A Comprehensive Checklist for Deep Cleaning Your House
Dusty Rhodes • February 26, 2024
Possibly deeper than you wanted, but hey. Can’t say we’re not thorough.
So you’re here to get your deep clean on, eh? We commend you. The deep clean is a massive undertaking. One must be brave and stay vigilant, dodging distractions and resisting the urge to bail and play outside or eat snacks instead.
There will be many challenges on your deep clean journey, but stay strong. Harness the power and determination to extinguish dust bunnies and soap scum, banish bacteria and grease, descale and unclog! You can’t possibly fail with this ridiculously long, comprehensive list of all the things you ought to clean in your house. Clear your schedule, you’re about to embark on a hero’s quest for cleanliness. Godspeed.
Deep clean the bathroom
- Dust from top to bottom.
- We recommend Swiffer Dusters, which trap and lock in dust and hair particles. Plus, you can toss the dust pad when you’re done.
- Be sure to get all ceiling fans and vents.
- Don’t skip the walls and baseboards.
- Sweep, dry mop and/or vacuum the floors.
- We love the Swiffer Sweeper Floor Mop, which can be used for both dry and wet mopping. Plus, the disposable pads are just great. And no mop bucket!
- Disinfect and sanitize door knobs, light switches, hard surfaces and high-touch areas.
- We like Microban 24 Bathroom Cleaner, which initially kills 99.9% of germs, including cold and flu viruses*
- Scrub your shower, bathtub and sink.
- Scrub the grout.
- Clean the showerhead.
- Clean shower doors.
- Clean faucets, handles, hardware and drains.
- Clean mirrors using store-bought cleaner or DIY glass cleaner solution.
- Clean window treatments.
- Dust and wash your blinds.
- Wash the windows.
- Don’t forget the window sills and ledges.
- Organize the medicine cabinet, shelves, drawers and closets.
- Trash expired makeup.
- Wipe out shelves and inside drawers.
- Vacuum linen closet floor.
- Throw in a load of laundry.
- Wash your:
- shower curtain
- towels
- bathmats
- Make sure to read the care instructions on the respective labels.
- Deep clean the toilet.
- Sanitize:
- the nearby floor
- toilet seat
- back of toilet/shelf
- hinges
- flusher
- attachments
- Replace your toothbrush, if necessary.
- Wash out toothbrush caddy. (Just throw it in the dishwasher.)
- Wipe down baseboards.
- Take out trash and sanitize trash can.
- Clean light fixtures.
- Replace any dead bulbs.
Deep Clean The Kitchen
- Clean the stovetop.
- Remove and soak stove grates in a bath of gentle dish soap, like Dawn, and water.
- Break out the beloved Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to get rid of grease and burnt-on food.
- Clean the oven.
- Before you run your oven’s self-cleaning mode, wipe or scrape out any caked-on burnt stuff in there, or you risk starting a fire.
- Clean your microwave.
- The inside and outside, plus the door and handle.
- Clean and descale your coffee maker.
- Pot
- Basket and filter
- Outside
- Clean out your fridge and freezer.
- Throw out expired food and freezer items that are over six months old.
- Wipe:
- shelves
- drawers
- handles
- Vacuum beneath refrigerator.
- Vacuum fridge coils and vent.
- Degrease cabinets and wash the walls.
- Clean both the inside and outside of cabinets, doors and shelves.
- Clean out and organize your pantry.
- Throw away expired items.
- Empty the toast tray in your toaster.
- Disinfect high-touch areas:
- cabinet handles
- light switches
- sinks
- countertops
- sink faucet handles
- refrigerator handle
- Wipe down countertops.
- Clean and sanitize sink:
- basin
- faucets
- hardware
- surrounding areas
- drain
- Clean your garbage disposal.
- Toss a few fresh lemon peels down the drain to freshen its smell.
- Ice cubes in the garbage disposal help knock bits of clinging-on food from the blades.
- Sweep, dry mop and/or vacuum the floors.
- Clean your dishwasher filter.
- Wash your dishwasher.
- Run an empty cycle with Cascade Dishwasher Cleaner to eliminate limescale, grease or odors.
- Clean stainless steel appliances.
- Mr. Clean Clean Freak Mist works great to eliminate fingerprints and grease from stainless steel.
- Clean your kitchen blinds.
- Wash the windows.
- Wipe down walls and baseboards.
- Take out trash and recycling.
- Sanitize trash and recycling receptacles.
Deep clean bedrooms
- Dust everything from top to bottom:
- dressers
- lamps
- bedside tables
- artwork
- knickknacks
- headboard
- shelves
- frames
- Vacuum your curtains and/or wash the blinds.
- Check the label, but you can usually wash your curtains in the washing machine.
- Sweep, dry mop and/or vacuum the floors.
- Clean the floor.
- Wash windows, window sills and ledges.
- Vacuum curtains with upholstery attachment.
- Wash your dirty clothes.
- Put laundry away when it’s done (that’s the hard part).
- Clean out your closet.
- Donate clothes that no longer fit to a thrift store or friend.
- Take shoes out of the closet, and sweep and vacuum closet floor.
- Wash all of your bedding:
- sheets
- pillow cases
- duvet covers
- shams (if they’re washable)
- Be sure to read and follow the care and cleaning instructions on the labels.
- Make your bed (with the clean sheets).
- Rotate your mattress.
- Clean out and organize bedside table drawers.
- Trash expired prescriptions, old receipts, dead batteries, etc.
- Shampoo any rugs or carpets, especially if you’ve got pets.
Deep clean living spaces
- Dust everything from top to bottom.
- Swiffer Dusters are good for reaching all those hard-to-reach areas, plus the dust pads actually trap and lock dust particles instead of spreading them around.
- ceiling fan blades
- vents
- bookshelves
- artwork
- frames
- light fixtures
- screens (including your TV)
- plants
- speakers
- record player or stereo system
- Wash the windows, window sills and ledges.
- Dust and wash doors.
- Wash the walls and baseboards.
- Walls actually absorb and trap all sorts of smells.
- Sweep, vacuum and mop. Then run a wet mop across the hard floors.
- We like the Swiffer Sweeper, which takes care of the dry and wet mopping—no mop bucket required.
- Vacuum everything:
- couches
- chairs
- curtains
- love seats
- chaise longues
- pet beds
- anything that’s upholstered
- Shampoo rugs or carpets with a steam cleaner.
- Or, if you’re feeling lazy, sprinkle baking soda all over your carpet, let it sit overnight to neutralize any smells and vacuum it up in the morning. We’ll give you a hall pass on this one.
- Wash cushions and throw pillow covers.
- Be sure to read the care instructions first.
- If you can’t wash them, hit them with some Febreze Fabric to freshen them up a bit.
- Disinfect:
- remote controls
- high-touch items
- doorknobs
- light switches
- Clean your screens:
- televisions
- laptops
- tablets
- Organize your stuff!
- Declutter items on your tables and shelves.
- Bring unused cups into the kitchen.
- Put your darn shoes away. At least for today.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Replace batteries, if necessary.
Deep clean the garage, yard, and outdoor spaces
- Clean out gutters and downspouts.
- Sweep and power wash:
- decks
- porches
- patios
- Check weather strips and caulking:
- doors
- windows
- Clean your grill.
- Clean patio furniture and outdoor pillows.
- Yard maintenance:
- Rake leaves.
- Mow the lawn.
- Tend to the garden.
- Fill the bird feeders.
- Clean out and organize the garage.
- Sweep.
- Replace furnace filter.
- This should be done every three months.
- Sweep out the chimney.
- Clean out and wash cars.
Deep clean kid areas and playrooms
- Move furniture and vacuum beneath:
- playpens
- beds
- kiddie tables
- crafting stations
- Use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on any wall stains (crayons, anyone?)
- Sanitize plastic toys.
- Add a couple drops of bleach to a gallon of water, soak them overnight and let them air dry.
- Hand wash soft plushies.
- You can use a hair dryer to fluff their fur back up afterward.
- Donate stuff that’s no longer being used or doesn’t fit:
- clothes
- books
- toys
- Organize:
- clothes
- books
- toys
Deep clean pet stuff
- Vacuum:
- carpet
- couches
- pet bed
- Run a dry mop, like the Swiffer Heavy Duty Pet Dry Sweeper, on your hard floors to collect and trap loose hair and dander.
- Wet mop the floor, especially those corners where the dog hangs out and/or around the litter box and food bowls.
- Make this easier on yourself with the Swiffer Heavy Duty Pet Wet Mop.
- Launder the pet beds.
- If they’re really ratty, toss them, and buy new ones.
- Clean and sanitize hard plastic pet toys.
- Throw out any disgusting, torn up toys, and replace them with fresh ones.
- Neutralize potent pet smells.
- Sprinkle baking soda on everything, let it sit overnight and vacuum it up in the morning. It works great on upholstery, pet beds, soft toys, etc.
- Spray Febreze Fabric Pet Odor Eliminator around the pet zones for a burst of freshness.
Wow, you made it to the bottom! You must have the cleanest house ever. Now can you come over and do ours?
*When used as directed and within 60 seconds, effective against bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enterica and viruses including human coronavirus, Influenza A H1N1, and respiratory syncytial virus. Microban does not provide 24-hour residual virus protection.
Source: Home Made Simple
Dusty Rhodes Properties is the Best Realtor in Myrtle Beach! We do everything in our power to help you find the home of your dreams. With experience, expertise, and passion, we are the perfect partner for you in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We love what we do and it shows. With more than 22 years of experience in the field, we know our industry like the back of our hands. There’s no challenge too big or too small, and we dedicate our utmost energy to every project we take on. We search thousands of the active and new listings from Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Garden City Beach, Longs, Loris, Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Surfside Beach real estate listings to find the hottest deals just for you!
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When you’re selling your home , it is natural to assume that anything you can safely remove is yours to keep—like the light fixtures you painstakingly cleaned and repaired, or the appliances you bought last year. But the truth is, the buyer may want some of those items, too, and sometimes it's better to part ways with these items for the sake of the sale. Rather than keep everything, you should decide what you'd like to keep and what you'll leave behind as a way to entice buyers into making an offer, particularly in today's market where buyers are holding more of the cards than ever. What stays with the house? Generally, certain items stay with the house when you sell and move. Some features may seem obvious, but the truth is, you're probably expected to leave more behind than you think. Some of these items can include: Built-ins: Built-in bookshelves, benches, and pull-out furniture generally stay inside the home. Landscaping: Trees, shrubs, and any flowers planted in the ground should stay in the yard. Wall mounts: If you have TV wall mounts or picture mounts that might damage the wall if you remove them, it is a good idea to leave them in place when you move. Custom-fit items: If you have custom-made curtains , plantation shutters, or blinds, leave them on the windows and doors. Hardware : If you upgraded the knobs and drawer pulls in the bathrooms and kitchen, you should either leave those behind or install replacements before you move. Alarm systems : Wireless alarm systems are designed to be removed. Otherwise, leave the alarm monitoring station attached and either relocate or cancel the monitoring service. Smoke detectors : Smoke detectors and sprinkler systems should stay in the house, especially if you plan to move before selling the house. What can you take? While you’re expected to leave some items behind, in general your belongings are yours to keep. Here are some examples: Patio furniture, lawn equipment, and play sets : If you have a wooden swing set in the backyard and a bistro table on the front porch, take those items with you. Appliances : Some lenders require that a home have an oven installed before approving a loan, but for all other appliances, it's up to you to decide what you will take and what you will offer as part of the home. Some light fixtures : Generally, homeowners leave light fixtures behind, but if you’re attached to a certain fixture, you can make arrangements with the buyer to take it. Built-in kitchen tools : If you can safely remove a mounted spice rack or the pasta arm, you can take it with you. Rugs, basic curtains, wreaths : Small decor items like rugs or curtain rods that can be safely removed can be taken. What should you consider leaving? Some of your personal items can be used to help sell your house—or increase the asking price. Before you take everything just to take it, consider offering some hot items like the following: Appliances : Homeowners, especially new homeowners, don’t always have their own appliances. Many buyers would be more likely to place an offer on a home if it came fully stocked with appliances. Custom swing and play sets : If you have a swing set or playhouse your children have outgrown and you notice a potential buyer has children, offer to include the item with the deal. Kitchen built-ins : Built-in spice racks, pantry organization, and windowsill shelves can really help sell a kitchen. Consider offering the items to an interested buyer. Light fixtures, curtains, rugs, and other upgrades : If you’ve upgraded the light fixtures or have custom rugs in the entryway, a buyer may be willing to increase his or her offer to keep those items in the home. If you’re not sure what would entice a buyer, ask your real estate agent to provide suggestions. Don't have an agent yet? Here's how to find a real estate agent in your area.
Let’s be clear: selling your house is absolutely possible right now. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), roughly 11k homes sell every day in this country. And the sellers who are making their moves happen all have one thing in common: they’ve adjusted their strategy to match today’s market. They’re realizing inventory has grown. Homebuyers are more selective. And buyer expectations are higher. The sellers who struggle are usually approaching today’s market with yesterday’s expectations. Here are the three biggest mistakes they’re making – and how to avoid them. 1. Pricing Based on What Their Neighbor Got a Few Years Back Setting your price is the most important decision you make when you sell – and the one that’s most often mishandled. Realtor.com data shows almost 1 out of 5 sellers in 2025 had to drop their price. Here’s what those sellers went wrong. Buyers have more choice and more negotiating power now that inventory has grown. And house hunters will actively avoid your house is if feels like it’s priced too high. That’s why overpricing usually leads to: Fewer showings Less competitive (or lowball) offers Longer time on market And all three of those side effects are things you don’t want to deal with. What To Do Instead: The good news is the cure is simple. Just price for today’s buyer, not yesterday’s headlines. Lean on your agent’s knowledge of recent comparable sales, current competition, and local buyer behavior to land in the value “sweet spot” that drives traffic and urgency from day one. 2. Trying To Skip Repairs That Buyers Now Expect A few years ago, you could sell as-is and still get well above asking. Today? Not so much. Right now, NAR says two-thirds of sellers are making at least some repairs. And the reason why is simple. In a market with more inventory, buyers compare homes side by side. Homes that don’t show well (or feel dated) are going to lose attention quickly, even if the issues are minor. What To Do Instead: Ask your agent which high-impact, low-stress updates they’d recommend for your house. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s helping buyers see themselves moving in without a mental to-do list. Small investments in staging, repairs, and curb appeal can make a huge difference in how quickly offers come in – and how strong those offers are. 3. Playing Hardball When Buyers Try To Negotiate Today’s buyers have housing affordability at the top of their minds. And since money is already tight, they’ll be pickier and will probably ask for some compromises from you. Whether that’s making repairs, giving them a credit at closing, or taking just a few thousand dollars off your asking price, negotiating is normal again. So, if something pops up in the inspection, you’re going to need to be open to talking about it. If you’re not, you may very well see your buyer walk away. And some sellers are figuring this out the hard way. Redfin data shows one of the big reasons home sales fell thru in 2025 was inspection or repair issues. Odds are those homeowners weren’t willing to flex a bit to get the deal done. What to Do Instead: Meet with your agent to make sure you understand what buyers in your area care the most about. Align your price with value, present the home clearly and confidently, and stay open to reasonable negotiations that keep deals moving forward.
They’re often called aging-in-place features, but things like curbless showers, nonslip flooring and wide walkways and doorways can benefit everyone, no matter their age or ability. “Regardless of aging in place, there is a place for these in day-to-day life, whether it be a teenager on crutches, a family member having had surgery, active kids,” designer Dana Bass says. “It’s not just about aging in place. We’ve got to account for unplanned life emergencies.” Designer Tammy Battistessa of Ellaire Kitchen & Bath Design agrees. “Whenever possible, I include aging-in-place and universal design features in every project, as I believe many of these features benefit clients of all ages and abilities, in addition to allowing a client to safely remain in their home for a longer period of time,” she says. Creating a home that can adapt also makes it more sustainable. “Aging in place is a key element to making legacy homes that can evolve over time,” architect Tim Barber says. With all that in mind, we asked more than 50 home design and construction professionals to share the aging-in-place features they always recommend. Here are the 10 that came up again and again. 1. Wide Walkways and Doorways Planning ahead is one of the most important steps when incorporating aging-in-place features. Many of these elements require thoughtful design and construction, so it’s wise to start early — and to consider hiring professionals who understand the nuances. “Thinking through how you will really use the space makes all the difference,” designer Haiku Durden of HDS Design says. “Having a designer involved really makes a difference.” A professional can help you create a plan that works for your current needs and anticipates future ones. “We currently default to aging-in-place features when our clients are near retirement or retirement age,” says designer Jenny Guggenheim of Guggenheim Architecture and Design Studio . “Preplanning by adding blocking behind the wall finish, spacious floor planning to allow for wheelchair or walker use.” In fact, spacious layouts are among the most commonly recommended aging-in-place strategies. Wide walkways and doorways — and generous clearances around furniture and fixtures — make it easier for anyone to move through the home comfortably. Installing a continuous flooring material throughout also reduces tripping hazards caused by changes in height or texture between rooms.
