen cupboards and cleaning inside and out, washing skirting boards, cleaning under the sink, removing limescale from all taps, cleaning blinds and many more that we will consider further on.
Deep Cleaning Checklist
The following is a list of what is cleaned in each room during a deep clean. This is where the difference between deep cleaning and regular cleaning is highlighted as you will find that the list is more extensive and thorough than any other cleaning list. We will go through each room for you so that you can refer to the list whenever it is needed.
Kitchen:
Wipe down cabinets – with a damp rag or cloth, gently clean off any dust or dirt on the inside and outside of the cabinet doors, as well as all sides of the cabinets themselves. Do not forget the top too.
For grease-splatter, dip your cloth in undiluted vinegar to rub off the grease, then rinse the rag in warm water to wipe off the vinegar. You can also use a de-grease spray and follow the instructions on the product to clean any stains.
Some cabinets will swell if they encounter too much moisture, so be sure to always ring out your rag before wiping down the wood and dry the surface quickly with a paper towel after cleaning.
Vacuum out the refrigerator coils and vent – you will have to pull out the refrigerator to do this. This is an aspect of cleaning that will not need to be done regularly, hence why it is included in a deep clean and not a regular clean.
Use the vacuum’s hose or brush extension to remove all the dirt and dust from the fridge coil and vent or rent an air compressor to blow it out.
Clean out the fridge and defrost the freezer – take everything out, so that you can remove food debris from the shelves and inside walls. A top tip is to start from the top and work your way down so that if any bits of food falls then you can catch it when you clean the lower shelves.
When you put food back, be sure to check expiration date, and toss anything that has gone out of date. Do not forget to wipe down the fronts of the fridge and freezer, paying close attention to disinfecting the door handles.
Throw out old sponges – these kitchen tools are germ magnets. Even zapping them in the microwave will not kill all the bacteria that find their way inside. Disinfect sponges every few days by letting them soak in a bleach-water solution (¾ cup bleach to 1 gallon of water) for five minutes. After a couple of weeks, however, they should be thrown out completely and replaced, or swapped for reusable silicone scrubbers that can be more easily disinfected.
Scrub down the stove top and vent – you may need to use the de-grease spray here too as there are crevices that may have been neglected during any weekly cleans.
Clean the oven – if your oven doesn’t have a self-cleaning function, you can make a DIY cleaner by mixing 5 tablespoons of baking soda, 5 drops of dish soap, and 4 tablespoons of vinegar into a paste and slathering it on the worst spots.
Let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub at it with a sponge cloth. For extra stubborn grease stains, place a few drops of dish soap on half a lemon, and rub it on the problematic areas. Then, scrub or wipe it clean.
There are also oven cleaner products that you can buy that have instructions on them that are easy to follow and effectively clean the oven.
Clean out the microwave – for a homemade microwave cleaner, mix a tablespoon of vinegar with a cup of water, and microwave it on high for 5 minutes. The vapor from the boiling solution will coat every inch of food debris and make it easier to wipe away.
Disinfect the sink – give the basin a good scrub with a disinfectant or bleach solution to kill any bacteria lurking inside.Wipe down the countertops – remove any items on the counters, including appliances and knife blocks, and then use a disinfectant spray or cleaning wipes to get corners and spaces in the back that might not get as much attention throughout the year. While you are there, wipe down the walls or backsplashes, too.
Bathroom:
Scrub all showers, bathtubs, sinks and toilets – before getting started in the bathroom, spray down your tub with multi-purpose cleaner so that it can soak for a while and break up any soap and oil that have accumulated. Do the same with the toilet bowls and sinks. That will make scrubbing that much easier when you circle back to it later.
Wipe down light fixtures, mirrors, and window treatments – take extra time to carefully clean out gunk that has made its way into corners and around edges. Remove any grime or dust that has built up by wiping items down with a little vinegar on a damp rag.
Wash glass shower doors – to clear off that soap scum or water spot, apply some warm distilled white vinegar and let it sit for a half an hour or so, reapplying if needed. Then sprinkle some baking soda on top, and gently scrub the spots away.
You can also use cleaner made specifically made for glass. The product will have instructions on so if you follow them and clean away the moisture properly, you will be left with a shiny clean shower.
Toss any cloth curtains or bathmats in the washing machine – just be sure to check care tags to verify what cycle items should be washed on.
To keep anything from wrinkling in the dryer, set the heat setting on low and take items out when they are still a little damp. Then, hang them back up in the shower to finish drying completely. If you also have a plastic shower curtain liner, wash it in the laundry on cold, and rehang it to dry, or replace it with a new one.
Clean out under the sinks and inside drawers – over time, these spaces tend to get cluttered. Take everything out so that you can wipe the bottom of the cabinets and drawers and clear out any cobwebs that might have formed.
As you are putting items back, toss what you no longer need, and organize the rest, taking care to put items you will use most frequently near the front for easier access.
Do not forget the grout – you can make a homemade grout cleaner using vinegar, baking soda and water. First, spray down the grout with a half-vinegar/half-water solution until the area is good and saturated. Let it sit for a few minutes, scrub, and then rinse. Then, mix some baking soda with water until it forms a paste, apply it to the grout using your brush, and spray it with the water and vinegar. The bubbles that form will start to clean away some of the grit and grime, and your brush will do the rest. When you are done, rinse the grout with warm water.
Again, you can buy store-bought grout cleaner that can be sprayed directly onto the grout to remove any staining that has built up over time between your deep cleans.
Disinfect handles and doorknobs – these are often neglected and can be one of the germiest places in the house, due to their constant use. If you have not wiped them down in a while, it is a good idea to give them a thorough cleaning with a multi-purpose cleaner or disinfectant wipes.
Living Room:
Take off all cushions from couches and chairs and vacuum the spaces underneath – pay special attention to the nooks and crannies where crumbs or dust might have fallen through. This is an easy bit of cleaning to miss when doing a regular clean so make sure that the small areas are vacuumed up.
Clean your rugs and carpets – carpet cleaners can be applied to large areas then left to soak and cleaned up, leaving the carpet looking good as new. As this is a big task, it makes sense to leave it until the deep clean. This will make a big difference to the look of the room, leaving it looking fresh and clean.
Polish your wooden furniture – remove any items from bookcases or coffee tables to clean every surface with a dust rag or microfibre cloth, followed by wood cleaner or polish.
Wipe down baseboards, window treatments, light fixtures, and ceiling fans – use a vacuum cleaner extension attachment to reach high ceilings and corners. Remove and launder the drapes and clean the windows with glass cleaner. Do not forget to disinfect door handles here too!
Dust your décor – gently wipe or brush away dust from all your ornaments, picture frames, and clocks. Depending on how many decorative items you keep in your home, this may be the most time-consuming activity you do during your clean.
Clean your electronics – electronics can be one of the most germ filled items in the home. Just think of all the (sometimes sticky) hands that touch it. Give your electronics a good wipe down, including the top of your TV and DVD player. Dust the front of any screens with a microfiber rag or a feather duster, making sure to get the corners.
Bedrooms:
Wash the bedding, including bed skirts, shams and duvet covers – if some of the items are too big to fit in your washing machines, take them to a dry cleaner. Do not forget the pillows!
Flip your mattress – or flip it to prevent grooves from forming due to sleeping in the same spot for too long. Freshen the mattress by spreading on some baking soda, letting it sit for 45 minutes to an hour, and vacuuming it back up.
Dust neglected surfaces, like window treatments, headboards, and ceiling fans – if you have drapes, vacuum or dry clean them, too.
Vacuum or mop under furniture, including behind dressers and under beds – pay extra attention to corners and baseboards.
Garden:
Turn on your hose – spray down patios, decks, porches, lawn furniture, playground equipment. You may need to disinfect certain furniture items after the winter months or if there have been some adverse weather conditions.
You may also have some items under trees which may unfortunately get covered in bird droppings and may benefit from a deep clean.
Tidy the yard – pull any weeds sprouting up in your lawn or garden (and apply weed killer if necessary). Lay down mulch or compost (if needed) and plant any flowers or edible greens you would like.
How Often Should A Deep Clean Take Place?
We recommend deep cleaning at least once a year. If you have a larger house, or have more occupants, you could deep clean every six months.
Deep Cleaning Services
In these current times it is obviously extremely important that you take every possible precaution against the germs and bacteria that are around your home. A professional deep cleaning by a reputable deep cleaning company provides an extra layer of protection against these bugs and germs and will help protect both you and your family.
A professional deep cleaning will usually inspire you to make some small changes to your home which can make you feel so much better and can make your home feel like new again.
A professional deep cleaning company will totally revitalise your home and make it feel like a new home.
Doing this yourself is a gargantuan effort, moving furniture around, climbing ladders, emptying cupboards, kneeling down to wash skirting boards, mopping and scrubbing as well as the general lack of access to industrial cleaning equipment and fluids for removing limescale mould and stains.
A general home deep cleaning service by a reputable deep cleaning company typically includes the following but this can be individually tailored according to requirements and budget. A professional deep cleaning company will discuss your requirements with you though to ensure you know exactly what you will be receiving.
Deep Cleaning Tips
- Declutter your home
Before you decide to tackle the deep cleaning, or before you have professionals in, you should try and declutter your home as much as possible. One great way to do this is to consider throwing away or donating anything that you have not used in the past 6 months, with the exception of seasonal items.
Create three piles, one to keep, one to donate, and a final pile of items that you will throw away. Make sure that you label these clearly to avoid throwing away any precious items! This is a ruthless way to get rid of any additional junk that may be cluttering up your home, it can also be extremely therapeutic.
2. Don’t ignore your carpets
You’ll be surprised how much dirt, dust and hair builds up in your carpet. The build up can be especially bad in bedrooms and dining rooms, where you’re less likely to move bulky furniture around when you’re cleaning. A deep clean will help restore the carpet’s colour and texture, as well as improving the general smell of your home.
If you are doing the deep clean yourself, you should invest in hiring a carpet cleaner or professional to take care of this area. If you are hiring a company to do the deep clean, you should check to see if they include carpet cleaning in their deep cleaning services.
3. Remove pet hairs with rubber gloves
Whilst pets are wonderful companions, they can be a real menace when it comes to keeping your home clean. Cats and dogs have a tendency to leave their hairs absolutely everywhere! Whilst you may typically go to the vacuum to get rid of these hairs, rubber gloves are your best friend here.
Due to the material that rubber gloves are made of, they become static, meaning that hairs will naturally stick on to them. This is ideal for removing any pet hair from your furniture, curtains or bedding.
4. Don’t forget The Fridge
We’re all guilty of not cleaning our fridge as often as we should, with pesky vegetables lurking in the bottom of the crisper drawer. This means that stains, food matter and water can build up. To battle this, you need a few household items. The first two are a toothbrush and toothpaste. The chemicals found in toothpaste will help remove stains easily and the toothbrush provides the friction and accuracy that you need to get the job done.
Once you’ve got your fridge sparkling, it’s time to battle any lurking smells. A great way to tackle this is to cut a lemon in half and place the two halves in your fridge: one on the top shelf and the other on the bottom shelf. The lemon will naturally absorb any odours and leave your fridge smelling fresh and clean
5. Utilise your Dishwasher
When you have a deep clean, you want every inch of your house to be clean. However, germs can lurk in the strangest of places, often taking residence on children’s toys. To help sanitise these toys, you can place them in the dishwasher. Any plastic children’s toys that do not contain batteries can go straight into the dishwasher with your regular dishwasher tablet. This will give the toys a thorough clean with little to no effort!
This is an especially helpful tip if you have little ones that are going back to nursery or school, where they may have picked up any germs, in particular CoronaVirus. By taking this step, you can help to keep your family safe.
Overview
Deep Cleaning is vital in keeping your home free of germs, diseases, and dirt. Whether you choose to do the deep cleaning yourself, or you decide to hire a professional company, you should make sure that a deep clean is performed at least once a year.
You can follow our deep cleaning checklist to make sure that no areas of your house are overlooked or forgotten about. Remember, a deep clean is not like a regular clean, and it will take some time. Set aside a weekend to give your property a thorough clean, ensuring that you dedicate enough time to each room and area.
Take a look at our top deep cleaning tips to help make the process easier. We highly recommend decluttering your home prior to undertaking the deep cleaning, or before the professional deep cleaning company arrives to make sure that the clean is as efficient as possible.
With the presence of CoronaVirus, do make sure that you are doing regular cleaning throughout the property to maintain a high level of hygiene. A deep clean is not a substitute for regular domestic cleaning!
We hope that all of your deep cleaning questions have been answered, and we wish you all the best with your deep clean!
