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.