There are some daily cleaning activities that go along with owning a home — dishes, laundry, cleaning countertops, etc. But aside from that day-to-day maintenance, just how clean is your home overall? Finding the time to do an extensive deep-cleaning can be a challenge. If it’s time to do a top-to-bottom cleaning in your Chicago home, here’s a checklist:

Bathrooms

Give the toilet, tub, shower, and sink a thorough scrubbing, getting rid of hard-water stains and soap scum. Include the base of the sink and toilet as well as the surrounding floor.  Wipe down the faucets and handles and give the mirrors a polish. The shower nozzle will have build-up from time to time, and that should be addressed, as well.

Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers

Kitchen cabinets and drawers will become disorganized over time. The best method for deep cleaning is to remove all the contents of the cabinets and drawers and set them aside. Clean the interiors with a moist rag and scrub the exterior with a sponge to remove fingerprints from around the hardware. After they’re clean, replace the kitchen items so they’re conducive to your kitchen needs, storing the frequently used items where they are most accessible.

Appliances

Whenever possible, you want to pull appliances away from the wall and uncover all the dirt, crumbs, and dust build-up that’s inevitably behind (and under) them. Once you’ve cleaned the area, take some time to vacuum the refrigerator coils and vent, which will help to extend the life of your appliances. If there’s a vent over your stove, use mineral oil to tackle grease build up. Once you’ve removed the grease, wipe down the vent down with warm, soapy water to remove any oil.

Dusting

While dusting may be on your weekly to-do list, your furniture may not get the attention it deserves. Wipe down baseboards, blinds, ceiling fan blades, light fixtures, and the tops of tall furniture. Start from the top and work your way down to the floor. This will keep you from having to re-clean. If dusting isn’t something you address weekly, give your furnishings and knick-knacks a good cleaning, too.

Organize

For the pantry and other cabinets in the house, use the same method you used for the kitchen cabinets—remove the contents of the area that needs to be organized and reorganize it once the area is spotless. If you’re dealing with a closet, wipe down the shelving and sweep and/or vacuum the floor. If you decide to deal with clutter under the bathroom sink, wipe out the dust in both the cabinets and the drawers. Inspect the pantry shelves for any debris from pests. Examine the contents to see if they’re expired. Once the areas are clean, you can reorganize your items.

While it may take a couple hours for a full deep-clean, the final result is always worth the time and energy.

If you just can’t find the time and need a recommendation for a local cleaning service, please reach out to me. I’d love to help you find the right person or team to help.