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There’s no place like (a clean) home!

The holidays are stressful. You have a to-do list that is a mile long: presents to buy, gifts to wrap, shopping to do, and many, many more. You have friends and family to visit. You have office parties to attend. And you are likely to have company over who you want to impress. Amidst all of the work you have to do, you need give your house a deep cleaning. But in the stress and chaos of the holidays, you cannot seem to add any more tasks. But deep cleaning is not about working harder, it is about working smarter.

Because we know you have a lot going on, we want to give you tips for cleaning your home that will make any holiday occasion a smash. Follow these tips on how to deep clean your house through the holiday (or any time) and your home will sparkle.

Pre-Clean: This is the work that can make streamline all other stages of deep cleaning. You can also involve the entire family in this stage of the process.

• Pickup clutter: Make it a game. Time the kids to see how fast the task can be done within each room. It can be a productive time together as a family. And you can charge the kids with maintaining this throughout the holiday. (Maybe offer a little extra holiday money to entice them. Or ask for a clean house as a holiday gift.)
• Get organized and tools needed for deep cleaning: By having the necessary tools for each stage of cleaning ready, you can focus on the task at hand. And can streamline your work by gathering all the supplies at once. You do not want to be tempted by distraction when you walk into the living room to get the vacuum cleaner after you have already started. We all know that distraction comes easily to someone who is cleaning. A pre-cleaning strategy can help minimize that temptation.

Clean High (Anything above your head): You want to start high so that as the dust is settling, it is landing on surfaces that have not been cleaned. Nothing is more frustrating as watching a freshly cleaned surface getting contaminated. But as you are reaching for higher surfaces, remember safety first! Use ladders and ask someone to spot you. It is also a good choice to leave the children out of this stage. It is just not worth the risk. Deep cleaning a house is important. Your (and your family’s) well-being is mandatory.

• Vacuum or dust upper ledges & above cabinets: The cleanliness of your home will be measured by house guests in the kitchen and bathroom. Hygienic and healthy spaces for preparing food are important to people. So if you are inviting them into your home to share food, you want them to confident that the food they are eating is safe. Make your kitchen sparkle from top to bottom by not overlooking the tops of cabinets. Remember: just because it is not in your eye sight, does not mean that it is not in the eye sight of another (taller) house guest.
• Clean ceiling air vents: Do not overlook the value of cleaning air vents. Having clean air circulating through your house begins here. And clean air vents can minimize the dust that settles on surfaces at eye level.
• Dust or wash ceiling fans: Ceiling fans can quickly gather dirt and dust. Make sure to clean the fan blades and the base of the fan. Don’t forget to clean the tops of all the blades. (And while you’re up there…you can change the direction of the fan blades so that instead of blowing cool air, the blades will distribute heat. Most fans have a switch on the base.)
• Dust light fixtures: Proper lighting is necessary for showing off your home’s assets, setting the proper tone, and making spaces inviting and safe for guests. And proper lighting begins and ends with the deep cleaning of all light fixtures. Make sure to clean the base and bulbs of all light sources. If that means taking off bulbs and washing them in soap and water, the payoff is worth it. (No one wants to see last summer’s bug collection through your ceiling lights.)

Mid-Level Cleaning (Eye level): This is the most important level of cleaning because this is what will be most visible to any houseguests. Our cleaning tips will be sure to have them staring in wonder. And because these items are not too high, the family can participate. (Teaching your children how to deep clean your house not only makes your job easier and teaches your child the value of hard work, but it instill the better practices of how to clean a house in your children and can be quality time together to talk about important things going on in their lives.)

• Wash curtains: Begin here so that your curtains can be washing while the dust is flying. You do now want the loose dirt and debris settling on them, so leave them in the dryer until the room is finished. And the extra light from the window will help your eye catch any problem areas in the room. Natural light can be a blessing when it comes to deep cleaning.
• Dust bookcases: Make sure to use the proper cleaning supplies when dusting. A high quality cleaning agent can have healthy oils which can elongate the life of any wood and give your furniture an extra sparkle. And make sure to remove all items from shelves before dusting (instead of just dusting around them). You can simply dust the items as you return them to the shelves. Kids can be great at this task. Just make sure to remind them to start high on the shelves and end low.
• Dust pictures & other wall hangings: You are proud of the pictures and art you have in your home. You spent the time and money to frame and hang all of it. Let your guests see how much these mean to you by making sure to properly clean them. Make sure to clean both the glass and the frame. (This likely will require two different cleaning supplies, but that will not be difficult because you completed pre-cleaning and have both sets with you.)
• Window washing: You are taking the time to clean your curtains. And this provides you the perfect opportunity to clean your windows. The sparkle that clean windows provide is priceless. (Not to mention that dirty windows are always noticeable.)

Mid to Low Level Cleaning (Waist Level): This is the level of cleaning that we often think of when we clean. These are the items that are most used and deserve a great deal of attention and effort.

Dust all remaining flat surfaces: Remember to start high and finish low when considering these surfaces.
Clean & polish furniture: A good polish can make furniture sparkle and increase its life.
Vacuum & spot clean upholstered furniture: You want your furniture to look fresh and inviting. But make sure that you do this with enough time that any furniture will be dry.

• Change linens: Wash all linens. Guests can see (and smell) that this has been done.
• Clean stove & oven: Clean equipment makes cooking easier and foods taste better. This is likely to require some elbow grease.
• Clean & wipe down sinks & counters: You are likely to do this multiple times. It is worth the investment to teach the children the proper way to sanitize these surfaces. Make sure to use anti-bacterial cleaning agents and fresh towels for clean-up. You do not want to contaminate a surface as you are cleaning it.
• Scrub showers/bathtubs: This is likely to require a bit of back-breaking labor. Try using cleaning supplies that can cut down on that labor. (For example, if you have hard water, make sure to buy a product that is designed for hard water.
• Clean toilets: Make sure to clean the inside and outside of the toilet. There are numerous products that can help with the cleaning with each flush. Perhaps the holidays are smart time to invest in one. (You simply drop some of them in the tank.)

Low Level Cleaning (Floor Level): Clean floors are necessary for a sparkling home. Deep cleaning will likely mean doing many of these cleaning tips more than once. (The holidays bring extra welcomed traffic!) These are all tasks that are ideal for participation by children. Sweeping and vacuuming are tasks suitable for all family members.

• Wash area rugs: Begin here. Throw area rugs into the wash immediately after the curtains. This way they are out of the way for the other cleaning.
• Vacuum/sweep floors: Make sure to move as much furniture as possible. And keep the vacuum handy for quick touch-ups. A freshly vacuumed carpet is so inviting.
• Mop floors: Make the floors sparkle so that they reflect all your hard work. Try making the task fun. They make mop-skates so that the task can be more fun.
• Dust baseboards: This simple task will show your attention to detail. Guests may not even be aware that they noticed it. Instead, they will feel overwhelmed with your talents at deep cleaning.
• Sweep front & back porches: You want your guests to feel welcomed into your before they even enter. And you want to minimize the dirt and debris that is tracked in when they do come inside. Clean entryways can do both. And having proper floor rugs (e.g., thick mats to gather snow and water or lighter rugs to collect leaves and dirt) can be ideal in getting the most out of your entryway.

We know that these cleaning tips that teach you how to deep clean your house can be overwhelming. There is a lot to do. If you don’t have time for deep cleaning, hiring a professional maid service company will help keep your home sparkling & clean. You know that your house needs a deep cleaning. And are now aware of how to deep clean your house. But time during the holidays, and all year with your busy schedule, is a scarce resource. And what better way to protect that commodity than by hiring a professional cleaning service. Treat yourself to the gift this holiday season that will keep on giving. Or give someone else the gift of a deep cleaning in his or her house. It is sure to be the gift that will not need a return receipt.

Hopefully these cleaning tips will provide you all the tools you need for deep cleaning your home. These cleaning tips are good for the holidays and all year long. A home with deep cleaning is as valuable in May as it is December. By knowing how to deep clean your home, you can set yourself up for holiday success. And give yourself, and your guests, memories that will last all year.