All of us take pride in keeping a clean home, and we all follow a house cleaning schedule that includes regular sweeping, mopping, cleaning bathrooms, wiping down the kitchen, taking out the trash and the occasional spurt of dusting.
However, every once in a while, our homes need cleaning that goes beyond what we do regularly, and that is called deep cleaning.
While deep cleaning is something we could do ourselves, it takes a lot of time and effort, so most homeowners find it easier to call upon a professional cleaning service to handle the stress.
However, let us begin by answering the question, “What is deep cleaning in housekeeping?”
Deep cleaning meaning
Regular housekeeping includes sweeping, mopping, cleaning general areas, washing the bathroom, dusting occasionally and other activities to keep our homes clean. However, deep cleaning goes a whole step further.
Deep cleaning involves cleaning grouting on the floor, reaching out to clean nooks and crannies that often get neglected, and disinfecting and sterilising surfaces. It is important to do this periodically for multiple reasons.
For one, deep cleaning kills many germs and microbes that are invisible to the naked eye and could potentially cause diseases. It also helps eliminate dust and grime from hard to reach and often overlooked spaces. Effectively, deep cleaning reduces the risk of catching infections from these impurities.
In addition to helping keep our families healthy, deep cleaning also removes many lingering odours caused by repetitive cooking, pets and other sources that we are often impervious to. What you’re left with when you hire professional house deep cleaning services is a healthier, fresh-smelling home.
What to expect
While the actual checklist and cleaning protocols followed by professional home deep cleaning services differ from company to company, here’s what to expect in general.
Deep cleaning the kitchen
The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in any home, considering it is where all of our cooking and, in some cases, eating happens.
These activities lead to grease building up on surfaces and window sills, and if they’re not cleaned periodically, they can become difficult to remove. Not only is this unhealthy, but it is also visually distasteful.
Deep cleaning a kitchen includes appliance cleaning, range hood cleaning and more. Here’s a list of what kitchen deep cleaning includes.
- Moving appliances such as ovens, refrigerators and dishwashers to clean the areas behind and around them that are morally hard to reach.
- Vacuum cleaning the floor.
- Mopping the floor.
- Cleaning backsplashes.
- Cleaning the range hood, or electric chimney, thoroughly and changing filters.
- Dusting, washing and disinfecting small appliances.
- Cleaning the insides of appliances like ovens, cooking ranges and refrigerators, including cleaning refrigerator coils.
- Washing and cleaning doors and windows. This includes removing grease on windows.
- Washing and cleaning of cabinets, drawers, pantry and storage areas.
- Cleaning and disinfecting countertops and the kitchen sink.
- Disinfecting kitchen trash cans
- Cleaning kitchen furniture such as breakfast table, chairs, etc.
- Cleaning and reorganising kitchen cabinets and the pantry.
- Wiping and disinfecting all switches and knobs.
Deep cleaning bathrooms
Bathrooms deserve special attention for multiple reasons. For one, those living in areas with hard water have to deal with staining and scaling that is caused by the minerals in the water.
Also, being the wettest areas of any home, bathrooms are prone to the growth of fungi, mould and mildew, which, left unchecked, can lead to respiratory infections such as asthma. Bathrooms also harbour other microbes, such as E. Colli, salmonella, staph bacteria and intestinal viruses.
Deep cleaning your bathroom removes these harmful elements and thoroughly cleanses surfaces and bathroom fittings, leaving you with a fresh, hygienic bathroom.
Here’s what you can expect when your bathrooms are deep cleaned.
- Thoroughly scrubbing and washing floor and wall tiles, including the grouting in between the tiles.
- Dusting and cleaning windows, doors and door frames.
- Thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting bathroom sinks and toilets. Special attention is paid to the base and the areas behind the sinks and toilets.
- Cleaning bathroom countertops.
- Washing and disinfecting bathroom dustbins.
- Detaching and cleaning showerheads and faucets.
- Cleaning and disinfecting shower stalls and bathtubs.
- Washing or vacuuming bathroom mats, shower curtains and carpets.
- Removing limescale and other mineral deposits and soap scum from bathroom fixtures.
- Disinfecting doorknobs.
- Cleaning and disinfecting the inside of medicine cabinets and vanities.
Deep cleaning living rooms, bedrooms and shared spaces
Finally, let’s address deep cleaning the rest of the areas of the house: the living room, bedrooms and shared spaces. Now, these areas get attention regularly. However, here’s what paid deep cleaning gets you.
- Moving furniture and cleaning under as well as around them.
- Sanitising emptied and wiped down trash cans.
- Mattresses and beds are vacuumed, and beds are made.
- Shampooing and deep cleaning floors and carpets.
- Washing windows, window sills and window tracks.
- Washing floor mats, rugs and cushions.
- Vacuum cleaning furniture and cleaning upholstery. Some service providers even polish furniture as a part of deep cleaning.
- Cleaning cabinets, drawers and cupboards.
- Vacuuming, sweeping and mopping floors. Special attention is paid to edges along walls.
- Cleaning backsplashes.
- Washing curtains and blinds.
- Wiping down baseboards, door frames and doors.
- Removing cobwebs and insect nests.
- Dusting and cleaning decorative artefacts, photographs, picture frames and memorabilia.
- Wiping down bannisters and stair rails.
- Dusting and cleaning lampshades, ceiling fans and lighting fixtures.
How often should your home be deep cleaned?
Deep cleaning is not something you do often. Here are the situations when deep cleaning is necessary:
- It always makes sense to get a home deep cleaned before moving into a new house. That way, you can start afresh with peace of mind, knowing you are moving into clean premises.
- Similarly, it is good etiquette to deep clean a home before vacating it. That way, the next residents do not have to deal with the dirt and gunk that you left behind.
- Weddings and other large celebratory events hosted at home always call for a deep clean either before or after the celebration, depending on their condition.
- Normally, it makes sense to plan an annual deep clean at the same time as your spring cleaning. It sets the house up for the year to come. You also get to declutter your home and know if there are any repairs or replacements you need to deal with.
What professional deep cleaning costs and is it worth it?
A professional home deep cleaning service in India costs between INR 1,500 and INR 7,500 on average. The cost varies depending on where you live, the size of your residence and the service provider you choose to work with.
Now, if you’re wondering if you need to shell out that money when you could do everything yourself, here’s why the cost of hiring professional cleaners is worth it.
The first is the time it takes. Professional cleaners are experienced, which means while you would need to work section by section, they are capable of working on multiple areas simultaneously.
Then, there is the expertise. Professional cleaners do this every day, and know how to efficiently move around heavy appliances and furniture to clean under them, where to look for contaminants and what tools of the trade are best used to leave you with a clean and fresh smelling home.
Stick to a schedule
Once you’ve had your home deep cleaned, set a cleaning schedule that addresses all the areas of your home at least seasonally. That way, your home maintenance becomes easier, which means you can afford to wait longer in between deep cleaning sessions.
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