The Room-by-Room Deep Clean Checklist

This is the checklist professional teams work from, adapted for a weekend. Do it twice a year — spring and fall — and regular cleaning stays easy in between. Work top to bottom, left to right, one room at a time.

Kitchen

• Empty and wipe cabinets; toss expired pantry items.
• Degrease range hood, backsplash and cabinet faces.
• Pull out the fridge and stove; clean behind and beneath.
• Descale the kettle and coffee maker; run a dishwasher cleaning cycle.

Bathrooms

• Wash shower curtains and liners; re-caulk any failing seams.
• Descale showerheads and faucets with vinegar.
• Clear and disinfect drains; scrub grout lines.

Living areas & bedrooms

• Vacuum under and behind furniture; flip or rotate mattresses.
• Launder duvets, pillows and curtains.
• Dust ceiling fixtures, fans, vents, baseboards and door frames.
• Clean windows inside and out; wipe sills and tracks.