7 Tips for Deep Cleaning Your Home

I have a ritual of welcoming in each new season with a deep cleansing of our home. Of course, I take care of the routine tasks day to day and week to week, but it’s so refreshing to start a new chapter of the year in an extra sparkling and organized space.

This seasonal deep clean feels extra beneficial ahead of winter settling in, as I know we’ll be cooped up and spending many more hours of our day indoors. That, and we’ll be welcoming in guests for the holidays. And it always feels so much cozier and fun when things are (mostly) in their place and clean, as we don’t have to worry about any of that and can instead focus on making memories in our home.

7 Tips for Deep Cleaning Your Home

So, what are the essentials of a deep cleaning session? Here are seven general pieces of advice I recommend. If you’re looking for additional resources, I’ve created a printable checklist for you and highly recommend this page for more great tips!

Have a checklist.

I’m an obsessive list-maker, and I’ll admit that I don’t always end up referring to them when I’m actually in the midst of a project. When I’m doing a deep clean of my home, though, I love having one as reminder of those tasks that need done that I don’t normally take care of during a routine cleaning. As mentioned, I’ve created a printable checklist for you, which you can download here!

Set the mood.

Yes, I strongly believe that “setting the mood” for a good cleaning session makes all the difference. Deep cleaning your home is an opportunity to really connect with your space, freshen it up, and be thankful for what you have but often overlook – it shouldn’t be a stressful experience. Open windows if the weather is nice enough, to let your home air out. Light a few candles or incense, or diffuse essential oils. Put on a playlist or record that matches your mood. Make a fresh cup of coffee or tea, or pour yourself a glass of wine.

Start “self-cleaning” projects first.

That is, load up and run the dishwasher, start a load of laundry, place anything that needs aired out outside, gather anything that needs to soak awhile and place it in the sink, and so on. During this initial phase, I also like to gather all of my houseplants and place them in the tub, watering them thoroughly and letting them absorb what they need, and drain what they do not, as I complete the rest of my cleaning.

Give yourself three options: put away, donate, dispose.

Before you begin the standard “picking up” sweep, gather three baskets (or bags or boxes) – one for misplaced items that need transported to another room, one for donates, and one for garbage. Start in each room by picking up visible clutter – anything you immediately see that is out of place or that doesn’t belong in the room – and toss these items into one of your three baskets. Once the room is looking tidied up to your standards, move onto closets, dressers, nightstand drawers, bookshelves, and so on. Doing this doesn’t give you the opportunity to leave items stranded and “decide what to do with them later” and will motivate you to work faster.

Work from top to bottom and back to front.

Start at the top story of your home and work your way down, and start at highest point of each room, working down. In other words, clean fan blades first, then the windowsills, then dust furniture, then wipe the baseboards, then vacuum and mop, always working your way from the back of the room towards the door, as this will save you the hassle of redoing work from falling dust or wet footprints!

Use natural cleaners.

Doing so helps to cut down on harsh chemical stenches and burns. While some messes or long-abandoned areas may require a stronger cleaner, most areas of your home can be cleaned with simple, natural solutions. White vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils are your best friends during a deep clean. See the ten natural cleaning products I love to use here!

Take photos when you’re all done.

There’s nothing like a freshly, thoroughly cleaned home. Take a few moments to snap some pictures of each room (or closet, drawer, and so on) when you’re satisfied with how everything is looking. Print them or save them in an album that you can refer back to when, weeks or months down the road, you don’t recall how you had things situated or organized. Looking back at the photo will save you from second guessing and getting frustrated. They’re also nice to have as a visual aid for a significant other or a child who is offering to help (a dream, right?!) but isn’t sure what their end goal is. And if nothing else, they’ll be a great reminder of the potential your home has when it’s sparkling clean, or proof that it was at one time, in fact, in order. : )

So, there you have it. Some of my best advice for giving your home a thorough scrub to welcome in each new season.

What are your best deep cleaning tips and tricks? Any tried-and-true Pinterest hacks or pieces of advice passed down through the generations that you still use today? I’d love to know about them!