The Ultimate Deep Cleaning Checklist: Clean In One Weekend

Hey there, friends! Today I’m sharing my deep cleaning checklist with you. Is your house ready for a deep clean? Maybe you’re having a party or weekend house guests or maybe you’ve noticed a funky smell? I wish I could say my home never had a funky smell but I have dogs, horses and a family…sometimes there are funky smells. You have your own reasons for wanting a deep clean, but if you’re anything like me, the thought of deep cleaning can feel a bit daunting. Let me share some good news with you: If you approach it with a plan (and some good music or a fascinating podcast), you’re going to get done in record time without missing anything!

I’m excited to share my ultimate deep cleaning checklist, that will have your home sparkling in no time. So, queue up your favorite playlist, roll up those sleeves, and let’s dive in!

Planning to Use The Deep Cleaning Checklist

Before we get started, let’s talk about planning. If you can, set aside a dedicated weekend for this cleaning mission. You can tackle this in one weekend or you can deep clean one area a day for a week. I’ve done both and find them each very effective ways to get the whole house super clean in no time.

It’s all about breaking it down into manageable chunks so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Grab your favorite water bottle, put on some comfortable clothes, and let’s get ready to tackle those deep cleaning tasks together!

Essential Deep Cleaning Supplies

Before you dive in, let’s gather our supplies. Here’s what you’ll need:

• All-purpose cleaner
• Microfiber cloths
• A good vacuum (bonus points if it has a pet hair attachment!)
• Mop and bucket
• Scrub brushes or sponge with scrubby side for tough spots
• Trash bags for garbage
• Boxes for decluttering

If you’re looking to go the budget-friendly route, consider a homemade cleaning alternative. Here’s a vinegar-free all-purpose cleaner that I use often (I’m just not a big fan of the smell of vinegar when used for cleaning):

Zone or Task Cleaning

Zone or task cleaning? I say both! Zone cleaning is cleaning one area at a time, like the kitchen, start to finish. Task cleaning is doing one task throughout the whole house, like ceiling fans, and then moving onto a different task. Honestly, I have found the best cleaning strategies for me are a combination of both. For instance, I like cleaning all of the ceiling fans at once. I go from room to room and clean them all. I was finding that I would remember to clean them in some rooms but not others so it’s just easier to do them all at once.

What I task clean first:

• Ceiling fans. I have a great ceiling fan duster that I’ve had for years, no need to get up on a ladder.
• Dust cobwebs in the corners or the rooms and wooden beams on the ceiling.
• Dust pictures and wall hangings.
• Dust blinds and/or wash curtains. My curtains are dry clean only BUT I discovered that they were actually quite washable in my washer on the delicate setting. My drapes get some abuse between dogs, kids and cooking odors. They have to get cleaned once in a while! You decide for yourself if it’s worth it trying to wash your drapes but I LOVE the results.

Once done with those chores, I focus on Zone Cleaning.

The Deep Cleaning Checklist

Now, let’s break it down room by room. Always have a box ready for “Donate” and a “Deferred Decisions” box for things that either don’t have a permanent home or you haven’t decided what to do with yet, but you want it out of your immediate space. Don’t let these items slow you down, simply throw it in the “Deferred Decisions” box and keep going. Essentially, you’re consolidating all of your tough decisions down to one box and deferring decisions until you have the time and mental capacity to make those decisions!

You will also need a trash bag.

Here is your checklist, broken down by rooms:

Kitchen:

• Clean inside the fridge (don’t forget to toss those expired condiments!).
• Clean out the freezer and throw out anything freezer burnt beyond recognition.
• Wipe down cabinet faces.
• Clean the backsplash area.
• Clean countertops really well including the undersides of the edges.
• Clean your oven by using the self-cleaning feature or a fume-free cleaner.
• Clean your garbage disposal. I usually put a few pieces of ice and some dish soap in mine and then run it with running water for a minute or so.
• Don’t forget to wash the plastic piece in the drain on your garbage disposal side. That is where most of the odors come from!
• Clean the outside of all of your small and large appliances.
• Run your dishwasher with a cleaning tab and follow the manufacturers directions to clean out the filter.
• Clean and sanitize sinks.
• Sweep and mop the floors.

Pantry:

• Clear out your pantry and wipe down shelves.
• Only put back items that are still usable and you know your family will eat.
• Wipe the outside of containers you use for decanting certain foods, like flour or sugar, as you put them away.
• Take a pass through your spices and throw out anything that is long-expired.
• As you put things away, group like items with like items to make things easier to find.
• Use Lazy Susans for the corners, otherwise these corners just end up being places where food items go to disappear forever.
• Use baskets or bins to contain groups of foods you want to keep together.
• Sweep and mop, or vacuum, the floor if you have a closet style or walk-in pantry.

Bathrooms:

• Deep clean grout (it’s a labor of love, I know!). A steam cleaner can help you do a magnificent job.
• Scrub the tub or shower floor. Sometimes I save this chore for when I’m actually showering!
• Replace shower liners if they’re starting to look a bit worse for wear.
• Wash shower curtains.
• Wash bath mats.
• Declutter toiletries—if you haven’t used it in a year, it might be time to say goodbye.
• Wipe off light fixtures with a microfiber cloth.
• Clean off mirrors.
• Wipe down countertops.
• If you have a tub with jets, run some cleaner through them. I just use a splash of bleach in enough water to cover all of the jets by a few inches, run the jets for several minutes and then drain and refill with clean water and do the same thing to rinse. Be sure to check your manufacturers directions before cleaning to make sure you don’t harm your tub or jets by cleaning them incorrectly.
• Scrub the inside of the toilet bowl, focusing on under the rim where a lot of nasty stuff can build up and cause odors.
• Clean the outside of your toilet and all the surfaces of your toilet. Scrub the area where the toilet sits on your floor, really well. Stuff can leak into that crevice.
• Sweep and mop the floors.

Living Areas:

• Dust light fixtures.
• Dust TV and clean the screen according your manufacturers directions. I just use a very slightly damp microfiber cloth.
• Dust furniture and flat surfaces.
• Vacuum fabric furniture and then fluff and rotate cushions to keep them looking fresh.
• Wash the dog or cat bed if you have a pet.
• Declutter as you go.
• Clean baseboards.
• Vacuum everywhere including under furniture (yes, even under that couch).

Bedrooms:

• Wash ALL of your bedding: mattress pad, bed skirt if you have one, comforter, blankets and sheets.
• Rotate mattresses (if you have a rotatable mattress) and vacuum the mattress while all the bedding is off of it.
• Do a quick declutter in your closet as you clean and straighten that space—if a clothing item hasn’t seen the light of day in ages, it’s time to let it go.
• Remove anything that doesn’t belong in the bedroom. For some reason, I tuck things away in my room sometimes when I’m in a hurry and then leave it there for a couple of weeks (or months!). Please tell me I’m not the only one!
• Dust or vacuum off your lampshades.
• Dust furniture.
• Do a quick pass under your bed. Get rid of junk and dust bunnies! If you store something legitimate under there, pull it out and dust under the bed. Put things back neatly.
• Clean baseboards.
• Vacuum.

Entry Area:

• If too many coats and shoes have piled up in this area, relegate those items to the individual closets they belong in.
• If you have furniture in this area, completely clear it off.
• Designate a proper place for things like hats, gloves or whatever you tend to keep in this area.
• Dust.
• Clean baseboards.
• Vacuum.

Cleaning the Porch and Outdoor Areas

Now that the inside is looking fabulous, let’s not forget about the outside! Here’s how to spruce up your porch and outdoor spaces:

Porch:

• Sweep or blow off your porch.
• Power wash the porch to get rid of any dirt and grime.
• Dust and wipe down light fixtures to keep things bright.

Outdoor Furniture:

Remove cushions and clean the frames. Use a suitable cleaner for the material—wood, metal, or plastic—whatever you’ve got! A little TLC goes a long way.

Grill:

Empty and clean the grease tray, scrub those grates with a grill brush, and wipe down the exterior. If it’s been a while since your last cookout, consider a deep clean of the inside too.

Tips for Staying Motivated

Deep cleaning can sometimes feel like a monumental task, but there are ways to keep your motivation high. Try setting a timer for each task to make a game out of it. Can you beat the clock? Take short breaks between rooms to recharge—grab a snack, enjoy a quick stretch, or step outside for some fresh air. Celebrating each cleaned area can make a big difference, so treat yourself to a little reward after completing each area. Remember, you’re making progress, and soon enough, you’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor!

How Did the Deep Cleaning Checklist Work For You?

There you have it, folks! With this ultimate deep cleaning checklist, your home will be transformed in just one weekend (or a week if you break it down further!). Embrace the satisfaction that comes from a fresh, clean space, and don’t forget to share your favorite deep cleaning hacks or before-and-after photos in the comments. Happy cleaning!