15 Steps to a DEEP Clean
Chances are it is time for a deep clean of your home. Whether it is for you to enjoy or for getting your house ready to sell we have a list of important areas to tackle.
1. Clean out before you clean up.
We tell our staging clients that there is no point in cleaning until you purge, declutter, and rearrange. If you are planning on doing any of this, do it before you start spit shining the baseboards. If you want more information about purging (My personal favorite thing to do!) See our 4 P’s of Staging to Live blog. If you are clearing out in preparation to list, keep in mind one of our fave staging says: “If you can live without, get it out.” If you are doing it for yourself, think of Marie Kondo’s sentiment, “Does it bring you joy?”
2. Tackle the WOODWORK, trust me it needs it.
Woodwork and hardware. Think Baseboards, Doors, Cabinetry doors, and even under upper cabinets. You might be wondering why you should bother. For one, by cleaning these at least once a year you will extend the longevity of their life. Ever try to clean a grease covered cabinet next to the stove in your new to you house? It rarely comes out perfect. But if you address it regularly it will look new for years to come. Don’t forget closet shelves and built ins! Once you clean the surfaces, make sure to wipe down the cabinetry hardware and door handles. After all, our hands touch these things ever single day!
3. Wow those AIR VENTS are so gross!
Pull off the covers of air vents and air returns. Vacuum out the air returns and floor vents. {Oh there’s that marble from our favorite board game!} You should be changing your air filters regularly, but if you haven’t done it in a while, now is your chance! Don’t forget to clean the oven vent. Have you ever looked up? Some have parts that can be removed and cleaned. This is an area that tends to have significant grease buildup and is often overlooked.
4. Clean so you can see the LIGHT!
Light fixtures and switches. Take the glass covers down and wash in warm, soapy water. Recently, I cleaned the glass sconce covers in my half bath. It was illuminating! Lol But seriously the before and after was amazing, for such a simple clean! Dust fan blades and the metal parts of fixtures. Vacuums with hoses can also be used to suck off the bulk of the dust before wiping everything down. Once the fixtures are clean, do not forget the light switches. Another thing that we touch regularly but they hardly ever get cleaned.
5. Wash the WALLS, say what?
I can remember rolling my teenage eyes at my Grandma Jane who did this every year, top to bottom. {If you have flat paint do not do this. The only way to deal with flat paint is to paint over it. Which is why we never recommend using it on walls.} But for other paint finishes use a damp cloth to gently spot clean finger prints and smudges that are bound to happen throughout the years, or every day! If paint starts coming off you are pushing too hard and may need to touch up the paint. While I do not think you have to clean from top to bottom like my Grandma Jane, I do think that by focusing on high traffic areas you can make your paint look new!
6. Move your furniture and Clean.
Vacuum under and on top of all those hard to reach places. This is the time of year to move your couch and beds and get all that crazy gunk that builds up over time. Using sliders that you can order on amazon or often find at TJ Maxx can make moving furniture a breeze. They make sliders that you can use on both carpet and hard surface floors. This is where I typically restock my hair tie collection. LOL Don’t forget the top of large scale furniture and kitchen cabinets. This is when you realize the builder or previous owners NEVER cleaned up there.
7. We use our FURNITURE every day, why wouldn’t we clean it?
Speaking of furniture…this is the time to vacuum it as well. If you do not have an upholstery attachment for your vacuum I highly recommend getting one. It protects the fabric of your furniture while getting all the hidden crumbs out of the weave of the fabric. Lift up cushions and make sure to get all the cracks. Don’t forget to wipe down legs and other hard surfaces. This is also the time to polish real wood pieces with furniture oil. If your cushion covers are removable, follow the manufacturer instructions and wash them. This is not something you should do all the time, but once every few years will make a big difference.
8. Let the light shine in, the WINDOWS!
Depending on the location and how many windows you have, this might be something to outsource. Get different bids because they can vary widely. I recommend cleaning/dusting the window seals before the professional window cleaner arrives. This ensures that your windows will be sparkling clean when they leave. If you haven’t done this in a while, I guarantee you will be amazed at how good it feels to have clean windows. It’s like getting glasses and realizing you haven’t been able to see clearly for a long time.
9. Sometimes we forget that the things we cuddle with need to be cleaned!
Soft goods. This is your chance to wash duvets, bead spreads, curtains, pillow covers, extra blankets, really anything that doesn’t get washed regularly but gets used quite a bit. Make sure to follow manufacturer instructions. Some items just may need to be dry cleaned by an expert.
10. A whole new world and a magic CARPET.
Rugs and carpets. If you don’t have a rug that can be washed at home, this is the time to either rent a machine to clean your rugs and carpets or hire a company to have them professionally cleaned. This will increase the life of your rugs and carpet, as well as having a similar wow factor to the clean windows.
11. Caulking - It’s such a small thing, but it actually protects so much.
Take a look at the caulking around your kitchen, bathroom and laundry room fixtures. This is another inexpensive and easy DIY project that can freshen up a space dramatically while protecting the surfaces around it. For $20 and an hour of work your spaces will look as good as new!
12. It’s funny how we don’t notice DUST and COBWEBS until the sun hits it just right
Dust and cobwebs. Most people dust regularly but don’t often move all the items on the shelves. Now is the time to get your microfiber cloth out and go to town dusting every inch of the surfaces in your home. It is also a great time to dust the decorative items. This is why I believe less is more. I don’t want to have to clean more than I have to! Cobwebs love to hide. But not today! Grab your extendable duster and take down those webs!
13. Tile is easy to keep clean, but GROUT is not!
Grout. This one is not easy. But nothing makes a beautiful tile look older than it actually is, than dirty grout. I have tried many things over the years to clean grout. Baking soda, store bought grout cleaner, bleach, alcohol on cotton balls left to soak. All of these have some level of success when combined with a grout brush and some elbow grease. But this is something I have decided is well worth paying the professionals. Whatever you decide, do it! Clean grout is the best!
14. You don’t need a password to clean your ELECTRONIC DEVICES!
I am sure you have heard that you should clean your electronic devices regularly. But lets be real…do you? Probably not. Grab some alcohol wipes and clean keyboards, mouses, all 40 remotes in the house, cell phones, ipads, and anything else you touch many times a day but never think to wipe down.
15. Take this show outside!
Feel like you are done? Well a deep clean is not complete without tackling the exterior of your home. Power wash your brick or siding and all hardscape. Depending on where you live dust or mold will build up and discolor the exterior of your home and driveway. Clean out gutters and wash exterior light fixtures. Also, make sure to remove the cobwebs, wasp nests, and any dead plants. Don’t forget your furniture, especially if it has been outside all year.
“You will not need to do all of these every year, but they are all components of a good deep clean! And a MUST when selling a property.”
Written by Amanda Mosness, Upstate South Carolina Stager and Home Stylist