The short answer: a deep cleaning checklist gets to the dirt your weekly routine skips: behind the fridge, inside the oven, under the beds, along the grout and on top of door frames.
- 54 tasks room by room
- Spread the work across a weekend or a few weeks
- Work top to bottom, dry to wet
- Never mix products, and air it out
- Next step: Get the free deep cleaning checklist (we email it to you); want more? The Cleaning Schedule is $4.49.
A deep cleaning checklist gets to the dirt your weekly routine skips: behind the fridge, inside the oven, under the beds, along the grout and on top of every door frame. This room-by-room deep clean house checklist has 54 tasks for the kitchen, living areas, bedrooms, bathrooms, entry, laundry and whole house, plus a plan page so you can spread the work across a weekend or a few weeks. Get the free download and print one for the fridge.
Our Cleaning Schedule printable includes seasonal lists and room-by-room checklists, plus daily, weekly and monthly lists to keep the house clean afterward.
How to use this deep cleaning checklist
- Plan first. Use page 3 to list each room, choose a date and decide who does it. Estimate the time each room will take.
- Gather supplies. Write what you need to buy on the supplies lines so you shop once.
- Declutter before you clean. It is much faster to clean empty surfaces. Clear counters, floors and shelves first. Not sure where to start decluttering? Follow our room-by-room order.
- Work top to bottom, dry to wet. Dust high areas first, wipe surfaces next, then vacuum, then mop.
- Check off as you go. Ticking boxes keeps you moving and shows everyone what is left.
Kitchen deep cleaning checklist
The kitchen takes the longest because of grease and food spills. Plan two to four hours.
For the pans and the sink, see how to clean a cast iron skillet and how to clean a garbage disposal.
Coffee makers count too. Our guide on how to clean a Keurig walks through descaling step by step.
Add the dishwasher to the list. Our guide on how to clean a dishwasher shows the filter, spray arm and vinegar steps.
Saving the oven for last? Our guide on how to clean an oven walks through a gentle overnight method and a faster one.
- Empty and wipe inside the fridge, shelves and drawers.
- Pull out the fridge; vacuum the coils and the floor behind it.
- Degrease the stovetop, knobs and range hood filter.
- Clean the oven (self-clean cycle or a baking soda paste)
- Clean the microwave inside and out.
- Run a dishwasher cleaning cycle and clean the filter.
- Wipe cabinet fronts, handles and the tops of cabinets.
- Empty and wipe pantry shelves; toss expired food.
- Scrub the sink, faucet and garbage disposal.
- Clean small appliances: toaster, coffee maker and kettle.
- Wash the trash can inside and out.
- Scrub the backsplash and grout; mop under the appliances.
For the weekly side of kitchen cleaning, see our kitchen cleaning checklist.
Living room and dining room
For trim in every room, our guide on how to clean baseboards covers no-bend methods, scuffs and what to use on wood or paint.
For streak-free glass inside and out, follow our guide on how to clean windows.
Our guide on how to clean blinds shows how to do it without taking them down.
- Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures and corners.
- Wipe walls, light switches and door frames.
- Wash or dust baseboards and trim.
- Vacuum under and behind furniture, and under the sofa cushions.
- Spot-clean upholstery; wash throw blankets.
- Dust shelves, books, frames and decor, and clean electronics and remotes.
- Wash windows, sills and tracks; vacuum or wash curtains and dust blinds.
- Deep clean carpets or rugs, and mop and polish hard floors.
Bedrooms
Strip the beds first so the laundry runs while you clean the rest of the room. When planning the rest of the home, use these budget home decor ideas to decide what belongs in each space before buying anything new.
For the floor, see how to clean carpet for spot treatment and deep cleaning.
Our step-by-step guide on how to clean a mattress covers vacuuming, stains, odors and baking soda.
- Wash all bedding, including pillows and the duvet.
- Vacuum and flip or rotate the mattress.
- Dust the headboard, nightstands and dressers, and vacuum under the bed.
- Declutter and wipe inside drawers; clean out the closet floor and shelves.
- Wipe walls, switches and door handles.
- Dust blinds, wash curtains and clean mirrors and windows.
- Vacuum the edges and baseboards.
Bathroom deep cleaning checklist
Bathrooms build up soap scum, hard water and mildew, so they need a scrub brush and some patience.
For step-by-step help with tile lines, see how to clean grout, and for a clogged spray, how to clean a shower head.
- Scrub the shower walls, door or curtain and liner.
- Scrub the grout and re-caulk where it is cracked.
- Descale the showerhead and faucets, and scrub the tub and drain.
- Deep clean the toilet, including the base and hinges.
- Clean the exhaust fan cover.
- Empty and wipe the vanity and medicine cabinet; toss expired medicine and old products.
- Wash bath mats and the shower curtain, then scrub the floor and edges by hand.
If you find mold, the EPA advises fixing the moisture source first, then scrubbing mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water and drying the area completely. For larger areas, it suggests getting help. Our bathroom cleaning checklist has a weekly schedule to keep it under control. For more on this topic, see our how to deep clean hub.
Whole house, entry and laundry
These jobs are easy to forget because they don't belong to a single room:
For bedding, our guide on how to wash pillows explains which pillows can go in the washer and which need spot-cleaning.
Add the vent duct to a deep clean. Our dryer vent cleaning guide shows how to clean it in about an hour and what tools you need.
| Whole house | Entry and laundry |
|---|---|
| Change HVAC filters | Clean out the entry closet and shoe area |
| Test smoke and CO alarms | Wash the doormat; sweep the porch |
| Wipe all door handles and switch plates | Wipe the front door inside and out |
| Dust vents and returns | Clean behind the washer and dryer |
| Clean the washer and dryer; clear the lint trap and vent | Wipe the laundry shelves and sink |
Clean safely
Deep cleaning means stronger products and more of them, so a few safety habits matter:
Run a humidifier? Our guide on how to clean a humidifier covers daily rinsing, weekly disinfecting and mineral scale.
- Never mix products. The CDC warns never to mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners. Follow the label and use one product at a time.
- Air it out. Open windows or run fans while you work.
- Wear gloves. Rubber gloves protect your hands from degreasers and descalers.
- Store cleaners safely. The CPSC's poison prevention guidance recommends keeping cleaning products in their original containers and locked up out of children's reach.
How long does a deep clean take?
| Room | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Kitchen | 2 to 4 hours |
| Each bathroom | 1 to 2 hours |
| Each bedroom | 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Living and dining room | 1.5 to 3 hours |
| Entry, laundry and whole-house jobs | 1 to 2 hours |
These are rough guides for one person. Splitting rooms among family members, or tackling one room per weekend, makes the job much less tiring.
When to deep clean
- Spring: the classic time, when windows open and winter grime shows. See our spring cleaning checklist.
- Before the holidays: our guide to cleaning before holiday guests covers the quick wins.
- Before or after a move: use our move out cleaning checklist for the deposit walkthrough.
- After an illness: focus on handles, switches, remotes and bathrooms.
Keep it clean afterward
A deep clean lasts longer when a simple routine follows it. Our cleaning schedule template and general cleaning checklist show how to split the work into daily, weekly and monthly jobs. If you'd like it ready to print, the Cleaning Schedule printable is a 9-page PDF with a daily checklist, a weekly cleaning schedule, a monthly checklist, a seasonal deep clean page, room-by-room checklists and a family chore chart. The Household Binder adds a weekly cleaning page alongside meal plans, calendars and bills, so the whole house runs from one binder.
To keep the house this way, see how to start a cleaning routine for a short daily routine and a simple weekly schedule.
Two jobs that often come up during a deep clean: how to remove sticky residue and how to clean stone countertops without etching them.
Just need a regular clean? Follow our step-by-step guide on how to clean a house with 15-minute and 1-hour plans.
Starting with the bathroom? Follow our guide on how to deep clean a bathroom, from shower and grout to the floor.
Make it easier
Tools for this
Printables
Cleaning Schedule
Daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal lists - plus a family chore chart.
Printables
Household Binder
Family info, emergency plan, calendars, meals, groceries, cleaning, bills and sitter notes.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in a deep cleaning checklist? A deep cleaning checklist covers the jobs a weekly clean skips: inside the fridge and oven, behind and under furniture and appliances, baseboards, light fixtures, ceiling fans, grout, windows and tracks, mattresses, curtains and vents. Our free checklist has 54 tasks across the kitchen, living areas, bedrooms, bathrooms, entry, laundry and whole-house jobs.
What is the difference between regular cleaning and deep cleaning? Regular cleaning keeps surfaces tidy: wiping counters, vacuuming open floors, cleaning the toilet and taking out trash. Deep cleaning reaches the hidden and built-up dirt, like the coils behind the fridge, grout lines, inside cabinets, under the bed and the tops of door frames. You do regular cleaning weekly and a deep clean a few times a year.
How often should you deep clean your house? Most homes do well with a full deep clean two to four times a year, often in spring and before the holidays. Kitchens and bathrooms may need a deep clean every one to three months because of grease, moisture and soap scum. Homes with pets, allergies or small children often deep clean more often.
How long does it take to deep clean a house? One person can deep clean a small apartment in about six to ten hours. A three-bedroom house can take two full days or more. Spread it out: do one or two rooms each weekend, or split rooms among family members. Our plan page has a time column so you can estimate each room before you start.
What order should I deep clean in? Work top to bottom and dry to wet in each room. Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures and the tops of cabinets first, then wipe walls and surfaces, then vacuum, and mop last. Room by room, many people start with the kitchen and bathrooms because they take the longest, then finish with bedrooms and living areas.
What supplies do I need for deep cleaning? You need an all-purpose cleaner, a degreaser for the kitchen, a bathroom cleaner or descaler, glass cleaner, microfiber cloths, a scrub brush and old toothbrush for grout, a vacuum with attachments, a mop and bucket, rubber gloves and trash bags. A step stool helps with fans and the tops of cabinets.
Is it safe to mix cleaning products for a deep clean? No, it's not safe to mix cleaning products for a deep clean. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners, because the fumes can be dangerous. Use one product at a time, rinse between products, open windows or run a fan, and wear gloves. Keep cleaners in their original containers and out of reach of children, as the CPSC recommends.
Can I print a deep clean house checklist for free? Yes, you can print a deep clean house checklist for free. Our deep clean house checklist is a free three-page PDF that we email to you. It has room-by-room checklists with checkboxes and a deep cleaning plan page where you assign each room a date and a person. Print it before a spring clean, a holiday visit or a move.
How do I deep clean when I'm short on time? Pick one zone at a time instead of the whole house. Do the kitchen one Saturday, the bathrooms the next and the bedrooms after that. Set a timer for 45 minutes, work through the list for one room and stop. Even one deep-cleaned room a week adds up to a fully clean house in about a month.
What gets forgotten most when deep cleaning? The most-missed jobs are the fridge coils, the dishwasher filter, the range hood filter, the exhaust fan cover in the bathroom, the dryer vent, light switches and door handles, the tops of door frames and the HVAC filter. They are all on our deep cleaning checklist so nothing gets skipped.
How do I keep the house clean after a deep clean? Follow up with a simple daily, weekly and monthly routine so dirt doesn't build up again. Ten minutes a day on dishes, counters and clutter, one weekly session for bathrooms and floors, and one monthly job keeps the next deep clean much shorter. A printed cleaning schedule on the fridge makes the routine easy to follow.
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Clean the whole house in order: get the free deep cleaning checklist
A printable room-by-room deep cleaning checklist that tells you what to do first, so nothing gets cleaned twice. You'll also get our weekly HomeBase email with simple cleaning routines and chore ideas the whole family can help with.
