House deep cleaning checklist

How to use this checklist

Deep cleaning a whole house in one go is tiring, so it is fine to tackle a room or two at a time. Within each room, work from the top down, so dust from light fittings and shelves falls onto floors you have not cleaned yet, and finish with the floor. Declutter first: it is far quicker to clean surfaces that are clear.

Gather your kit before you start: microfibre cloths, a duster with an extendable handle, a vacuum with attachments, a mop and bucket, rubber gloves, a stiff brush for grout, and cleaners that suit your surfaces. Check labels, open windows and never mix products.

The same lists work as a spring cleaning checklist. If you are moving out of a rented home, our end of tenancy cleaning checklist adds the points inventory checks tend to focus on.

Kitchen

• Empty cupboards and drawers, wipe inside and out, and check use-by dates before putting things back.
• Degrease cupboard doors, handles and the tops of wall units.
• Clean the oven, racks, grill pan and door glass (see our oven cleaning guide).
• Clean the hob, burner caps and pan supports.
• Wash or replace extractor hood filters as the manual advises, and wipe the hood.
• Empty, defrost if needed, and clean inside the fridge and freezer, including seals.
• Pull out movable appliances where it is safe to do so and clean behind and underneath.
• Clean the microwave inside and out, the kettle and the toaster crumb tray.
• Run a maintenance clean on the dishwasher and washing machine, and clean filters and door seals.
• Degrease the splashback and scrub tile grout.
• Descale the sink and taps and clean the plughole and overflow.
• Wash the bin inside and out.
• Clean light switches, sockets, skirting boards and the floor, including under the plinths where they unclip.

Bathrooms and toilets

• Descale taps, shower heads, shower screens and tiles.
• Scrub grout and check silicone sealant for mould (see our grout cleaning guide).
• Clean the bath, shower tray, basin, plugholes and overflows.
• Clean the toilet thoroughly, including under the rim, the hinges, the base and behind the pan.
• Wipe the cistern, pipework and the outside of the bath panel.
• Clean the extractor fan cover and wash the shower curtain if you have one.
• Polish mirrors and wipe cabinets inside and out.
• Wash bath mats and towels, then clean the floor and skirting.

Bedrooms

• Strip and wash all bedding, including mattress protectors, pillows and duvets where the care labels allow.
• Vacuum the mattress and turn or rotate it if the manufacturer advises.
• Dust the tops of wardrobes, picture frames and curtain poles.
• Empty and wipe inside drawers and wardrobes if you are sorting clothes.
• Move the bed and other furniture where possible and vacuum underneath.
• Wipe doors, frames, handles, light switches and skirting boards.
• Clean windows, sills and frames on the inside, and wash or vacuum curtains and blinds.

Living room and dining room

• Dust light fittings, lampshades, shelves, ornaments and the tops of frames.
• Vacuum sofas and chairs, including under cushions, and spot clean marks following the fabric care label.
• Wipe the television and electronics with a dry microfibre cloth once they are switched off.
• Clean radiators, including between the panels where you can reach.
• Move furniture to vacuum underneath and along the edges of the carpet.
• Wipe skirting boards, doors, frames, handles and switches.
• Clean inside the windows and the sills, and wash or vacuum curtains and blinds.

Hallway, stairs and landing

• Clear cobwebs from ceilings, corners and the stairwell.
• Dust and wipe banisters, spindles and handrails.
• Vacuum stairs thoroughly, edges first, then the treads.
• Clean the front door inside and out, the letterbox, the handle and the door glass.
• Wash skirting boards and the bottom of walls where scuffs collect.
• Shake out or wash door mats and clean under them.

Finishing touches

1. Go round each room once more and wipe any light switches, handles and sockets you missed.
2. Empty all the bins and wash out any that need it.
3. Vacuum carpets and mop hard floors last, working towards the door of each room.
4. Open windows to air the house while floors dry, keeping children and pets off wet floors.

When to call a professional

A full house deep clean is a big job. It makes sense to book help when you are short of time, before or after a move, when you are getting a home ready to sell, or when you want a clean starting point before regular cleaning begins.

Our deep cleaning service is a one-off, top-to-bottom clean of your home. We move appliances and furniture that can be moved safely and clean behind and underneath them, wash skirting boards, doors and frames, remove limescale and scrub grout, and give the kitchen particular attention. Call Jason on 07774 252535 or ask for a free quote, and tell us which rooms you want included.

Related guides

• Deep clean vs regular clean: what a deep clean covers that a regular clean does not, when each one makes sense and what decides how long a deep clean takes.
• How to clean an oven: a safe, step-by-step way to clean the oven cavity, racks and door glass, including what to do with pyrolytic and catalytic ovens.
• How to clean grout: a gentle-first method for cleaning grey or black grout lines on wall and floor tiles, and how to tell when grout needs replacing instead.
• What affects what a house cleaner charges: how frequency, home size, a deeper first visit, products, keys, pets and extras change what a house cleaner charges, and hourly versus fixed-price quotes.
• What affects the cost of a deep clean: how rooms, time since the last thorough clean, kitchens, appliances, limescale, grout, add-ons and furniture change a deep clean quote.

All cleaning guides