How to Clean Your Home Like a Professional Cleaner

The Joys of Cleaning

As a professional house cleaner of over 5 years, I can tell you that no two houses are the same, but every house is challenging to clean.

Sometimes, I'll see a house and ask myself, "Why am I here? This house is spotless!" It isn't until you actually start cleaning that you realize the house wasn't cleaned properly; it only looked clean on the surface. Other times, a house might look like a bomb had exploded in it. Strangely, these houses take less time to clean than the seemingly spotless house. In either case, seeing the difference you make after a thorough clean is the best feeling.

In this article, I will share some tips and tricks for giving your home a professional clean without having to hire a professional cleaner. I will break it down, room by room.

How to Deep Clean Your Home: Before You Start

Clean One Room at a Time

The secret to deep cleaning your home is to concentrate on one room at a time. I always start at the back of the house and work my way to the front, upstairs and downstairs.

Give Yourself Enough Time

Deep cleaning a three bedroom home with two bathrooms can take a long time. If you are considering deep cleaning your home, give yourself at least an hour per room—even more time if you need to sort through your possessions with a view to keep or throw away.

Bleach Is Your Best Friend

Before I begin cleaning, the first thing I do is pour bleach in all the toilets, baths, showers, and sinks. The bleach will work its magic while I clean the rest of the house, making it easier to clean these areas when I get to them.

Pro Tip

If you want a streak-free shine on your windows and mirrors, wipe them using a clean, old t-shirt and diluted wiper fluid.

How to Deep Clean a Bedroom, Living Room, or Dining Room

Tools You Will Need

• Stepladder
• Hot, soapy water
• Window and glass cleaner
• Vacuum cleaner (carpets) or broom and mop (wooden, laminate, or tiled flooring)
• Furniture polish
• Clean cloths

Clean From Top to Bottom, Not Bottom to Top

When cleaning any room, you should always start at the top and work your way down, simply because dust and dirt fall down as you clean, and you will end up cleaning things more than once if you do it any other way. Always start with the ceiling and work your way to the floor.

1. Because you are going to be using a step ladder, you should always remove any toys, clothes, or clutter from the floor before you begin.
2. Start by removing any cobwebs from the ceiling and overhead light fixtures. In my business—and in my own home—I always use a Henry or a Hetty hoover because they are powerful vacuums, and the attachments allow you to reach anywhere. They are ideal for removing cobwebs from the ceilings and corners.
3. Next, take a cloth soaked in soapy water and wash around the ceiling border. Please take care and ensure someone is available to hold the step ladder for you as you do this.
4. Remove the covers from any overhead lighting, and wipe them clean with a dry cloth. You can also give the light bulbs a wipe down—just make sure that the cloth is dry.
5. Use your soapy water again to wipe down the walls, if your walls are painted try a small test patch to ensure that the paint will not come off during cleaning.
6. Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe down any shelving or picture frames that are hanging on the walls.
7. Clean the windows using your preferred window cleaner. For a perfect, streak-free shine, try spraying windows and mirrors with diluted wiper fluid and wiping them with an old t-shirt.
8. Wipe down light switches, wall sockets, and door handles with a damp cloth to remove fingerprints, marks, and stains.
9. Use soapy water and a clean cloth to wash baseboards.
10. Vacuum carpets or sweep and mop floor.

How to Deep Clean Bathrooms

Pro Tip

If you use bleach, don't forget to dilute it according to instructions on the container and rinse thoroughly afterward.

1. As with any room, clean from top to bottom—ceilings and light fixtures first.
2. Tiled walls and floors just need soapy water, but you could also use diluted wiper fluid to really bring out the shine.
3. Remove shower curtains, and machine wash them in cold water.
4. Use diluted wiper fluid to clean mirrors and shower doors.
5. Don't forget to clean any handles (door, drawers, cabinets), especially in your bathroom.
6. The bathtub should be easy to clean if you presoaked it with bleach. Use hot soapy water to scrub down the tub. If necessary, add some more bleach. Just remember to rinse out the bath thoroughly to remove leftover bleach.
7. Use hot, soapy water to clean bath panels and baseboards.
8. Hopefully, your toilet is not as bad as the one pictured above. The bleach soak should be enough to clean stains and microbes, but you can also scrub it down with soapy water flush. Don't forget to wipe down the exterior as well.
9. Finally, sweep and mop the floor.

How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen

Pro Tip

To give stainless steel a streak-free shine, put a drop of cooking oil in your hot, soapy water.

Deep cleaning the kitchen is probably the most difficult and time-consuming job you will have to do, but if you do it methodically, you can cut the time and effort down easily. It is also the most important area to clean because it is where the food that you eat is prepared.

1. The first thing I do is spray the oven with Mister Muscle oven and grill cleaner because after an hour, at least 90% of any grease or stuck-on food will come off without any scrubbing. Important: Always wear gloves when using this product because it burns if it touches your skin. You should also wear a mask or cover your mouth and nose with a damp tea towel because the fumes can irritate the lungs and cause a nasty coughing fit.
2. Again, start with the ceilings.
3. Wipe down overhead kitchen cabinets, focusing on one at a time. This is also a good time to remove any expired food items or items you don't plan on using. Replace the items you need before moving to the next cabinet.
4. Empty the refrigerator and clean with hot, soapy water mixed with some disinfectant to kill any molds and bacteria. Throw out any bad food or items you haven't touched in years.
5. For large appliances (dishwasher, oven, refrigerator, washer, dryer, etc.), pull them away from the wall to clean the back and sides in addition to the top and front. This will allow you to clean the wall and floor behind it as well.
6. For stainless steel appliances and fixtures, adding a drop of cooking oil to the soapy water will give it a streak-free shine.
7. Clean your pre-sprayed oven using a scouring pad or scrubber.
8. Wipe down the countertop and sinks.
9. Clean the bottom drawers and cabinets the same as the top ones.
10. Lastly, sweep and mop the floor.

There's no denying that this is difficult and time-consuming, but the end result is well worth it!

Questions & Answers

Question: How do I remove the ring in my toilet?

Answer: Try a soft pumice stone; it should remove the ring without scratching the bowl.

© 2017 Jimmy the jock

Abby Slutsky on August 26, 2020:

This was one of the most helpful articles I have read here. I am definitely going to try the oil trick for my stainless.

Aunda Marie on June 28, 2018:

Thanks Jimmy the cleaning advise you gave was so helpful. I've never had a list from a professional or anyone else..l am so happy to have this now for helping me clean my house.

Mas Miftah from indonesia on March 04, 2018:

Great aand Useful Article

Ann Carr from SW England on September 07, 2017:

Now I feel exhausted just reading this!

Great advice, Jimmy. The car wash solution is a good one. I voted bathroom for the least liked room to clean - it's so fiddly. However, it feels great to see everything clean and shiny when all the rooms are finished so it's definitely worth it.

At the moment we're living in a house under refurbishment - dust everywhere and I'm constantly trying to keep that down. Oh for the end of rubbing down, sawing, fitting, making do and never managing to find anything! The end is in sight though, thank goodness.

Good to read something from you again!

Ann

Sally Gulbrandsen from Norfolk on September 04, 2017:

Some great tips and advice, thank you. When can I expect you?

Nell Rose from England on September 04, 2017:

Okay, you got the job, I will be in tomorrow.....LOL! great advice and I learned new stuff too!

Dianna Mendez on September 04, 2017:

I agree with Susan on the car wash soap. Getting soap scum off glass is difficult. I will give it a try. Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions on deep cleaning. One room at a time sounds good and will help you feel like something was accomplished.

Linda Crist from Central Virginia on September 04, 2017:

Great hub Jimmy and I learned some new tricks. Now, will you come show me how to do it? lol

Chitrangada Sharan from New Delhi, India on September 04, 2017:

Some very useful tips and suggestions!

I usually do the cleaning of kitchen and bathrooms regularly to avoid the stubborn spots and dirt. Bathroom cleaning is the toughest cleaning I believe and it must be done everyday.

Very useful and informative hub . Thanks for sharing!

Susan Zutautas from Ontario, Canada on September 04, 2017:

You have some great tips here Jimmy. This is the first time I've ever heard about using a car wash solution in the home. I'll definitely give this a try. Now with all that said would you like to come to Canada and give my home a thorough cleaning?