Deep Clean your Home in Ten Days

day one

Declutter. Everything needs its own place to live. It is impossible to keep your space neat, comfortable, and peaceful, if everything is everywhere. If you have more stuff than space, then you have too much stuff! Downsize or get creative with storage solutions (lots of help on Pinterest with this). If you collected additional bins, baskets, or totes to put things away, now is the time to break them out and put them to use. Go through your house one room at a time, and put everything away in its bin, tote, drawer, or closet. It is a relief not to be ruled by the tyranny of your things!

Clutter’s Last Stand – Don Aslett
How to Declutter Every Room in Your Home – The Spruce
Eleven Best Closet Storage Ideas – The Spruce

day two

Bathrooms. Make a natural soft scrub cleaner by mixing 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water, and enough Dawn dish soap to give it a soft scrub consistency.

1. Pour 1 c baking soda in the toilet bowl and let sit while you do the rest of the bathroom.
2. Take out the shower caddy and wash it. Clean the shower head, bath fixtures, corners, and grout, with your scrub paste and a tooth brush. Wash shower walls, doors, and tub with scrub paste and a rag to remove soap scum, and rinse.
3. Use scrub paste and a tooth brush to clean build up around sink drains or behind fixtures.
4. Use a clean microfiber cloth, just damp, to wash and polish mirrors.
5. Use the same damp microfiber cloth to wash walls and clean doors, door jambs, and door knobs.
6. Rinse, and use the same microfiber cloth to wipe down and polish sinks and fixtures.
7. Add 1/4 c vinegar to the baking soda in the toilet bowl, and scrub with a toilet brush.
8. Rinse out your microfiber cloth and wipe down tank, seat, and rim. Rinse – that cloth is done! How to wash microfiber cleaning cloths.
9. Take out rugs and mats, wash or shake out.
10. Swiffer or vacuum the floor, and damp mop, and replace rugs and mats. Done!

day three

Bedrooms. Make an all purpose cleaner by combining 2 c warm water with 2 T white vinegar in a spray bottle. Make a natural furniture polish by mixing white vinegar and fresh lemon juice to make 1/4 c, and adding 1/4 tsp olive oil.

1. Put away all clothes and toys.
2. Now is a good time to wash the toys. Most plastic toys (non-electronic) can go in the dishwasher. Put legos in a mesh laundry bag in the dishwasher.
3. Take the bedding off, wash and line dry if possible.
4. While the bedding is off, turn mattresses.
5. While the bedding is off, remove any items stored under the bed. Swiffer or vacuum the dust bunnies (might as well do the whole floor while the vacuum is out).
6. Clean tops of under bed storage bins, knick knacks, and any non-wood surfaces with a flannel rag and a spray of all purpose cleaner.
7. Use a clean dry microfiber cloth to wash and polish mirrors.
8. Rinse the microfiber cloth, and use, just damp, to wash walls and clean doors, door jambs, and door knobs.
9. Spray the natural furniture polish on an old piece of flannel rag and dust and polish furniture.
10. Make the beds. Done!

day four

Home office, living, family, and dining rooms. In these spaces, we clean electronics (I don’t have one of these yet, but I want one!), knick-knacks, upholstery, and dust and polish furniture.

1. Upholstery. Take out all cushions and vacuum crumbs out of sofas and chairs.
2. Spot-clean upholstery: Mix 1/4 c vinegar, 3/4 water, and 1/2 T dish soap. Spray on the upholstery, and scrub the area with a tooth brush. Repeat as needed until clean. Use a flannel rag and water to remove any excess cleaner from the upholstery. Blot with a dry cloth to remove the moisture and let dry.
3. Use a vacuum attachment to dust all electronics and vents, and tops of books in bookshelves, and lamp shades.
4. Use the all purpose cleaner to clean knick knacks and any non-wood surfaces.
5. Use a dry microfiber cloth to clean glass tabletops and mirrors. This really works!
6. Rinse the microfiber cloth and wring out till just damp. Use to wash walls and clean doors, door jambs, and door knobs.
7. Use the natural furniture polish on an old piece of flannel rag and dust and polish furniture.

day five

Drapes, blinds, windows.

1. If you don’t regularly clean your drapes or curtains, take them all down and wash them (or dry clean according to manufacturer’s instructions).
2. Use a vacuum attachment to dust all blinds and windowsills, or use a damp microfiber cloth to clean the slats one by one.
3. While the drapes are down, wash the windows. Put 1/2 T fresh lemon juice and 2 c warm water in a spray bottle. Spray window glass and wipe dry with a clean flannel rag.

day six

Ceiling fans and light fixtures, and catch up day.

1. Use a step ladder to reach the ceiling fans. Use a clean damp microfiber cloth to remove all dust and build up from ceiling fan blades, and ceiling fan light fixtures.
2. Rinse the microfiber cloth out until it is just damp. Wipe out all other light fixtures. If really dirty, take down and wash.
3. Change whatever light bulbs need changing.
4. If you have any tasks left wanting from previous days, today is a good day to catch them up.

day seven

Floors.

1. Baseboards. If you regularly clean your baseboards, use a vacuum cleaner attachment to dust. If it has been a while, use a clean damp microfiber cloth to remove grime. Use warm water and a tooth brush for stubborn corners.
2. Carpet: Vacuum thoroughly, moving the furniture to get all corners and hard to reach areas. Change your bag before starting!
3. Wood floors: First, swiffer or vacuum to remove dust and crumbs. Damp mop with a clean microfiber cloth.
4. Tile floors. First, swiffer or vacuum to remove dust and crumbs.
5. Stained tile grout: Use the natural soft scrub paste and a toothbrush. You can apply the paste, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then come back and wash it up.
6. Damp mop tile floors with clean water to remove soft scrub residue.
7. For stuck on mess on kitchen floors, spray with all purpose cleaner, let sit, and then wipe up with a damp rag or swiffer.

day eight

Kitchen. Today we will do the pantry and cupboards, and since this by itself is such a big job, we will leave the major appliances for tomorrow.

1. Empty pantry shelves, wipe out with damp microfiber cloth or use all purpose cleaner and a flannel rag if dirty.
2. Sort pantry items, throw out old or expired food. Restock pantry shelves.
3. Empty kitchen cupboards, wipe out with damp microfiber cloth or use all purpose cleaner and a flannel rag if dirty.
4. Sort items and restock cabinets. I have pull out cabinet organizers and I love and recommend them.
5. Use a damp microfiber cloth to wash the outside of kitchen cabinets and doors, countertops, and backsplash.
6. Rinse the microfiber cloth and wring out till just damp. Use to wash walls and clean doors, door jambs, and door knobs.
7. Prep for the next day: Clean up loose crumbs in oven. Prep your oven for cleaning the next day.

day nine

Kitchen. Today is major appliance day: the refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, and microwave.

1. Empty refrigerator shelves and door. Wipe out shelves and interior walls with equal parts vinegar and warm water. Rinse with a clean flannel cloth and water, then dry.
2. Take out produce drawers and wash with warm soapy water.
3. While produce drawers are drying, thoroughly clean any dried-on food at the bottom of the refrigerator with vinegar – water solution. Rinse and dry.
4. Return dried drawers to refrigerator. Line bottom with paper towels before returning food to the drawers.
5. Return food to refrigerator, throwing out old and expired food.
6. Take food out of freezer, put in an ice chest, and defrost freezer. Here is a helpful step-by-step.
7. Wipe out freezer with vinegar – water solution. Rinse and dry.
8. Return food to freezer, throwing out old and expired food.
9. Clean the dishwasher.
10. Clean the toaster oven, if you have one.
11. Clean the microwave: Fill a glass bowl with vinegar – water solution, and add a few lemon slices. Microwave for two minutes. Let sit for another minute. Dip your clean flannel rag in the solution, wring out and easily wipe out the microwave interior.
12. Wipe the baking soda paste and grime out of your oven interior. Here is the helpful step-by-step again.

day ten

Final tasks: Finish the kitchen, clean the garage or porch, and any finish any tasks from previous days left undone.

1. Using the vinegar – water solution and a clean clean flannel rag, wipe down your kitchen appliance exteriors.
2. Using your soft scrub paste, clean and shine your kitchen sink.
3. Porch or patio: move water-resistant furniture to the yard and wash it with the lawn hose and water.
4.  Spot clean upholstery (see above) or remove fabric covers and wash if possible.
5. Use a step ladder and vacuum attachment to remove cobwebs.
6. While the furniture is drying, sweep your porch free of all dirt, leaves, and debris.
7. With your lawn hose and a nozzle attachment, spray down your entire porch.
8. Using a clean damp microfiber cloth, wipe down any railings or woodwork.
9. Replace furniture when everything is dry.
10. If the garage is the men’s domain, give them the task of deep cleaning it.
11. If you have any tasks left from previous days, finish them up!

Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a clean home! Feel free to take longer than ten days if necessary. Delegate chores to the kids, and set up daily rewards for each one getting their assigned tasks done. Make a game of it, and have fun! As well, once the house is clean, it is much easier to keep it clean with some basic daily maintenance. Enjoy your clean and comfortable space, and especially enjoy never having to make apologies to drop-in visitors ever again!