How to Deep Clean Your House

No matter how high your ceilings are, this is a hard-to-reach spot. We recommend using an extendable duster so you don’t have to worry about using a step stool or ladder. If you notice mold on your ceiling, create a cleaning solution using equal parts water and white vinegar. Spray the area and wait several minutes before scrubbing.

Baseboards, especially in your kitchen and entryways, accumulate a lot of dirt or food splatter. To clean, create a solution of warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Use a sponge or cloth to wipe down your baseboards in sections. Be sure to wipe each section completely dry before moving onto the next to avoid water damage.

Keeping your fans clean helps them cool your home more efficiently.

• Before you clean your ceiling fan, be sure to turn it off.
• Then, dust each blade with a duster or cloth.
• After dusting, clean the blades with a moist cloth using warm water and dish soap.
• Make sure to use a light amount of cleaning solution and don’t apply too much pressure on the blades.
• When you finish, thoroughly dry each blade before using your fan again.

A lot of dust and dirt gets trapped in your vents. Cleaning your A/C vents will help improve the air quality in your home. To clean:

• Remove the vents with a screwdriver.
• Dust your vents and vacuum your air ducts — but be sure not to go too far in your ducts. Simply vacuum around the outside to get lingering dust and dirt from around your vents. You’ll need an HVAC professional to help if you want to fully clean out your ducts.
• Once you’ve dusted your vents, bring them to the bathtub to wash them with a combination of warm water and dish soap.
• Soak them for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Then dry them as much as possible before putting them back in place.

Create a grout cleaning mixture of 3/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Apply the mixture to the grout and scrub with a grout brush. When you finish, use a sponge or cloth to rinse and wipe the grout clean.

Take everything out of your fridge and freezer, throw away expired or freezer-burned food and wipe down all the shelves and drawers. Pull the refrigerator away from the wall to wipe down the top and sides and sweep behind the appliance.

After clearing junk off your countertops wipe down the counters and backsplash with an all-purpose cleaner, or a granite cleaner if you have stone tiles. Scrub any grout with warm water and a stiff-bristled toothbrush. You can also add some baking soda to the water for extra cleaning power.

Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar down your garbage disposal to eliminate lingering odors, and plug it with a drain plug. After a few minutes, remove the stopper and rinse the mixture with hot water.

Take the tray out of your microwave and wash it in the sink with dish soap and warm water. Wipe down the inside and outside of the microwave with warm, soapy water.

Remove the burner grates and caps from your stovetop, and wipe them down. If the grates are extra greasy, let them soak in a mixture of warm water, vinegar and baking soda for 20 minutes before wiping them down with a sponge.

Run your oven’s self-clean cycle if it has one. It’s important to note that this will only work if the oven is moderately dirty. Otherwise, this can lead to smoke and potentially even start a fire. If your oven has a lot of buildup or doesn’t have a self-clean function, create a baking soda, water and vinegar solution and use a spray bottle to coat the inside. Let it sit overnight, then scrub the surface thoroughly.

Clear out your dishwasher’s drain to remove any food particles. Then, place a dishwasher-safe container filled with 1 cup of vinegar inside and run the dishwasher on a regular cycle. Once that cycle is finished, sprinkle baking soda across the bottom of your dishwasher and run it again on a hot water setting.

Empty your toaster or toaster oven by gently shaking out the crumbs into the garbage can. Then, pull out the crumb tray if you have one and wash grease off the removable trays and racks. Wipe down both the outside and inside with a combination of dish soap and vinegar.

Mix equal parts water and vinegar, and run a brew cycle. Once your coffee maker is done brewing, clean all parts thoroughly with dish soap and warm water to remove any remaining vinegar residue.

Clean your sink and sprinkle baking soda all over. Using warm water and dish soap, start scrubbing the sink from the top down so you can work the water toward the drain.

Based on the manufacturer’s guidelines, wash your curtains and drapes. Wipe down all blinds using a cloth dipped in equal parts water and vinegar. If you have wood blinds, give them a good dusting with a microfiber cloth and wipe them down with warm water only, as vinegar can damage the finish.

Vacuum your carpets and rugs.

• If your rug is machine washable and small enough to fit in your washing machine, you can run it through one cycle and lay it flat to dry.
• If your floor is fully carpeted or your rug is too large, use a rug shampoo, warm water and a sponge or soft-bristled brush to clean the surface.
• You can also rent a steam cleaner from your local home improvement store.

Using a microfiber cloth, wipe down all your wood furniture, mantels, shelves and picture frames. If you or your family suffer from allergies, it might be safer to use your vacuum hose attachment with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which will capture dust more efficiently.

Start by removing cushions and vacuuming upholstered furniture to get rid of crumbs, dust and pet hair. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines for the best way to clean your furniture. Depending on what type of material it’s made of, there are various ways to clean it without hiring a professional.

Wipe down and dust your light fixtures with a microfiber cloth. Make sure to test each lightbulb and replace if needed.

Start by wiping or vacuuming the dirt off your window frame. If the screens look dirty, wash them with warm soapy water and a soft brush, then rinse and let them dry before putting them back in place. Then, clean the inside of your windows with a glass cleaner and microfiber cloth.

Move cars to the driveway, and assess your garage floor. Soak up any oil or car fluid spills using cat litter and sweep thoroughly. If you have time, this is a great opportunity to clean out the garage, give the floor a detailed scrubbing and get the space organized.

Use an extendable duster to remove dust and cobwebs from the ceiling, walls, light fixtures and tall shelves.

Make a cleaning solution of warm water and dish soap. Use a sponge or cloth to dip in the solution and begin washing your walls in small sections. Be sure to wipe away soap with a clean cloth before moving onto your next area.

Vacuum lingering dust and dirt from the floor before you begin mopping. Then, mix warm water and dish soap to mop the floor. When you finish mopping, fill your mop bucket with clean water to get rid of soapy residue.