How To Deep Clean: 3 Tasks To Do Today!

Is your home clean from afar but far from clean when you take a closer look? An outward clean appearance does not a clean house make—sorry to burst that bubble! While cleaning the bathroom and cleaning the bedroom are must-do tasks, they’re certainly not enough in the long run. 

On the upside, a deep clean does not require deep pockets or too much time. In fact, the following methods don’t cost more than a couple of bucks and take only about ten minutes each. Deep cleaning is all about paying attention to the nooks and crannies, which never seem to make it onto your to-do list. So today, let’s talk about three tasks you should absolutely add to your deep cleaning list today.

Clean Your Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets

Sure, the exteriors of your kitchen and bathroom cabinets sparkle, but what about their insides? Crumbs, spills, and loose bits: that’s what’s lurking behind most closed cabinet doors. So roll up your sleeves, pull everything out, and thoroughly wipe down the interior of each cubby and drawer. (Check out my step-by-step kitchen cupboard cleaning method, which you can apply to bathrooms, too). 

Before replacing the items, I recommend lining each shelf with a piece of rubber shelf liner. It’s quite inexpensive, and it will make the next deep clean a lot easier. All you have to do is rinse the shelf liners! And they’re easy to wipe down in-between deep cleans. And these liners help your stuff stay put (no slip!), and your cupboards stay clean no matter how deep you need to rummage. 

Coffee Makers Need Cleaning Too

If your coffee has been tasting a little less macchiato and a little more mucky, there is a solution (and no, it’s not running out to Starbucks). This should go without saying, but coffee makers and mugs need regular cleaning. Simply pour plain white vinegar (non-diluted) into your coffee maker and run it through a brew cycle. Then, dump the vinegar down the drain and rinse the carafe. (Read my full instructions for cleaning a Keurig coffee maker right here.)

And if your coffee and tea mugs are looking stained, add them to your deep cleaning chore list too. Rub a slice of lemon on the stained ceramic, toss salt over the lemon juice, and rub the stains with the lemon slice. Finally, rinse, dry, and admire! With these tasks done, you can proudly brew a delectable morning cuppa.

Clean The Litter Box Right Meow

You have changed the litter again. And you’ve thrown the windows wide open to let in some fresh air. So why does your cat’s litter box absolutely reek? You are in a pretty obvious funk (pun intended). The good news is the solution to this problem has been under your nose this whole time! It’s time to clean the box itself. As litter boxes are typically made of plastic, they tend to absorb odors, so that’s likely what all the stink is about.

Here’s how to clean your kitty’s private quarters. Empty the litter from the box and pour about half an inch of vinegar into the box base. Powder this with about a half cup of baking soda and allow the mixture to bubble. Fill the container about two-thirds full of water and stir. Let it soak for several hours, then drain the liquid and scrub the box clean. Finally, wash it with hot soapy water and dry. 

Before you place litter back in the box, pour about one-quarter of an inch worth of baking soda on the bottom of the box. Voila! Not only have you created a cleaner-smelling loo for your cat, but you have also done so without placing anything unnatural inside. Now, just pass your cat a newspaper and leave it to its business. And if you have a cat, you’ll probably want to read Best Pet Hair Remover: 5 Simple Tips.

How To Deep Clean

While there are a lot more deep cleaning tasks you’ll need to get your house truly sparkling; these three are necessities. What’s on your deep cleaning list? Let me know in the comments below!.

And, as always, I want to see your houses sparkle just as much as I want to see and hear all about the messy side too. So if you share your cleaning victories and woes on Instagram, tag me @melissamaker and @cleanmyspace.