How to deep clean your house in 7 steps – professional cleaners reveal their top tips for a gleaming space

Deep cleaning a house goes beyond your usual daily tidying and dusting. Instead, it's about scrubbing every nook and cranny around your home to remove built-up or forgotten dirt, dust, and grime.

For that reason, say our pros, a true deep clean tackles all of the areas that regular cleaning usually misses. The payoff is a spotless space that feels, looks, and smells fresher.

Here, our cleaning experts share their cleaning tips on how to deep clean your house effectively, including what you'll need and how much it may cost.

How to deep clean your house

1. Start with decluttering

'Always start with decluttering,' says Alessandro Gazzo, professional cleaner at Emily's Maids, and his reasoning is simple.

'There’s no need to waste time cleaning stuff you will get rid of,' he explains.

'Get three boxes and label them with “donate” “get rid of” and either “recycle” or “keep,” following the principle of the Pile Decluttering Method.

And, says Lauren Houser, cleaning expert at Zep, 'Clearing visible clutter makes it much easier to clean every surface and will instantly make rooms look tidier.

'Use storage baskets [such as the Mainstays Storage Basket available at Walmart] or bins to organize stray items, and bag up trash or donations as you go.'

Then, you can decide whether to donate or sell decluttered items afterward.

2. Dust everything

Then, turn your attention to removing dust.

Karina Toner, cleaning expert and operations manager at Spekless, advises, 'Dust falls, so don't give yourself extra work by starting from the bottom. Begin with ceiling fans, light fixtures, and shelves, then move down to counters, baseboards, and floors.

'Dusting in this order means you're not dirtying up what you just wiped down.'

So, says Lauren, start by dusting ceiling corners, crown moldings, and light fixtures, using an extendable duster, such as the bestselling Swiffer Dusters with Extension Pole available at Walmart, or a microfiber cloth, to remove cobwebs on ceilings and upper walls.

'Next, dust ceiling fans,' she says, which are a commonly overlooked spot you're forgetting to dust. 'My pro tip is to slip an old pillowcase over each fan blade and wipe to catch dust inside the case.

'Continue down the walls to the wall art and picture frames, taking them down to dust them thoroughly.

'Also, dust high shelves, the tops of cabinets, and door frames. Remember to dust blinds and vents as well.'

3. Clean windows

Next, clean your windows, advises Lauren.

'Vacuum window sills and tracks to remove dead bugs and dust,' she says. 'Then clean the glass. Spray a generous amount of glass cleaner, such as the Zep Foaming Glass Cleaner available at Amazon, on the window panes, inside and out, and let it sit for a minute.

'Wipe or squeegee the glass from top to bottom for a streak-free shine. Wiping in one direction on the inside and the opposite on the outside helps identify streaks easily. Don’t forget to wipe down window frames and locks.'

Don't forget about window treatments, either, she adds, using your best handheld vacuum, with a brush attachment for blinds or shades, which is one of the things people with clean windows always do.

'To clean curtains, they can be taken down and laundered, or simply put in the dryer on a no-heat fluff cycle for a few minutes to shake off dust,' Lauren continues.

'Re-hang curtains immediately to avoid wrinkles.'

4. Wipe surfaces and fixtures

Karina continues, 'Once the dust is gone, it’s time to disinfect,' taking the time to tackle cleaning high touch surfaces.

For this, both Lauren and Karina suggests using a good all-purpose cleaner, such as the Method All-Purpose Cleaner in Pink Grapefruit available at Walmart, or something a little tougher, like the Zep Commercial All-Purpose Cleaner/Degreaser available at Walmart, in kitchens and bathrooms.

'Wipe down countertops, tabletops, shelves, windowsills, doors, door frames, light switches, and baseboards,' directs Lauren. 'A soft microfiber cloth [such as the Great Value Microfiber Cloth available at Walmart] works best to capture dust without scratching.

'To clean wood furniture, use a wood polish or gentle cleaner.

'Don’t spray cleaner directly on electronics or framed art – spray your cloth instead and then wipe, to avoid liquid seeping into frames or components.

'This is also a good time to disinfect high-touch surfaces, such as door knobs, light switches, railings, and remote controls,' which are quick and easy things you can clean in five minutes or less.

5. Deep clean the kitchen

The longest task to tick off when deep cleaning your house is undeniably cleaning your kitchen. But, while time-consuming, the results are well worth your efforts.

To do so, Lauren advises, 'Start by working from the top and moving down, dusting and wiping the tops of upper cabinets or high ledges, as these areas collect a lot of grease-laden dust.

'Clean the exterior and interior of appliances, including cleaning the refrigerator, cleaning the microwave, and cleaning the dishwasher.

'If possible, carefully pull the fridge and stove away from the wall – this allows you to vacuum and mop the accumulated grime behind and underneath them.'

Next, continues Lauren, clean your stovetop. Methods will differ depending on whether you're cleaning a glass stove top, cleaning an electric stovetop, cleaning a flat top stove, or cleaning an induction stovetop. For baked-on grease, use a heavy-duty oven cleaner such as the Zep Commercial Grill and Oven Cleaner available at Amazon.

'Wipe down cabinet fronts, using a gentle wood cleaner for wooden cabinets, or warm soapy water for painted ones,' Lauren adds.

'Finally, clean small appliances, like your toaster and coffee maker, and clean the kitchen sink.

'Finish by cleaning the countertops and backsplash thoroughly, then put items back only if they are clean and necessary for daily use.'

This will help to reduce visual clutter in the kitchen, too.

6. Deep clean your bathroom

It's not just your kitchen that needs a thorough deep clean. You'll also need to clean your bathroom, too.

'Start by treating any visible mildew or mold, especially in tile grout, shower corners, or along the base of the tub,' says Lauren. 'If you notice pink or gray discoloration, commonly caused by mold or soap scum buildup, spray those areas with a mildew remover [such as the bestselling Zep Mold Stain & Mildew Remover available at Walmart] and let it sit to break down the growth before scrubbing.

'Addressing mildew first allows the cleaner time to work while you move on to other areas.'

And, if you're wondering whether bathroom mold is dangerous, the answer is yes, it certainly can be. For that reason, it's crucial to remove it properly before proceeding.

'Next, tackle the tub and shower,' continues Lauren. 'If you have a shower curtain, take it down and wash it. Most fabric curtains are things you can clean in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, while plastic liners often do well on a cold cycle.

'Remove shampoo bottles, soap, and accessories, then spray a tub and tile cleaner on the shower walls, tub, and fixtures. Let it sit to cut through soap scum and water stains.

'To clean glass shower doors, use a trusted glass cleaner to restore clarity and shine, then rinse all surfaces thoroughly and polish fixtures to finish.'

It's not glamorous, but don't forget about cleaning the toilet, too, applying a toilet bowl cleaner, such as the Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner Gel available at Amazon, under the rim and letting it sit while you clean surrounding areas. Then, scrub the bowl with a brush, such as the Clorox ToiletWand available at Walmart, and disinfect the tank, seat, lid, and base.

'For the sink and vanity, clear the countertop, scrub the sink and faucet (an old toothbrush is great for tight crevices), and wipe down the counter surface and cabinet fronts,' says Lauren. 'Clean mirrors with a glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth for a streak-free result.

'Finally, sweep and mop the floor, paying special attention to areas behind and around the toilet, and don’t forget to wipe down bathroom walls and ceiling corners, where moisture can lead to mold and mildew buildup over time.

'Throughout the space, be sure to disinfect high-touch surfaces like faucet handles, the flush lever, light switches, and cabinet pulls.'

As Lauren highlights, a well-executed bathroom deep clean leaves your space not only sparkling but also more sanitary. That's why taking the time to do so is one of the things professional cleaners swear by to make your bathroom smell fresh.

7. Clean floors

Finally, finish by cleaning your floors.

Use your best vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors and best vacuum cleaner for carpet, to remove any dust and debris that may have fallen in earlier cleaning steps.

Then, says Lauren, 'Mop using a suitable floor cleaner – choose a wood cleaner for hardwood [such as the Method Squirt + Mop Hardwood Floor Cleaner available at Walmart], a gentle cleaner for laminate, or a tile floor cleaner for tile.

'Use a damp (not soaking) microfiber mop on wood floors to avoid excess water.' We recommend the MR.SIGA Professional Microfiber Mop available at Amazon for this.

For an extra level of cleanliness, advises Karina, particularly in bathrooms, you can use one of the best steam cleaners. The BLACK+DECKER 7-in-1 Steam Mop available at Amazon is our top pick.

'Vacuum all carpets slowly to pull out embedded dust,' continues Lauren. 'Use the crevice tool along baseboards and under furniture edges. Focus on high-traffic areas and spot-treat any stains.'

You can clean carpets without a machine, or use the BISSELL Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner available at Amazon for this.

What to shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

FAQs

How much does it cost to deep clean a home?

Deep cleaning your home can be done yourself for the cost of supplies, or you can hire professionals for a fee.

If you're hiring a professional cleaning company, the average cost for a deep clean typically ranges from $200 to $400, but this will depend on the square footage, location, number of rooms, and extent of cleaning required, depending on how the cleaning company structures its rates.

'Extremely large or very dirty homes will cost more,' says Lauren. 'For instance, homes over 3,000 sq. ft. or those requiring additional services, such as cleaning inside appliances, scrubbing heavy grime, shampooing carpets, etc., could range from the high hundreds to over $800 in worst-case scenarios. The deep clean is generally double the cost of a routine clean.'

In contrast, when doing it yourself, expect to spend around $50, give or take, depending on which cleaning supplies and tools you already have. It's worth investing in the best cleaning supplies for the best results. It will, obviously, take you more time, though.

That said, says Karina, 'If you’re already fully stocked and don’t mind putting in the work, or maybe, like me, you even find cleaning therapeutic, DIY might cost you nothing but time!'

Meet our experts

Lauren Houser

As a mother and cleaning enthusiast, Lauren understands the importance of deep cleaning your home with effective products and tools and believes in small, consistent cleaning habits.

Karina Toner

With numerous contributions in Homes & Gardens, Real Homes, The Spruce, and many more, Karina has extensive knowledge of both commercial and residential cleaning. Spekless completes somewhere between 1,500 to 2,000 deep cleans a year.

Alessandro Gazzo

Alessandro is a professional cleaner at Emily's Maids, and has personally deep cleaned between 80 to 100 homes.

How often should you deep clean your home? Our experts suggest every three to six months, depending on factors like the number of occupants in your home, whether you have pets, and how well you keep on top of daily cleaning tasks.

Learn more about keeping your house clean with pets.