Top Tips & Tricks To Deep Clean Your Home

Whether you are spring cleaning, or cleaning after a sickness hits your home, these Top Tips & Tricks To Deep Clean Your Home will help you refresh your living space anytime. So you can enjoy a healthier environment.

Start at the top and work your way down.  As you clean, dust, dirt, and debris will fall, and to prevent that from re-circulating throughout your home, you will want to start at the top.

This means starting with dusting down cobwebs, cleaning bathroom vents, and ceiling fans. 

♦For cobwebs: Take an angled broom, and wrap the head with a microfiber towel.  This will help not only knock down some of the cobwebs, but the microfiber will help lift the dust off of the area as well.

♦To clean the vents.  First unscrew all of your vent covers, and soak them in your sink with the following solution.  ¼ Cup dish soap, 1 cup vinegar, ¼ cup peroxide, and 2 tablespoons fabric softener.  Make sure when you fill your sink you are using the hottest water your hands will allow.  Soak while you take a small vacuum or shop vac and vacuum out your vent fan areas. Once you have done that, take a small scrub brush or toothbrush, and gently clean off the covers.  And let air dry before you re-install.

♦Do you have an old pillowcase?  Crack it out, because you are going to use this to clean off the blades of your ceiling fans. Place the pillowcase over each blade, and wipe.  The dust falls into the pillow case vs. all over the room.  I also recommend taking a dryer sheet and wiping the blades down with that when you are finished.  It will help prevent the dust from accumulating on the blades.

Now that your ceilings are clean, the next step is windows!  The tip for windows is find someone who likes to clean windows….LOL! Yeah, probably not going to happen. This doesn’t have to be the dreaded task it once was though.

♦For tougher windows like the ones that animals are pressing their noses against, or the window above your sink or near your stove, clean spots with a little dish soap and vinegar first.

♦In children’s play areas where sticky fingers or stickers have been applied (or applied and ripped off), clean those spots with rubbing alcohol.

♦To clean the dirt off of window tracks, sprinkle with a generous amount of baking soda, and pour vinegar all over the track.  Let it sit for about 15 minutes, and wipe with paper towel. For tougher spots on the track use a small scrub brush or old toothbrush. Once it is clean spray just a little WD-40, on a paper towel or soft cloth and run it down the track, this will help prevent the gunk from sticking.

♦For the windows themselves once the problematic spots have been addressed, take a spray bottle and fill it half-way with distilled white vinegar, and top it off with hot water.  Shake it up and get to work.  Use a soft microfiber cloth, paper towels, or coffee filters to wipe them down. To keep them cleaner longer (especially on the outside of the windows), use rain-x after they are clean. You can also use this mixture on all glass in your home, including: mirrors, shower doors, microwaves, and oven doors.

♦For screens on windows and doors, use a lint roller to help pull off any unwanted debris. This is fast, and effective.

♦Lastly we will address window treatments….Curtains are easy, take them down, remove all hardware and hooks, and wash them in your washing machine according to the instructions on the tags.  When you wash them, add use your detergent cap to add an equal amount of vinegar to the detergent being used, and a couple tablespoons of peroxide to the load.

♦Window blinds.  There are a couple different ways you can clean these.  If you have a good size bathtub, you can soak them in hot water along with a mix of the vinegar, peroxide, dish soap, fabric softener solution we used with the vents…just double or triple the amount depending on how much water you are using in your tub.  This solution can be modified without causing issues, and I use it for well…just about everything.  The other option you have is taking a tongs, two microfiber wash clothes, and two rubber bands.  Rubber-band each cloth to each of the tongs, and use the tongs to clean in-between each of the blinds.  There are also some nifty tools you can use, which you can find here.

Phew…windows are done!  Next is cleaning the hard surfaces such as: the inside of cabinets, counter-tops, tables, and shelves.

♦First things first…you cannot call it deep clean unless you remove all objects from the surface that you are cleaning.  This would be the perfect time to set aside a donation box or sell box to help you de-clutter, because you don’t want to unload all of the unnecessary objects from these surfaces. 

♦ To clean the inside of the kitchen cabinet shelves I use a spray bottle with 1 cup vinegar 2 tbs peroxide, and 2 tbsp dawn dish soap and top off with hot water.  It’s effective and isn’t a harsh chemical being used near the dishes that you are using to feed your family.

♦Tables and living area shelving I use a damp microfiber cloth and Murphy’s oil soap. Not only will it clean and shine the surfaces, but it will help protect the furniture too.  I also use this for the faces of the kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

♦ For cracks and crevices of these pieces of furniture, use a q-tip.

Next we will attack our appliances.  Well, not really attack, considering they would probably welcome a refresh.  There is an extra step for stainless appliances, so if you have stainless steel appliances you will crack out your WD-40 again.  Other things you will need are a vacuum with hose attachment or shop vac, and the same spray we used to clean the shelves in the cabinets, some soft rags or cloths. You will also need lemon juice and baking soda.  Now that you have your arsenal, let’s get started.

For this section we are going to jump around a bit, just to  cut down on the overall time spent in this area.  My goal here is that the average person should be able to accomplish all of the cleaning in one or two days.  That being said, let’s get started on these appliances!

♦First take a 2 cup measuring cup and fill it with white vinegar. Take baking soda, and open your empty dishwasher. Sprinkle the inside of the dishwasher with your baking soda.  Pull the top rack of the dishwasher out halfway, and set the measuring cup with the vinegar upright in the middle of the top rack.  And start the dishwasher on the heaviest cycle.

♦Unplug your range, and open up, pull out the racks and soak in your vinegar/soap mix. Crack out your vacuum and vacuum up all the loose food particles that are laying all over the oven.  Sprinkle baking soda on the bad spots.  Spray down with your soap/vinegar mix and close up the oven. Spray the top of the stove with the same mixture.  Then let sit while you do your microwave.

♦Take a bowl and add a tablespoon of lemon juice add a cup of hot water, and place it in the microwave.  Microwave for 30 seconds, and let sit while you move on to your refrigerator. Once you empty the refrigerator and freezer into a cooler (or two), and unplug, come back to the microwave.  Remove your water/lemon container and wipe down the inside of the microwave. For stubborn spots use the vinegar/soap mix.

♦Now jump back to the stove.  This has probably taken about a half an hour to get to this point, so it should be an easy clean.  Re-spray with the mix, and wipe everything down. Then finish wiping off the racks and put them back in, and plug your range back in.

♦The refrigerator and freezer has already been emptied, and is unplugged.  Use your vacuum again to vacuum up loose particles, and vacuum off the coils/wires inside and under the fridge.  Usually the protective plastic venting pops right off the bottom of the fridge.  You might be surprised at the amount of dust bunnies that you eliminate (this will also help your fridge run more energy efficient).

♦Take your vinegar/soap mixture and spray the inside of your fridge and freezer, and wipe down them both. Leave the doors open and let them dry. Once dry, you can re-load it up and plug it back in.

♦For the outside of the appliances use the vinegar/soap mix. If you have stainless appliances be sure to wipe with the grain of the steel (usually but not always horizontally). If you do not have stainless appliances-congrats: you’re done.

♦For those of you with stainless appliances, let the appliances dry, and then take 2 clean soft cloths and the WD-40. Take one of the cloths and spray a small amount of WD-40 on the cloth, and wipe the appliance with the grain of the steel.  Be careful not to get it on plastic or fabric. Once the appliance has been completely wiped, take the clean dry soft cloth and re-wipe it down, again with the grain of the steel, and this will provide the shine and protection you desire.

♦Washing machines: you can get actual washing machine cleaners: click here to order.  Or you can use a cup of bleach, and run your load.  After the load has finished be sure to use your vinegar and soap mix and wipe down the outer ring and inside of the doors and dispenser area.

♦For your dryer, general upkeep is important throughout the year, not just when you are spring cleaning.  To help with this, empty your lint traps after every load, and your outside venting should also be cleared of lint regularly, but it doesn’t stop there.  Once in a while, it is important to take your vacuum and it’s most narrow attachment, and vacuum out the area where the lint trap sits while you have the lint trap out, this will help it run more efficiently, and prevent fire.

Our next area is the bathrooms.  We have already covered how to clean the shower glass and mirrors.

♦Toilets—yup, fun fun. Okay, for your every day cleaning of the toilets, I recommend using a regular disinfecting toilet bowl cleaner or pine-sol (also add pine-sol to your toilet brush basin to keep it clean-ish). For times when you have a contagious illness or when you want to deep clean, use bleach.  (I dislike using bleach on a regular basis just because of how harsh it is, so when it isn’t necessary I don’t use it).

♦For sinks, showers, and tubs I use the vinegar/soap/peroxide mix.  Where there is grout, I use baking soda on those areas in addition to the vinegar/soap mix. It seems to work better than some of the other methods I have found (carpet cleaner/lemons). I have also heard about using toilet bowl cleaner to clean grout lines.  I have not yet tried that, but perhaps that would be as effective.

Soft goods: here we are talking about bedding, furniture (sofas, chairs), throw pillows, blankets and throws.

♦All blankets/covers/bedding should be washed in the washing machine adding vinegar and peroxide to your wash cycle.  Stuffed animals (especially those that reside on children’s beds) should be put inside of a pillowcase and washed in the same manner.

♦If you have pets, then pet hair is probably an issue. Take bounce sheets and sweep off the furniture with the sheets in hand. It helps loosen the pet hair up, and then you can vacuum the furniture up.

♦Once the furniture is vacuumed up, use a little rubbing alcohol to clean off tough spots, otherwise your vinegar/peroxide/soap mix on most spots should work fine (sometimes it leaves behind a water spot which is where the rubbing alcohol comes in handy).  Use the same process for throw pillows.

♦After all furniture has been cleaned off, use a disinfectant spray (killing 99%+ of all germs), and mist the entire area.

This my friends brings us to the last lap.  Don’t you already feel so much better, healthier, accomplished?  Who thought cleaning could make you feel so good J  Okay, I won’t get toooooo carried away here. We have just a few more things to do before we can call it a day, or weekend (however you prefer to structure it).  Yes we are talking ground level here.

♦I recommend going area to area.  I’d say room by room, but if your house is like ours where the kitchen and dining area are connected. Clear all loose objects from the floor area. This means loose rugs, chairs, movable carts/islands (well, you get the point..the less you have to go around the cleaner it will be in the end).

♦Sweep or dust mop the area so that the larger particles are picked up, and of course if it’s carpeted, vacuum instead.

♦Clean baseboards.  Take a small bucket, and mix together hot water and Murphy’s oil soap (equal parts), and a dusting cloth to wipe off the baseboards.  Be sure to follow the wood grain for maximum shine.  For the corners and harder to reach areas, use a q-tip or child’s size toothbrush.

♦Remove the register covers and wash with your vinegar/soap mix.

♦For wood and similar floors, use the diluted Murphy’s oil soap. 

♦Use Pine-sol on tile and linoleum floors.

♦On carpeting use the following solution to add to your shampooer. 1 gallon hot water, 1/2 cup peroxide,  4 Tbsp white vinegar, 4 Tbsp Dawn dish soap,  & 1/2 cup downy fabric softener.  Go slowly over your entire area with your shampooer. Ensuring you covered every area of your floor.

♦Take your right hand and cross it over to your shoulder, and pat yourself on the back.  You’re done!  Now enjoy your space knowing that you have created an environment that is healthier for you and your family.

I hope this article was helpful for you, and if you have enjoyed these tips, please share with your friends. Of course follow me on Pinterest!  Check out these other articles you may also find helpful!

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