Deep Cleaning Checklist for Your Whole Home
A printable deep cleaning checklist for UK homes, room by room, plus a sensible order of work and how to split it across several days.
A deep clean tackles everything that routine cleaning misses. Done in one go it is exhausting; done in a sensible order it is manageable. Use this checklist whether you are doing the work yourself or briefing a professional so you can agree exactly what is included.
Principles before you start
- Declutter first. You cannot deep clean around piles of belongings.
- Work top to bottom. Dust ceilings and shelves before floors.
- Work room by room. Finish one before starting another.
- Do the dirtiest rooms first while you have the most energy: kitchen and bathrooms.
- Open windows. Ventilation helps with fumes and drying.
If you are budgeting for professional help, see what a deep clean costs.
Every room
- Dust cobwebs from ceilings and corners.
- Wipe light fittings and lampshades.
- Wipe skirting boards, door frames and doors.
- Clean light switches and sockets with a barely damp cloth.
- Wipe windowsills and window frames, and clean glass.
- Dust curtains or blinds, or wash if appropriate.
- Wipe radiators, including between fins.
- Dust picture frames and shelves.
- Vacuum under and behind furniture where you can reach.
- Clean or vacuum upholstered furniture.
- Mop or steam hard floors, vacuum carpets.
Kitchen
- Empty and wipe cupboards inside, discarding expired food.
- Degrease cupboard fronts and handles.
- Clean the oven, racks, trays and door glass.
- Clean the hob, extractor and filter.
- Descale kettle and taps.
- Clean the fridge and freezer, including seals and drawers.
- Clean the microwave and small appliances.
- Clean the dishwasher filter, and run a cleaning cycle if you wish.
- Scrub sink and drainer, including the plughole.
- Wipe tiles, splashback and bin area.
- Mop the floor, including edges and underneath what can be moved.
Bathrooms
- Remove limescale from taps, showerheads and screens.
- Scrub grout and sealant. For persistent mould, see removing black mould.
- Clean the toilet thoroughly, including under the rim, base and behind.
- Wash the bath or shower tray, curtain or screen.
- Clean the extractor fan cover.
- Empty and wipe cabinets and shelves.
- Polish mirrors and chrome.
- Mop the floor and skirting.
Bedrooms
- Strip beds, wash bedding, and flip or rotate the mattress. See how to clean a mattress.
- Vacuum the mattress and base.
- Dust the top of wardrobes and headboards.
- Wipe inside wardrobes and drawers if empty.
- Vacuum under the bed.
- Wash or air pillows and duvets as labels allow.
Living areas and hallways
- Vacuum sofa cushions and along crevices, and spot clean stains.
- Clean TV screens and electronics with appropriate cloths.
- Wipe bookcases and shelves.
- Clean mirrors and glass tables.
- Vacuum stairs including edges, and wipe banisters.
- Clean doormats and shoe racks.
Appliances and often-forgotten items
- Washing machine drum, drawer and seal; see how to clean a washing machine.
- Vacuum cleaner filters and brush.
- Bins, inside and out.
- Window tracks and handles.
- Air vents and fan grilles.
Splitting it across days
A pattern that works: day one for kitchen, day two for bathrooms, day three for bedrooms, day four for living areas and floors. Alternatively, do one room each evening.
A realistic time budget
People often underestimate a DIY deep clean. As a rough guide, a kitchen takes two to four hours if the oven needs real work, each bathroom one to two hours, each bedroom about an hour, and living areas two to three hours including floors. A three-bed home done by one person therefore lands somewhere between ten and fifteen hours spread over several days. Plan breaks, and leave messy tasks that need soaking, such as oven racks, to work while you do something else.
Common mistakes
- Cleaning floors first. Dust and drips from higher up land on a clean floor and you do it twice.
- Using too much product. Extra spray means extra rinsing and more residue that attracts dirt.
- Mixing cleaners. Never combine bleach with other products, and keep the room ventilated.
- Soaking delicate surfaces. Wood, laminate, natural stone and electrical items need minimal moisture.
- Skipping the tools. A dirty mop head or clogged vacuum filter spreads grime around.
Flats, pets and older homes
In flats with limited storage, keep a small caddy of products by each bathroom so you are not carrying everything around. If you have pets, wash their bedding and vacuum furniture early, before dusting, because hair travels. In older homes with single glazing, sash windows or lime plaster, go gentle with water and abrasives, and do not scrub painted or papered walls that may mark easily.
When to call a professional
Some tasks are better paid for: heavy limescale, mould that keeps returning, extractor hoods caked in grease, upholstery and carpets with deep stains, or anything high that needs ladders. Never clean light fittings or sockets that are live, and have any electrical fault checked by a registered electrician.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use special products?
Not always. A degreaser, descaler, multi-surface cleaner, glass cleaner and a few cloths cover most jobs. Check labels, never mix chemicals, and ventilate.
What is the difference between a deep clean and a regular clean?
A deep clean is more detailed and covers hidden or neglected areas. See what is included in a regular house clean for the contrast.
How often should I do this?
Once or twice a year is common, more often with pets, children or allergies.
Should I do the oven before the rest of the kitchen?
Yes. Start the oven cleaner or soak racks first, then work on cupboards and surfaces while it does its job, and finish with the floor.