Weekly cleaning keeps a house livable. A deep clean is different. It’s the stuff nobody sees until you move the couch.
This room-by-room checklist covers the jobs that build up over months. Add these deep cleaning tips to your calendar once or twice a year, and spread them over a few weekends if that’s easier.
Three rules before you start
These rules save time and keep you from cleaning the same spot twice.
- Top to bottom: dust ceilings, fans and shelves before you touch the floor.
- Dry to wet: dust and vacuum first, then wipe and mop.
- One room at a time: finish it fully before you move on.
Pack a caddy you can carry from room to room so you’re not running back to the closet:
- Microfiber cloths, lots of them
- An all-purpose cleaner and a disinfectant for bathrooms and kitchen
- A stiff grout brush and an old toothbrush
- An extendable duster for fans and high shelves
- Rubber gloves and trash bags
Declutter first, too. You can’t deep clean a counter covered in mail.
- A never-mix chart: the cleaner combinations that make toxic fumes
- A surface guide: what not to use on stone, wood, cast iron and more
- 5 starter cleaners and a shopping list
A quick word on cleaning safety
Deep cleaning often means stronger products. Use them carefully.
- Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, rubbing alcohol or other cleaners. The fumes are dangerous.
- Open a window or run the fan, and wear gloves.
- Keep pets and kids out of the room until surfaces are rinsed and dry.
- Read the label for each surface. Natural stone, for example, is damaged by vinegar and other acids.
Kitchen
The kitchen collects grease in places you’d rather not think about. Here’s the list.
- Empty and wipe the inside of cabinets and drawers. Toss crumbs and expired spices.
- Degrease cabinet fronts and handles with warm water and dish soap.
- Clean the range hood filter. Most metal ones can soak in hot soapy water.
- Pull out the fridge if you can, vacuum the coils and clean the floor underneath.
- Deep clean the oven, microwave and dishwasher filter.
- Scrub grout and backsplash, then wipe light switches and the trash can.
The oven is the worst job on the list. These oven cleaning hacks make it a lot less painful.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms get cleaned weekly, but the corners don’t. Go deeper.
- Scrub grout lines with a stiff brush.
- Wash or replace the shower curtain and liner.
- Descale the showerhead and faucets.
- Clean behind and around the toilet base, including the bolt caps.
- Vacuum the exhaust fan cover. Turn off the power before you remove it.
- Empty the vanity, wipe it out and toss old products and expired medicine safely.
Bedrooms
You spend a third of your life here. Dust and skin cells notice.
- Vacuum the mattress and flip or rotate it if the label says to.
- Wash pillows, duvets and mattress protectors, not just the sheets.
- Clean under the bed. Pull out everything stored there first.
- Dust the tops of wardrobes, lamps, headboards and baseboards.
- Wash or vacuum curtains and wipe window sills.
Living room
This room hides a surprising amount under cushions and behind the TV.
- Remove couch cushions and vacuum the crevices. Find the lost remote.
- Move furniture and vacuum underneath.
- Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures and vents. A pillowcase over a fan blade catches the dust.
- Wipe electronics and cords with a dry microfiber cloth.
- Spot clean walls, doors and light switches with a damp cloth.
Laundry room
The room that cleans everything else rarely gets cleaned itself.
- Wipe the washer door gasket and the detergent drawer. Run the cleaning cycle if your machine has one.
- Leave the washer door open between loads so it dries.
- Clean the lint trap with warm soapy water and vacuum the slot it sits in.
- Have the dryer vent duct cleaned if it’s been a while. Lint buildup is a fire risk.
Entryway and hallways
Every bit of outside dirt passes through here first.
- Wash the front door, inside and out, and wipe the handle.
- Shake out or wash the doormat.
- Empty the shoe area, clean it and donate shoes no one wears.
- Dust baseboards, stair rails and picture frames.
Pet zones
If you share your home with a dog or cat, their gear needs its own deep clean.
- Wash pet beds and blankets in hot water with an unscented detergent.
- Scrub food and water bowls, and the mat under them.
- Wipe down the crate and wash its pad.
- Wash soft toys and toss the ones that are falling apart.
- Use an enzyme cleaner on old pee spots. It breaks down the smell instead of covering it.
Floors, last of all
Once every room above is done, finish the floors so all that falling dust gets picked up.
- Vacuum edges and corners with the crevice tool first.
- Vacuum or shampoo carpets and rugs.
- Mop hard floors with a cleaner made for that floor type.
- Let floors dry before pets walk on them.
How to fit it all in
You don’t have to do the whole house in one exhausting weekend.
- One room a weekend gets it done in about two months.
- One room a day works well for a spring or fall reset.
- Put the big jobs, like the oven and carpets, on separate days.
Once it’s done, a routine keeps it that way. Our daily, weekly and monthly cleaning schedule picks up right where this list leaves off.
Common questions
How often should I deep clean my house?
Once or twice a year for most homes. Homes with pets or allergies may want a deeper clean every season.
Which room should I deep clean first?
Start with the kitchen. It takes the longest and makes the biggest difference.
How long does a deep clean take?
It depends on the size of your home, but a full house can easily fill a couple of long days. Spread it out so it doesn’t feel impossible.
Is vinegar a good disinfectant?
No. It’s fine for some light cleaning, but it isn’t a registered disinfectant. Use a product labeled as a disinfectant where you need one.
Are deep cleaning products safe for pets?
Many are once they’re rinsed and dry. Keep pets out of the room while you work and store products where they can’t reach them.
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