The start of a new year is a great time to get your home in order and give it a thorough clean, but these tips can be used any time you want some of that fresh start feeling.

Before you start

Before you put on your cleaning gloves and get to work, there’s a few things you need to do first.

  • Clear away clutter – you can’t clean a messy house, so tidy up unnecessary clutter first.
  • Make a plan – figure out what needs cleaning, what order you’re going to do it in and how long you’re going to spend on each room.
  • Get your supplies – good cleaning equipment can do a lot of the hard work for you, so make sure you’re prepared before you begin.

Ceiling fixtures

When you’re deep cleaning a room, it’s a good idea to start high and move lower. Use a microfibre mop or duster with an extendable handle to go over ceilings and ceiling fixtures like lights and ceiling fans. Warm water will usually do the trick but for visibly dirty patches, add a drop or two of detergent.

Air conditioning

A dirty or broken air conditioner can reduce the quality of air inside your home, so make sure you give it some attention during your deep house clean. For reverse cycle air conditioning, you should replace or wash the air filter every few months. Use a soft cloth to clean the outside of the unit and give the outdoor unit a scrub down too. Consider getting a professional air conditioning service to ensure your unit is working efficiently and safely.

Walls

Give your walls a quick go-over with a microfibre mop and warm water. For areas where there are fingerprints or dark marks, add a mild detergent to your water. A microfibre cloth can be used for awkward corners and stubborn spots that need a bit more elbow grease. A few drops of white vinegar in your water for bathroom walls will help keep mould away.

Shower and bath

Showers and baths deserve an extra good clean. Give the grout a thorough scrub with a bicarb soda and water paste. Take the shower head off and soak it in a vinegar and water solution before tackling the outside with your scrubbing brush. Warm distilled white vinegar is great for making your shower door shine. Use a squeegee to make sure there are no streaks left behind.

Fridge

Take everything out of the fridge, including the shelves and drawers. Give the inside a thorough wipe down using hot soapy water. Then wash all the individual shelves and drawers in the kitchen sink. Rinse the soap away and leave to dry before replacing it in the fridge.

Kitchen sink

Wash out any chunks of food in the sink first. Then apply some bicarb soda paste throughout. Gently scrub with a circular motion. Deeper scratches can be removed using steel wool. Wash away the bicarb soda with white vinegar and then run the hot water for a few minutes to help clean the drain.

Oven

Tough spots caked on the oven walls will soften up under a warm cloth. Use baking soda and vinegar paste and a heavy duty scrubber to clean all surfaces inside the oven. Remove any trays and shelves and give them a good scrub and polish with steel wool.

Kitchen cabinets

Empty your kitchen cabinets and give them a thorough vacuum. Then use warm water and detergent or an all purpose cleaning spray to wipe them out. Don’t forget to wipe the walls, back and ceiling of the cabinets too. Give any sticky or dusty items a wipe down before placing them back in the cabinet.

Floors

To deep clean floors, you’ll have to move all furniture out of the way. Start with a thorough vacuum to remove any dirt particles, using the specialised crevice tool to get in any out-of-the-way corners. Hard floors are best cleaned using a microfibre mop and appropriate surface cleaner while carpets will benefit from a professional grade clean. You can rent a decent carpet cleaner for an affordable daily rate.

Windows

Start by vacuuming the window sills and frames to remove any large dirt particles and spider webs. Spray a glass cleaner over the entire surface and leave for a few moments. Then, using a squeegee, work in one direction, starting at the top of the window. Repeat the process on the outside of the window and fix any streaks you notice.

Bed

Strip the sheets, pillowcases and mattress cover off your bed and give them a wash using hot water to kill harmful bacteria. Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clean the top and sides of your mattress. Consider hiring a professional upholstery cleaner for a deeper clean, or use some disinfecting spray to kill unwanted microorganisms.

Furniture

Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to suck up dust and dirt on your couches and armchairs. Don’t forget to remove the cushions to get deep into the crevices. Clean wood furniture with a soft microfibre cloth. Only use water and detergent for sticky spots and consider giving the surface a polish with the appropriate product.

Vacuum cleaner

Don’t forget to clean your cleaning appliances too. Dirty brooms, cleaning cloths and vacuum cleaners will work against you when you’re trying to get your home sparkling clean. Snip away any hairs and threads caught in your cleaner head, wash or replace the filters and use the crevice vacuum head to clean the other attachments.

Now that your house is clean…

Now that you’ve put in the hard work deep cleaning your house, you can enjoy the fresh feeling. Deep cleaning can be a lot of work, so take your time with it. Try setting a reminder on your phone to help you remember when you need to next clean a certain appliance or room in the house. That way you’ll keep on top of the cleaning and make next year’s deep clean that much easier.