A regular clean keeps the surfaces you see in order. A deep clean reaches the places you do not: inside appliances and cupboards, behind and under furniture, the tops of doors and the grout between tiles. This deep cleaning checklist works through a home room by room, so you can do it yourself, share the jobs out, or see what you would want from a professional clean.
Use it in order. Each room is listed from top to bottom, because dust falls and you only want to clean the floor once.
Before you start
- Declutter first. Clear worktops, shelves and floors, so you clean surfaces rather than around things.
- Gather supplies. Microfibre cloths, a degreaser, a limescale remover, an old toothbrush for grout and edges, a vacuum with attachments, a mop and bin bags.
- Work top to bottom. Cobwebs and light fittings first, floors last.
- Dry before wet. Dust and vacuum before you wipe and mop, or the dust turns to smears.
- Open windows. Ventilate while you use cleaning products, and never mix them.
Kitchen
- Degrease the oven, hob, extractor fan and its filters.
- Empty and clean inside the cupboards, the fridge and the freezer.
- Clean the microwave, dishwasher and washing machine inside and out.
- Wipe small appliances and descale the kettle and the taps.
- Scrub the wall tiles and splashbacks.
- Wipe skirting boards, switches and handles.
- Pull out what you can and clean behind and under it, then mop the floor.
Bathroom
- Descale and polish the shower screen, taps and shower head.
- Scrub the tiles and grout, paying attention to any mould.
- Clean the toilet thoroughly inside and out, including behind and around the base.
- Scrub the bath and the shower tray.
- Clean the basin, taps and mirrors.
- Dust the ventilation grilles and extractor fan.
- Empty and wipe the cabinets, shelves and towel rails, then wash the floor.
For keeping on top of it between deep cleans, see our bathroom cleaning tips and kitchen cleaning tips.
Bedrooms and living areas
- Dust light fittings, lampshades and ceiling corners.
- Clean window frames and sills, and dust or wash blinds and curtains.
- Wipe doors, frames and handles.
- Empty, wipe and refill wardrobes, drawers and bedside tables.
- Vacuum upholstery and mattresses, including under the cushions.
- Move furniture to clean behind and underneath it.
- Vacuum and treat any stains on carpets. A full carpet clean is a separate job: see carpet cleaning.
Whole house
- Wipe light switches, sockets and other points people touch often.
- Clean internal windows and glass doors.
- Remove cobwebs from ceilings and corners.
- Dust and wipe radiators and vents.
- Vacuum the stairs and wipe the banisters.
- Wash and deodorise the bins.
- Dust smoke alarms.
Easy to miss
These are the jobs most people only notice after the clean is finished:
- the tops of doors, door frames and kitchen units
- behind the fridge, cooker and washing machine
- the extractor filter and the rubber seal on the fridge door
- under the sofa cushions and beds
- skirting boards behind furniture
- the inside of the bin as well as the bin bag
Do it yourself or book it?
A thorough deep clean of a family home takes a professional 4 to 8 hours, depending on size and condition, and longer if you do it alone with household equipment. Doing it yourself is fine if you have the time and spread it over a few days. Help makes sense before moving in, after building work, before a family event, or when the home has slipped further than a weekend can fix.
If you book our deep cleaning service, remove personal items and valuables first but leave furniture and appliances where they are. Not sure whether it is time? Read the signs your home needs a deep clean, or how often to deep clean. Hourly rates are on our deep cleaning prices page. To book, call 01483 773531 or send us your details.