How To Deep Clean A House

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How To Deep Clean A House -

It’s officially spring, and it can be seen all around us from sweet fuzzy ducklings following their mothers to the bright red tulips opening on a warm sunny day. It’s a great time to be outside, but on those rainy cooler days, it’s also a great time to do a deep spring cleaning.

We are living in extraordinary times, and therefore, we are spending an excess of time at home. Because of those factors, there is even more urgency and necessity than ever to deep clean and get rid of the germs, dust, and grime that have accumulated throughout the winter and during the shelter-in-place orders.

What’s Included In A Deep Clean?

Deep cleaning is necessary and is quite different than your weekly cleaning of surfaces and around the objects in each room. Instead, deep cleaning is going on a mission to find and destroy germs, dust, and grime on the inside, outside, under, and on top of all objects and surfaces.

Once you have the inclination and motivation, you are halfway there! Keep in mind that deep cleaning can be an arduous and time-consuming process, so it is a good idea to break it up into multiple days. The average kitchen deep clean can take 6 hours. It will also be money well spent to hire a cleaning service if you are already inundated with other priorities or passions, like work, landscaping, hobbies, or home-schooling your children during your free time.

Let Improvenet help you to find a deep cleaning specialist in your area.

If you do hire a professional, it is good to ask upfront what kind of safety procedures they will be following to keep themselves and your family safe. It is ideal if the cleaning surface providers:

• Wear gloves
• Wear shoe covers
• Wear a face covering
• Offer contact-free payments and estimates

Getting Started

1. Put things away – Before deep cleaning, you will want to clear away any excess items that can be stored, put in a different and better location, or given away.
2. Make a plan of actions – timeline, what to clean and when. Don’t be afraid to do it in shifts.
3. Gather supplies – There is nothing worse than getting the motivation to complete a task and digging in only to find out you don’t have the supplies you need to finish the job. Once you have determined the room/areas to deep clean, consider the surfaces, the tools, and the cleaning materials you need. Gather a broom, dustpan, vacuum, scrub brush, a bucket, rags, extension pole for difficult areas, mop, rubber gloves, a mid-sized sturdy step ladder, and any other tools you think you might need so that you can quickly clean all the surfaces and areas in each room.
4. Order or make cleaning products – cleaning liquids need to contain at least 70% alcohol or a diluted household bleach if being used to disinfect for viruses. Be sure to purchase a bag of lemons to help deep clean and add a pleasant aroma. A list of approved and effective disinfectants against viruses can be found on the Environmental Protection Agency’s website. For additional recommendations of approved disinfectants, check with the Center for Disease Control.

Kitchen Clean-Up

Each room and area has its own unique purposes, furniture, and therefore, specific deep cleaning procedures. The kitchen is the room that is likely to need the most time and effort. Because I was always taught to start with the worst first and the easiest last, here is how to deep clean your kitchen. This goes for all rooms, work from the top down to eliminate having to reclean areas.

1. Start with the ceiling and lights. Get out the good old fashioned duster to remove cobwebs from corners. Wipe down grease splatters or accumulation of grease on walls, ceilings, and light fixtures. Ammonia is the best deep cleaning and grease-cutting cleaner. Because of its strong aroma, be sure to properly ventilate your kitchen while you work.
2. Next, work on the upper and lower cabinets. Remove all the items, use a vacuum to remove any crumbs, etcetera, and use soap and water to clean shelves and the interior. Then clean the exterior cabinets. Use a disinfectant to wipe down pulls and knobs on a regular basis.
3. Deep cleaning your kitchen countertops should happen on a regular basis. Each countertop surface is unique and responds to different methods and cleaners, but one go-to green product is baking soda, soap, warm water, a microfiber cloth, and a final rinse with some water and isopropyl alcohol. If you have a butcher block, you will want to oil it with a food-safe product.
4. Clean your backsplash. If you have tile, try a grout refreshing agent found at most hardware stores. Degrease it with a soft scrub brush and then disinfect.
5. Deep cleaning your fridge is also more than twice a year job. Take all the food out and check the expirations on condiments. Clean all the shelves in hot soapy water. Adding a tsp of bleach to the water will ensure good sanitation. Also, wipe off any items you are putting back into your refrigerator in order to keep your fridge clean and disinfected.
6. Many people may skip over the deep cleaning of their dishwasher, but it is a constant source of odors and bacteria. Remove the dishwasher filter, soak it. Run your dishwasher on a heavy cleaning cycle without dishes using a ¼ cup of baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice. Wipe down the interior parts of the door, the bottom cleaning elements, and then under the silverware divider.
7. Deep clean your microwave by using a degreasing bowl of lemon juice and hot soapy water. Microwave a bowl of cut lemons for three minutes to deodorize it.
8. 8. Deep cleaning your stove and oven are next. Run the self-cleaning part of your oven only when you can properly ventilate your kitchen. Take the racks out, spray them, and the interior of your oven with a mixture of baking soda and water and let them sit for a couple of hours, then wipe them down. To avoid burnt on items in the future, line the bottom of your stove with aluminum foil.
9. Yes, the trashcan needs a good cleaning and disinfecting! In your bathtub, add warm, soapy water and allow it to sit for a bit. Then scrub with a long cleaning brush. After you have scrubbed it clean, apply a rinse with a disinfecting agent and let it dry before inserting a trash bag.
10. Finally, deep clean your floors. Like your countertops, each flooring material requires a bit different tender love and care. Laminates and tile are pretty easy and respond well to just soap and water. Add a little rubbing alcohol for safe measure. Stone, marble, and wood require higher maintenance, so be sure to use the right cleaning agent for the job. Mops are great practically speaking but can leave a lot to be desired in terms of being germ-free. If you can remove, wash, and disinfect your mop head then it will work great. If you have a reusable sponge head, then it is best to replace it with a new one or instead use clean rags to avoid spreading bacteria and germs.

If you have read the list and decided you don’t have time to manage a deep cleaning of your kitchen, let ImproveNet help you find a cleaning specialist in your area.

1. Now that you are done deep cleaning the most time-consuming room in your home, it is time to tackle the bathrooms. The good news is most bathrooms have much less square footage and appliances, so while it can feel like a dirty job, it can be pretty quick.
2. Clean out the fans and vents. Get the vacuum out and suck up dust mites, etc…
3. Clean the light fixtures, ceilings, mirrors, and walls. The best time to do this is right after someone has steamed up the room with a shower. It softens any grime and minerals that attach themselves. Using vinegar, soap, and lemon juice will make it smell nice and look bright!
4. Clean the cabinets and all the items that will go back into them.
5. Using a soft scrub brush, deep clean and disinfect the interior of the shower, tub, sink, counter, and toilet (using its own separate brush) with a lemon, vinegar mixture to remove soap scum. Do a final wipe down with a disinfectant containing a small amount of bleach or ammonia.
6. Clean your floors.

Don’t Forget:

The windows, baseboards, and vents all need a deep spring cleaning too. Vacuum them first with a brush attachment. Unscrewing and washing the vent covers will be the best way to ensure cleanliness. Then you can get busy with a little soap and water around the edges of the baseboards and inside the window frames.

Cleaning your windows will give your home the sparkly clean look that you want with a deep spring cleaning. If you have a lot of windows, consider using Improvenet to find a professional to complete the task.

Other Room Considerations:

• Clean lights, vents, windows, walls, etcetera first.
• Move furniture to one side, clean, and then move it back and clean that new space.
• Clean upholstery and carpet twice a year for a deep clean.
• Clean and disinfect all décor, lamps, electronics, remotes, light switches, thermostats, alarms, and more.
• Remove items from their shelves and wipe each one down with a soft cloth.

If your desire to have a germ and dirt free home is trumped by other priorities, it may be time to hire a professional. Let Improvenet help you find a cleaning specialist in your area.