A clean, clutter-free home not only means peace of mind, but also makes for a healthier living environment. Having been in the cleaning and restoration services for over 70 years, COIT knows what it takes to thoroughly clean a space and keep it that way. 

While regular, everyday cleaning goes a long way in maintaining a healthy living environment, there are times when a deeper clean is necessary. Continue reading for helpful home cleaning tips and, for a comprehensive deep cleaning checklist, download COIT’s detailed expert guide below. 

Deep Cleaning Checklist Overview

Deep cleaning your home requires more effort than regular, surface-level cleaning. Because there are many things to consider, such as the type of surface, what tools to use, and how to remove specific stains, it can be easy to forget certain steps. 

To help with this, we’ve created an easy-to-follow checklist covering three key focus areas of the home—so you don’t miss a spot.

Kitchen

Clean kitchens are safe kitchens. As the designated food preparation location, it’s essential this space remains germ and bacteria-free to avoid contamination and foodborne illnesses. We recommend performing a kitchen deep cleaning once a month. Here are some key steps:

• Dust and wipe down all surfaces including the fridge, stove, microwave, and other appliances.
• Disinfect all countertops using a solution that’s safe for your counter type.
• Wipe down the sink and flush the drain/disposal using baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water.
• Sweep, vacuum, and mop the floors. 

Bathroom

Given the excess moisture, bathrooms can become breeding grounds for mold which can lead to costly mold remediation in the future. For this reason, it’s important to remain on top of regularly cleaning, dusting, and disinfecting bathroom surfaces to avoid the grime. Experts recommend doing a bathroom deep cleaning at least once a month. Here are some key steps to get the job done:

• Dust all surfaces including the mirror, ceiling fan, windowsills, cabinets, and shelves.
• Scrub and remove soap scum from showers and tubs.
• Scrub the toilet bowl with toilet cleaner and wipe down the exterior including the toilet seat.
• Scrub floor/tile grout with a stiff bristle brush.

Bedroom and Living Room

Bedrooms and living rooms see a lot of foot traffic, which means they can quickly become dirt-ridden. Because we’re constantly walking on floors and sitting on furniture, these items receive a fair amount of wear and tear over time. Not to mention, these rooms quickly accumulate dust, which is harmful to breathe in and contributes to poor indoor air quality. Here are some key steps for bedroom and living room deep cleaning:

• Dust and wipe down all surfaces, including shelves, TV console, blinds, ceiling fans, and decorative items.
• Vacuum and deep clean all carpeted areas.
• Remove and vacuum underneath couch cushions and wash coverings accordingly. 
• Remove and wash sheets, pillowcases, comforters, and duvet covers.

Additional Areas to Consider

Although our checklist covers these main areas of the home, another important area to consider is your home’s HVAC system. Clean and clear air ducts make for healthy indoor air quality, so it’s imperative to routinely clean them. Over time, ducts can become clogged with dust and debris, which can then be circulated into your home. We recommend performing a deep air duct cleaning every two to three years. 

Download the Full Checklist

Life gets busy. When it comes to maintaining a clean, healthy household, you need something to reference to ensure you’re not missing a step. To view our entire comprehensive guide, download and save our detailed checklist. 
 

FAQs

Here are some commonly asked questions and answers from the experts at COIT:

Q: What is typically included in a deep clean?

A: Deep cleaning implies going beyond the surface. Typically, deep cleaning includes disinfecting all surfaces, vacuuming and shampooing carpets to remove stubborn grime, cleaning upholstered furniture items, and scrubbing tile and grout in bathrooms, among other, more in-depth steps. 

Q: In what order should you deep clean a house?

A:  While we don’t recommend a particular room order, we do recommend working from top to bottom, i.e. cleaning surfaces that are higher up first. This way, if any dust should fall as a result of this initial cleaning, you can ensure it is taken care of in the final step when you clean your floors. 

Q: What room should I deep clean first?

A: Consider starting with a room that gets a lot of use, such as the kitchen or bathroom. As far as rooms go, these two areas are prone to bacteria and mold growth, and so they should be deep cleaned on a regular basis. 

Q: How long does it normally take to deep clean a house?

A: The time it will take to deep clean a house will depend on the size of the home. On average, the deep cleaning process can take up to eight hours, but can vary. 

Q: Does this checklist work for move-out cleans?

A: Yes! This checklist is a great resource for when you're moving out of your current home. Alternatively, there are company's that specialize in end of lease cleaning services.

Final Thoughts

Performing a thorough cleaning of your home is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and promoting wellbeing. For an easy-to-follow checklist, be sure to download COIT’s comprehensive deep cleaning guide. 

Contact COIT for a professional cleaning!