What Is Deep Cleaning? Everything You Need to Know
Even the cleanest of the cleanest homes require deep cleaning every now and again. A general guideline is to deep clean your house at least once every three to six months.
Keep in mind that the everyday cleaning stuff, like dusting, vacuuming, and giving surfaces a quick wipe, should be part of your regular routine.
But let's talk about the real hero: deep cleaning. This is where we roll up our sleeves for a thorough cleaning that tackles the less frequent, tougher tasks such as cleaning inside the oven or dusting the ceiling fan blades.
Think of it as the 'extra care' your home deserves from time to time. Together with your regular cleaning routine, it keeps your space in tip-top shape!
In this article, we are going to discuss what deep cleaning is precisely and how it differs from our regular cleaning services. Let’s get started!
What Is Deep Cleaning In House Cleaning?
A deep cleaning service is a thorough cleaning process that gets rid of all the visible dirt, bacteria, and germs.
In addition to taking care of commonly touched and easily accessible areas, deep cleaning includes dusting and wiping less frequently used areas like behind the fridge or inside window sills.
Home deep cleaning is usually a two-step process. First, all the surfaces are thoroughly dusted, wiped, and scrubbed of any visible dirt.
Next, special disinfecting chemicals are applied to destroy any bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms that may be present on the surfaces but that we simply cannot see. This makes deep cleaning especially important during cold and flu season.
The Difference Between Regular Cleaning and Deep Cleaning
To fully understand what is deep cleaning, one first needs to learn the difference between regular cleaning and deep cleaning services.
Deep cleaning takes the cleaning process one step further than regular cleaning, but both are equally important for keeping a home fresh and healthy.
Let us take a closer look at the main differences between regular cleaning and deep cleaning.
Regular Cleaning Basics
Regular cleaning is often performed on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, with the goal of staying on top of basic cleaning tasks, such as:
Tidying up and decluttering spaces
Vacuuming and washing floors
Wiping surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms
General dusting
Taking out the trash
Because regular cleaning is less thorough than deep cleaning, it doesn’t take as long. This means that regular cleaning services usually cost less than deep cleaning.
Deep Cleaning Basics
While regular cleaning gets rid of visible dirt in frequently used areas, the goal of deep cleaning is to get rid of any dirt, grime, and other gunk everywhere around your home.
It is a much more thorough service than regular cleaning and involves sanitization of surfaces to get rid of germs and bacteria.
Not only does deep cleaning make your home look and smell clean, but it makes it a healthier environment overall!
Naturally, deep cleaning takes much longer than regular cleaning, especially if you don’t deep clean your home very often. Deep cleaning requires a lot of effort and attention to detail and can easily take up an entire day.
What Supplies Are Needed to Deep Clean a Home?
Deep cleaning a home requires a number of special tools and dedicated cleaning products. If you are brave enough to tackle the task on your own, you will need the following supplies in your arsenal:
Gloves
Rubbing alcohol
Baking soda in a shaker
Clean paintbrushes for dushing delicate items
Distilled white vinegar
Dish soap
Lint roller for upholstery and lampshades
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponges
Microfiber cloths
Microfiber mop
Multipurpose cleaner
Stiff-bristled small brush
Nylon non-scratch scrub pad
Window and glass cleaner
Wood cleaner and conditioner
Telescoping duster
Checklist For Deep Cleaning An Apartment Or House
Once you get all the equipment ready, it’s time to get started on deep cleaning your apartment or house! For two-story homes, it is recommended to start from top to bottom: cleaning the bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs and eventually moving downstairs. For apartments, starting with bathrooms and kitchens is recommended.
Deep Cleaning the Bathroom
Organize the medicine cabinet, shelves, drawers, and closets
Dust everything
Sweep, mop, and/or vacuum the floors
Disinfect and sanitize hard surfaces and high-touch areas
Scrub your shower, bathtub, and sink
Clean mirrors
Clean window treatments
Clean light fixtures
Wash the windows
Wash shower curtain, towels, and bathmats
Deep clean the toilet
Wash out toothbrush caddy
Wipe down baseboards
Take out trash
Deep Cleaning the Kitchen
Clean the stovetop
Clean inside the oven
Clean the microwave
Clean and descale the coffee machine
Clean out the fridge and freezer
Vacuum under the fridge
Wash the dishwasher
Clean the dishwasher filter
Clean all the stainless steel appliances
Clean inside and outside the cabinets
Wipe the walls and baseboards
Organize the pantry
Empty the toast tray in the toaster
Wipe down countertops
Disinfect high-touch areas
Clean and sanitize the sink
Clean the garbage disposal
Clean kitchen blinds
Wash the windows
Sweep, mop, and/or vacuum the floors
Take out trash and recycling
Deep Cleaning the Bedrooms
Dust everything
Clean window treatments
Sweep, mop, and/or vacuum the floors
Shampoo any rugs or carpets
Wash windows and window sills
Clean out and organize the closet
Clean out and organize bedside table drawers
Wash all the bedding
Rotate the mattress
Make the bed with clean sheets
Wash all the laundry
Deep Cleaning Living Spaces
Dust everything
Wash the windows and window sills
Dust and wash doors
Wash walls and baseboards
Vacuum upholstered furniture
Sweep, mop, and/or vacuum the floors
Shampoo any rugs or carpets
Wash cushions and throw pillow covers
Disinfect frequently touched areas and items
Clean TV screens
Organize and declutter items on the tables and shelves
Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
When Should You Schedule a Deep Cleaning for Your Home?
Deep cleaning an entire house is not an easy feat, but luckily, you don’t have to worry about doing it on your own. At Essential Move Out Cleaning, we are happy to offer comprehensive deep cleaning services for clients in Seattle and the surrounding areas.
We typically recommend our clients to schedule professional deep cleaning once per season, or around every three months. At the very minimum, you should aim to have your home deep cleaned once or twice per year, with regular cleanings scheduled every one to two weeks in between.
It’s time to give your home a refresh! Give us a call today to learn more about what is deep cleaning and to schedule comprehensive home cleaning services in Seattle.
