Before You Start: Gather Your Supplies
You'll need: all-purpose cleaner, disinfectant spray, glass cleaner, grout brush, microfiber cloths, scrubbing sponges, a mop and bucket, vacuum with attachments, trash bags, rubber gloves, and a caddy or tote to carry everything room to room. Spend 10 minutes prepping before you clean a single thing — it eliminates wasted trips.
Saturday Morning — Kitchen (3–4 hours)
This is the most labour-intensive room. Empty and wipe the fridge (including door seals), clean the oven inside and out, degrease the hob, descale the kettle and coffee maker, empty and wipe all cupboard interiors, clean the extractor hood filter, scrub the sink, wipe cabinet fronts, and finally clean the floor by moving appliances. Work top-to-bottom: ceiling light fitting → upper cabinets → counters → appliances → floor.
Saturday Afternoon — Bathrooms (2 hours)
Scrub tiles and grout with a grout brush and mildew remover. Descale showerheads by soaking in white vinegar for 30 minutes. Clean toilet inside, outside, and behind. Wash shower curtain or scrub shower screen. Wipe mirrors, light fittings, extractor fans, and the tops of door frames. Mop the floor last.
Saturday Evening — Laundry Catch-Up
Run all household laundry including bed linen, towels, and any items that haven't been washed in a while. While machines run, clean the washing machine drum (run a hot cycle with white vinegar), wipe down the dryer lint trap and exterior, and clean the laundry area floor.
Sunday Morning — Bedrooms (2–3 hours)
Strip and wash all bed linen. Vacuum mattresses and flip or rotate them. Dust every surface including tops of wardrobes, picture frames, and light fittings. Wipe skirting boards and window sills. Clean mirrors. Vacuum under beds. Organise wardrobes while drawers are empty for wiping down.
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Sunday Afternoon — Living Areas (2 hours)
Move furniture to vacuum underneath. Wash cushion covers if removable. Dust all shelves and items on them — not just the surface around them. Clean windows inside. Wipe TV screen with a microfiber cloth. Clean light switches and door handles throughout the home. Vacuum all upholstered furniture including sofas.
Sunday Late Afternoon — Floors Throughout (1 hour)
Do a full vacuum pass across all rooms, then mop all hard floors. This is the last step because everything you've cleaned above will have dropped dust to the floor. Finishing with floors leaves the home genuinely clean from ceiling to ground.
Maintain It Going Forward
A deep clean is most effective when followed by a consistent maintenance routine. The goal is never to need another whole-weekend deep clean — regular weekly tasks keep each area from degrading. Aim to repeat a full deep clean twice a year: once in spring, once in autumn.