12 Tips to Deep Clean Like a Pro

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Deep cleaning is an elaborate undertaking that can overwhelm you without a solid strategy. Before reaching out to professional cleaners, consider doing it with the help of your family members.

Here are 12 deep cleaning tips you can practice in the new year.

Declutter Before Cleaning

Before getting your hands dirty, eliminate any clutter that doesn’t belong in the room. It helps you save time and provides more room to work. Secure fragile items — remove porcelains, frames, and other breakables from shelves and ledges around the room. It’s also essential to clean dirty dishes and food messes that accumulate in the kitchen. 

Gather Your Supplies

Put all cleaning supplies in one box or container. This ensures you have everything you need within arm’s reach while cleaning. Here’s a list of the most essential items, but feel free to include other helpful tools in your arsenal:

• Rubber gloves: A pair keeps your hands free from germs, bacteria, viruses and harmful chemicals from cleaning products.

• Cleaning rags: Collect multiple rags and sponges for the kitchen, bathroom, surfaces and windows. Microfiber cloths pick up dust and dirt, especially on stainless steel and electronics like computers.

• Vacuum, broom, duster and dustpan: These tools help remove dust.

• Mop: This tool keeps floors clean and polished.

• Scrubbers: Steel wool, toothbrushes, and scrub brushes are must-haves to remove stubborn dirt and grime.

• Cleaners: Add all-purpose glass, wood, and floor cleaners to your arsenal.

If you’re looking for money-saving tips, create your cleaning solutions using kitchen staples. Water and distilled white vinegar help remove stains like nail polish, ink, and grease on ceramic tiles. To create a mixture, add one part distilled white vinegar to three parts warm water.

Clean From Top to Bottom, Left to Right

When you clean the floors first and the ceiling last, you’ll have to repeat the process because of the falling dust and debris. This is why it’s essential first to tackle harder-to-reach surfaces, such as ceilings, corners, and light fixtures. You can use a clean microfiber, duster, mop or cleaning wipe.

Keep an eye on areas often neglected during regular cleaning sessions. Once done, clean furniture and counter surfaces from back to front. Use a duster to collect as much dust as possible. In the bathroom, scrub the areas closer to the floor thoroughly. They accumulate mold and mildew that makes your tiles look old.

Remove Dust 

Wipe all hard surfaces, such as tables, wood furniture, and shelves, using a duster or furniture cleaner. Afterward, use a soft cloth to polish them. Put a clean cotton sock on your hand and dust surfaces to speed up your cleaning process.

Use a duster to get rid of dust in other nooks and crannies. Take a lint roller to your lamps and felt pads under your furniture.

Scrub Your Grout

Grout dirt can be challenging to clean compared to tiles. Avoid using acid-based cleaners because they can dissolve the cement, which may require you to regrout sooner than intended. Instead, use alkaline cleaning options such as bleach or baking soda. 

Mix three-fourths cup of liquid bleach with a gallon of water or a mildew stain remover when using bleach. Use a soft-bristled brush, rinse thoroughly, and wait until dry.

If using baking soda, mix it with a bit of water to create a paste. Use a soft-bristled brush to remove the dirt. Rinse the tiles with warm water and let dry.

Polish Kitchen Appliances

Your dishwasher is at risk for mold growth due to its damp and warm environment. Run an empty dry-heat cycle to clean the interior, including the filter, silverware basket, panels, and door gasket. 

Ensure that other appliances, such as blenders, microwaves, grills, portable mixers, and other kitchen appliances, are thoroughly cleaned.

Buy Storage That Fits Your Space

Group similar things together as you deep clean your home. Use organizers like baskets and containers that fit inside cabinets, drawers and shelves.

For instance, you can place keys, coins, and other everyday items in an acrylic organizer inside your entryway drawer. For combustible materials like candles, flammable aerosols, fireworks, and tobacco products, use a plastic tub to keep moisture and creepy-crawlies out or a cardboard box if you live in a drier climate.

Wash Windows Thoroughly

Cleaning the windows is a relatively easy task. Vacuum the tracks and sills and wipe the glass using a microfiber cloth to eliminate dust. Once visible dirt is gone, spritz the window with glass cleaner. Leave it on for a minute, then use a squeegee to remove it. Remember to clean exterior windows, too.

If you don’t have a glass cleaner, use the DIY white vinegar and water cleaning solution.

Deep Clean Floors

Prep or ask for extra help moving furniture away from the cleaning area, including beds and sofas. Take extra caution when moving large pieces to avoid accidental damage to walls and floors.

Check floors for any damage — a deep clean can eliminate minor scratches. Dust and mop them thoroughly. Repeat the process until it’s spotless. Apply polish or wax to hardwood floors to restore their shine.

Bring a Trash Bag

You’ll come across trash while cleaning and need somewhere convenient to place it. Carry a large trash bag and dispose of each room’s garbage as you clean. 

Kitchen garbage is the only trash you wouldn’t include in your oversized trash bag. It contains dry and wet waste, which should be bagged and taken out separately.

Disinfect Sinks

Kitchen and bathroom sinks collect gunk and residue daily. Your day-to-day activities can leave bacteria and germs behind, even after scrubbing them away. There’s more E. coli in a kitchen sink than in a flushed toilet.

To clean, fill the sink with 5 gallons of water and 1 cup of liquid laundry bleach. Leave it for a few minutes while you do something elsewhere. Afterward, drain the mixture and use an all-purpose cleaner to scrub the sink.

Squeegee the Shower

When water hits the shower glass, it creates an environment where mold and mildew can grow. This is unappealing and harmful to health. Start thoroughly scrubbing your entire shower, ensuring you use a toothbrush or scrub brush for nooks and crannies. 

Spritz a vinegar and dish soap cleaning solution all over your shower glass. Squeegee the liquid away and enjoy your newly cleaned bathroom.

Deep cleaning doesn’t have to be a hassle. With these actionable tips, you will enjoy a cleaner and healthier home. It’s time to don those gloves and clean like a pro.