Let’s face it, deep-cleaning is no easy task. But, if you’re looking around your house right now, wondering ‘how so much dust could accumulate in such a tiny corner’ or ‘I don’t remember the tiles being that dark’, it’s time to get cracking.
Whip out your gloves, face mask (for the heavy chemical jobs) and put on comfortable shoes. It’s going to be a hard day’s work, but in the end, your house will be sparkling.
Here’s a breakdown of everything that should be done during a whole-house deep clean. If you’re focusing on just one or two rooms, we’ve got steps to follow for those as well.
Happy cleaning!
How to deep clean your house
Generally, a deep clean involves making sure your house is tidy and hygienic from floor to ceiling. Before you get stuck into the specifics of each room, follow these essential steps:
1. Start with decluttering
Decluttering is the big task that overwhelms most. But, by following a decluttering process, like the Fly-Lady method, or Swedish Death Cleaning, your knick-knacks and dysfunctional homewares will be gone in a flash. Clearing out clutter makes deep cleaning a simpler process, with tidy surfaces much easier to scrub down.
2. Target big, hard-to-reach areas first
Start at the top and work your way down. It may seem like your ceiling doesn’t get dirty, but you’d be surprised at the amount of dust that can accumulate in corners and cornices. Use a microfibre mop for higher surfaces and a vacuum, mop and cloth for easy-to-reach areas. Wipe down and clean the following:
- Ceiling
- Cornices
- Light fixtures
- Walls
- Skirting boards
- Hardwood flooring
3. Remove dust
For all other surfaces, like benches, tables, sideboards and credenzas, it’s time to give them a good wipe down. Use an all-purpose cleaning spray you love, and get cracking. If you’ve got wood furniture, add on a bit of polish at the end to make it shine like new.
Take a lint roller to the lampshades and other softer furnishings you have around the house, such as roman blinds and thicker curtains. For other window furnishings, vacuum using the brush attachment.
4. Focus on the windows
Windows are a quick win in the deep-cleaning process- as soon as you’re done with them, everything looks 1000 times better. Vacuum the windowsills and tracks, following up with glass cleaner on the windows themselves. If you’ve got removable flyscreens, take them off and give them a good scrub down (make sure you do this step outside).
Room-by-room deep cleaning checklist
Once you’re done with all the big things, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty of each room. Here’s how to deep clean all the important rooms of the house:
How to deep clean your bedroom
1. Bedding
Although we assume you wash your sheets on the regular, how often are you cleaning your doona, doona cover and throw pillows? Wash every pillow case and inner (if possible) that you’ve got, along with your doona insert, cover and mattress protector. For kids’ rooms, soft plush toys can also go straight into the washing machine. You may have to hit up the laundromat for your doona, but it’s well worth it for the outcome.
2. Mattress
While all your bedding is being washed, it’s time to give your mattress a freshen up. If you love turning and flipping your mattress, now is the time to do it. Make sure to do it per the manufacturer’s advice.
3. Wardrobe
Your wardrobe is a treasure trove for dust and grime. If you haven’t done a recent clean-out, now’s your chance. While you’re clearing shelves and hanging space, give everything a good wipe down. Add in mothballs and mould moisture absorber, if needed, to protect your more delicate clothing. To keep everything smelling fresh, use drawer liners and wardrobe scent pouches.
4. Bins and laundry basket
The dirtiest part of the bedroom by far is your bins and baskets. If you have a rubbish bin in your bedroom, empty it, and wash it outside with soapy water. Leave it to dry in the sun before replacing your bin liner. For laundry baskets that have a fabric insert, throw that in the wash, while wicker or wooden baskets can be sprayed and wiped down.
How to deep clean your kitchen
1. Appliances
It’s time to get out your air fryer, toaster and Ninja Creami. They’re all probably in need of a good clean. Using a cloth and all-purpose spray, wipe them down. For the toaster and air fryer, clean out the inside to remove crumbs and buildup. Kettles can be descaled using lemon. Dishwashers may require a little more maintenance, such as pulling out debris from the drain and cleaning the shelving. Cleaning the oven can be easy if you use household ingredients, and oven racks can be rid of grime using a store-bought oven bag product. Make sure all appliances are unplugged and off before beginning the cleaning process.
2. Cabinets and countertops
After you’ve decluttered your drawers and shelves in your kitchen cabinets, there’s not much else to do except disinfect. Wipe down the inside and outside of your cabinets using a cleaning spray, and add in shelf liners if you can. This means that the next time you deep-clean, you can simply remove and replace the shelf liners rather than dusting.
3. Rangehood and filters
Clean your rangehood by removing the filters and soaking them in the sink with dish soap and baking soda. This will lift out any grease buildup. If you’re able to access your rangehood exhaust fan, make sure it’s clear of any debris. Check your user manual for any other areas of your rangehood that can be easily cleaned.
4. Fridge and freezer
Your fridge is the most used part of the kitchen, so it will need a good clean out every so often. Go shelf by shelf, top to bottom, clearing the fridge of any off expired or rotted food. As each shelf is cleared, spray and wipe it down. If there are persistent marks or food bits, pull out the shelf so you’ve got easier access for cleaning.
Pull out the crisper drawer, removing any vegie scraps. Use your laundry sink or hose to wash out any stubborn bits of food before sanitising with an all-purpose spray. Do the same for the fridge door and the freezer. If you have an extreme amount of freezer ice buildup (that can’t be easily scraped back), you may need to manually defrost your whole fridge to remove it.
5. Sink and drain
The last, and most satisfying thing to clean in the kitchen is your sink and drain. While it is not recommended by Sydney Water to put anything but soap and water down the sink, vinegar can do a great job at getting rid of hidden debris and clearing any lingering smells. Your sink can be cleaned with a variety of products, but using bleach and a powdered cleanser will ensure it stays shiny for longer.
How to deep clean the bathroom
1. Tiles, grout and shower screen
Your bathroom is the wettest part of the house, making it prone to mould and general grime buildup. You can clean your tiles with a general soap scum or shower cleaner, but grout requires a bit more finesse. Try using a grout pen, long-life grout cleaner and scrubbing brush or even steam cleaning to get the job done. For the shower screen, if a normal shower cleaner won’t do it, try using this Bunning’s toilet cleaner (it’s weird, but it works!).
2. Drains
Every couple of months, your shower drain will need a clearout. Remove the drain cover, and, using gloves, pull out any hair and soap scum debris. You can flush out the drain using boiling water, baking soda and vinegar if needed.
3. Toilet
While you may be disinfecting your toilet bowl each week, you also should be doing a wider clean of your toilet often. Using a strong disinfectant, clean the cistern, seat, lid, toilet base, flush button and toilet roll holder. Make sure to keep the window open, the fan running, and to wear a mask during this process.
How to deep clean the living room
1. Clean upholstered furniture
Your couch and upholstered chairs get a lot of use, and they’re definitely holding onto dirt. For any removable couch covers, pillow cases, throws and blankets, put them in the washing machine. Blankets that can’t be machine-washed can be aired on the clothesline or soaked in gentle, soapy water. For upholstery, use a steam cleaner to draw out any dirt, and baking soda for spot cleaning stains.
2. Dust home decor
You should’ve already done a quick dusting of knick-knacks and homewares around the house, but some may be in need of a deeper clean. Take picture frames off the wall to wipe off dust, use an electronic-safe spray for your TV and wipe down cords using a microfibre cloth. If you’ve got lots of books in a bookshelf, it may be wise to give them a good dusting as well.
How to deep clean the laundry
1. Washing machine
The washing machine cleans everything else, but you have to be the one who cleans it. Run a drum clean to wash out the inside of your washing machine. Check the door seals for scum and mould, and wipe down with vinegar. Open up the drain filter and let out all the water. Make sure to pull out any extra debris- you might find a couple of coins!
2. Laundry sink
Your laundry sink may be seldom used, but any dirt buildup can be bothersome when the time comes around when you actually need it. Use a sink cleaning product, like Bar Keeper’s Friend, to rid the sink of any dirt. Keep it shiny by following the same steps from your kitchen sink.
Deep cleaning entrances and exits
1. Sweeping and clearing
Your front porch or entrance is a visitor’s first impression of the house. Make sure it’s properly swept, with leaf litter, dust and dirt removed. Wipe away cobwebs forming in corners, and use a rake or leaf blower to get rid of any stubborn leaves.
2. Front door and mat
Your front door will need a good scrub with warm, soapy water. If you’ve got a fly screen, spraying it down with a pressure hose or blowing it with a leaf blower will do the trick to get rid of dust. Check on your front doormat for signs of distress, and replace it if the wear and tear is too much.
3. Maintain potted plants
If your front entryway has cute potted plants, they’ll need a little TLC. Remove any leaf buildup in the pot, water and prune branches as needed.
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