Even the tidiest homes need a thorough cleaning from time to time. Whether you’re prepping for a guest visit or you’ve simply let your daily clutter accumulate, this whole-home cleaning checklist will help you get back to a tidy state of mind.
Certain areas may require more frequent cleaning than others, such as sanitizing the refrigerator and wiping down light fixtures. Use these tips to determine the ideal frequency of deep cleaning your home.
Bedrooms
A clean bedroom promotes restful sleep and relaxation. A dirty, messy bedroom can also contribute to allergies and other health problems. Organizing experts recommend making it a priority to do daily chores like picking up toys and clothes and putting them away, cleaning surfaces with a cleaner or disinfectant, and washing sheets and pillowcases bi-weekly.
When you clean your bedroom, start by removing any trash and emptying your closet and dresser drawers. Next, declutter items that you don’t use anymore and donate them to charity or a thrift store. Make sure you wash your bedding and pillows on a weekly basis, especially if you have pets or allergies. Learn here how landmarks are worth visiting in the USA.
Using a duster with an extendable handle, or a microfiber mop head attached to a broom or vacuum cleaner, begin cleaning high areas, such as ceiling fans and moldings, and then work your way down to lower surfaces. Remember to wipe down windows, as well. A dirty window can make the whole room feel stale and dusty. Wipe them down with a cleaner or glass cleaner and a clean microfiber cloth or lint-free towel.
Bathrooms
The bathroom is one of the most highly-used areas in your home. As a result, it is often home to many germs and bacteria. To keep it sanitary, you should clean this room daily with disinfectant wipes and use a sanitizing toilet brush and squeegee. You should also clean the tub and shower on a regular basis to reduce soap scum and mildew, and use a drain cover to prevent water rings.
It is recommended that you do a deep cleaning of your bathrooms once a week and once a month. Weekly cleanings can help to prevent the buildup of germs and bacteria, while a monthly deep clean can help to address any problem areas in your home.
For a thorough clean, start by clearing away any clutter and items that are in your way. This will make the task much easier and it also allows you to reorganize your space after your deep clean. Then, you can tackle things like wiping down the bathroom mirror, scrubbing the bathtub, shower and sink, and dusting shelves and window sills.
Kitchen
Cleaning experts always say that to keep your home clean, you have to do it regularly. However, that doesn’t mean that all areas need a deep cleaning every time you tidy and sweep. The frequency of the deep cleaning depends on your lifestyle and what you use each room for.
Generally speaking, high-traffic areas and those used for food preparation, like the kitchen, should be deep cleaned more often than others. To keep your kitchen in top shape, consider following a monthly cleaning checklist. This will help you to sanitize your trash bins, wipe down all surfaces including countertops and cabinets, clean appliances inside and out, and dust all light fixtures.
Before you start, clear away clutter and move things around to make the area more accessible. This will make the cleaning process much quicker and easier. Plus, seeing all that empty counter space will boost your motivation to get the job done. Then, you can move everything back where it belongs. This will help you to keep your kitchen in pristine condition all year round.
Living Room
A clean and tidy living room can improve moods, create a comfortable environment for friends and family members, and help reduce stress. However, it can be difficult to keep up with daily clutter and messes.
Adding some deep cleaning tasks to your weekly routine can help you maintain a hygienic and tidy living room. Vacuum or sweep the floor, vacuum beneath couch cushions, and dust plants, picture frames, mirrors, and windowsills to remove dust and germs from these surfaces.
A small stepladder can be useful for reaching high areas like ceiling fans and the tops of bookcases or molding. A water-vinegar solution can be used to wipe down kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors, furniture polish can be applied to wood furniture, and a cloth dampened with dish soap can be used to wipe down the coffee table.
If you have a busy schedule, quarterly or seasonal deep cleaning may be best for you. Just like a gym workout, deep cleaning helps keep your home in good condition and removes any buildup of dirt, dust, and grime that’s missed during regular upkeep.
Dining Room
The dining room is where families eat meals and have conversations. Therefore, it’s essential that this area is kept clean at all times. Regular cleaning in this space involves wiping surfaces, vacuuming or sweeping the floor and disinfecting light switches and outlets. It also includes dusting the crown molding, walls and baseboards. Additionally, the upholstered chairs should be cleaned to remove any food stains.
If you have a strict cleaning schedule and use a high-quality cleaner, you may only need to deep clean your dining room once or twice a year. This will eliminate all the gunk that accumulates in hard-to-reach areas during regular cleaning sessions.
Keeping the dining area tidy helps to prevent the spread of germs, which will keep family members healthy and productive. As an added bonus, a well-maintained dining room will look better and be more inviting to guests.
Garage
Some areas of the home don’t get deep cleaned on a regular basis. This includes ceilings, skirting boards, high horizontal surfaces, and those nooks and crannies where horror normally builds up. This is why a deep cleaning schedule is vital for your house to keep it at its best.
This can be a difficult task for some homes. To make it easier, you can divide your home into zones and clean one room at a time. This way you can avoid being overwhelmed.
It may be a good idea to hire a professional cleaning company. This will not only save you time but also ensure that your home gets the best deep clean possible. A good cleaning company will use a deep cleaning checklist and have the equipment and skills to reach those hard-to-reach places that a regular cleaning may miss. They can even clean and disinfect your kitchen appliances, like your coffee maker or washing machine, to help keep them fresh and working well. This will cut down on the amount of bacteria, dust, and other allergens in your home and improve your family’s health.
Playroom
If you have children, it’s important to regularly deep clean high-traffic areas in the home. Kids and their toys are a magnet for dirt, dust and debris. It can take hours, or even days, to clear a room of toys and gear. And just seconds later, it’s a disaster again!
A regular deep clean of the playroom can help prevent this cycle. Begin by sorting through all the toys to find items that need to be tossed, those your kids no longer use and those that should be donated. Then, wash the remaining toys to remove stains and germs. Finally, reorganize the items that will stay in the room to make it easier for your kids to keep it tidy.
If you want to make it easier for your kids to maintain a clean space, try setting up a cleaning schedule that includes a designated day or time to clean. Creating a routine can help your kids learn to take responsibility for their own mess, and it can give you a chance to teach them basic cleaning skills.
Outdoor Area
Whether your patio furniture is covered in food crumbs and leftovers or ashes from the 4th of July, it needs regular cleaning! The same goes for your barbeque grill. Using a natural cleaner will help keep it sanitized and safe to use.
Outdoor rugs should be lifted, shaken out and vacuumed on a weekly basis (especially in fall/winter or if located near a beach). They also need to be deep cleaned once per month. Furniture should be wiped down on a regular basis with a dry cloth and then with soap, if needed.
All homes collect dust, dirt, germs and bacteria to some extent, but a healthy home can prevent them from living rent-free. A consistent routine will minimise the need for deep cleans but, even with a disciplined schedule, some areas will need a thorough clean once a year. These include:
