How to Make Your House Look Professionally Cleaned: A Comprehensive Guide

Having a clean, tidy, and well-organized home is important for both your physical and mental health. A cluttered and dirty household can cause stress, negatively impact your mood, and make it more challenging to relax at home. Professional cleaners have techniques and systems that allow them to thoroughly clean a home in an efficient manner. While you may not have the time for daily cleaning that professionals invest, you can utilize some of their tricks to get your home looking spick and span.

Maintaining a clean home on your own takes effort. It can be difficult to stay on top of dusting, scrubbing, vacuuming, laundry, and a myriad of other cleaning tasks. Additionally, clutter has a tendency to accumulate quickly, taking away from the tidy appearance of your home. However, putting in the work to get your house professionally cleaned does have significant benefits. It creates a healthy and sanitary environment. It also allows you to host guests in your home without feeling embarrassed. The tips provided in this comprehensive guide will help you make your house look like it received a deep clean from a professional cleaning service.

Assessing the Dirt and Clutter

Before you can get started on cleaning your home to a professional standard, take time to assess which areas require attention. Evaluating the dirt, dust, clutter, and disorganization around your home will allow you to focus your efforts where they are needed most.

Identifying Areas That Need Cleaning

Walk through each room in your home and thoroughly evaluate the level of dirt and grime. Check all surfaces like floors, walls, windows, cabinets, and furniture for dust, dirt, stains, spills, or debris. Pay attention to typically forgotten areas like baseboards, ceiling fans, window sills, and the tops of doors and cabinets. Note which places appear dull, dingy, or dirty compared to others so you can focus on them later.

Determining the Level of Dirtiness

As you assess each room, take note of how dirty it is on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being sparkling clean and 10 being extremely filthy. This will help you determine the cleaning techniques, tools, and products needed for each area. Bathrooms, kitchens, and high traffic areas likely need more attention than guest bedrooms. However, don’t ignore rooms just because they look tidy at first glance. Dirt and dust can easily accumulate in unused spaces.

Prioritizing Tasks Based on Urgency and Importance

Once you’ve evaluated the condition of your home, make a list of cleaning tasks and prioritize them. Separate tasks into categories like daily, weekly, and seasonal cleaning. Focus first on cleaning high traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and living spaces. Deep cleaning projects like shampooing carpets, cleaning out the garage, or washing walls can wait until you’ve done a thorough job on the basics. Schedule tasks based on urgency and importance.

Creating a Cleaning Plan

Approach cleaning your home like a professional would by creating a detailed step-by-step plan. Establish a schedule to follow with realistic time frames. Set aside enough time for each task and determine the order in which you’ll tackle them. Having an organized system will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.

Developing a Step-by-Step Plan

Break down cleaning each room into individual steps:

• Living Room
  • Dust furniture, windowsills, ceiling fans
  • Vacuum floors and furniture
  • Clean mirrors and windows
  • Straighten books, magazines, and decor
  • Fluff pillows and fold blankets
• Kitchen
  • Clear countertops and sink of clutter
  • Load dishwasher and hand wash dishes
  • Wipe down cabinets and appliances
  • Sweep and mop floors
  • Take out trash and recycling

Write out each step for every room, starting with high traffic common areas first. For efficiency, group together tasks by room or the cleaning tools required.

Allocating Time for Each Task

Be realistic about how much time each step will take. Time yourself as you clean and take notes for reference later. This will help you create and stick to a schedule. Some standard time frames:

• Vacuuming a room: 10 minutes
• Mopping kitchen: 20 minutes
• Cleaning a bathroom: 30-45 minutes
• Dusting a room: 15 minutes

Factor in additional time for deeper cleaning tasks like scrubbing tile or washing windows. Build in some wiggle room for interruptions and unexpected messes.

Incorporating Regular Maintenance

Maintenance cleans make deep cleans easier and less frequent. Do quick cleans daily and set aside time each week for tasks like mopping, dusting, and scrubbing bathrooms. Clean as you go – don’t let dishes pile up or laundry accumulate. Sticking to a routine will prevent dirt and clutter from getting out of control between deep cleans.

Decluttering and Organizing

Before doing heavy duty cleaning, it’s imperative to declutter. Professionals don’t work around clutter and neither should you. Use these strategies to declutter and organize your home first so cleaning is easier and faster.

Strategies for Reducing Clutter

• Sort through items and get rid of anything you don’t need – trash, donate, recycle, or sell.
• Store items where they make the most sense – dishes in kitchen, tools in garage, etc.
• Use storage bins and baskets to contain clutter. Label so anyone can put items away.
• Deal with paper clutter – file away, shred, recycle, or scan and go digital.
• Limit your surfaces – only keep out essential decorative items. Store the rest.
• Straighten as you go to keep clutter from accumulating.

Tips for Organizing Your Home

• Give everything a designated “home” where it can be returned when not in use.
• Use trays and bins to corral small items like remotes, keys, and mail.
• Store items near where you use them, like coats and shoes by the door.
• Group like items together – magazines in one basket, toys in labeled bins.
• Utilize vertical space with shelves, racks, organizers, and hooks.
• Reduce visual clutter where you can – tuck wires and cords out of sight.

When to Throw Away or Donate Items

Be ruthless about deciding what to keep. If it’s ripped, broken, expired, or you haven’t used it in over a year, get rid of it. Box up duplicates and out-of-season items and get them out of your way. Donate gently used goods to charity so someone else can benefit.Bag up trash immediately so it’s not taking up space.

Cleaning Common Areas

Focus first on high traffic common areas like living rooms, dens, hallways, and studies. Devise a system for efficiently cleaning each surface type no matter the room:

Techniques for Cleaning Different Surfaces

Wood Furniture – Dust, then apply wood cleaner and polish with a soft cloth.

Leather Furniture – Remove debris, then clean with a leather conditioner.

Fabric Furniture – Vacuum, spot treat stains, and steam clean or shampoo.

Electronics – Dust with a microfiber cloth and clean screens with proper cleaner.

Windows and Mirrors – Spray glass cleaner directly on cloth, not surface. Buff streak free.

Walls and Ceilings – Remove cobwebs, then spot clean marks with warm water and mild soap.

Floors – Vacuum carpets. Sweep then mop hard floors. Spot treat stains.

Efficient Methods for Cleaning Various Rooms

Living Room

• Work top to bottom.
• Dust furniture and surfaces first.
• Vacuum upholstered furniture, then carpets.
• Clean tables, lamps, TV screens.
• Wash windows and mirrors.
• Spot clean walls.
• Sweep then mop hard floors.

Hallways

• Dust light fixtures, picture frames, and tops of doors.
• Clean walls and switch plates.
• Vacuum and/or mop floors.
• Wash doors, knobs, and baseboards.
• Fluff decorative pillows, rugs, and benches.

Cleaning Frequency for Common Areas

• High traffic spots like entryways – Daily quick clean
• Living spaces – Weekly deeper clean
• Floors – Vacuum every 1-3 days, mop weekly
• Furniture – Dust weekly, deeper clean monthly
• Walls and ceilings – Spot clean as needed, wash annually

Cleaning Bedrooms

Bedrooms accumulate clutter and dirt quickly. Wash bedding, de-clutter surfaces, dust, vacuum, and sweep on a regular schedule.

Tips for Cleaning Mattresses and Pillows

• Wash sheets weekly – more often if you sweat at night.
• Use a mattress protector to shield from stains.
• Spot clean stains with upholstery cleaner.
• Vacuum mattress and box spring monthly.
• Replace pillows every 1-2 years.
• Wash pillow protectors regularly.

Decluttering and Organizing Bedrooms

• Make bed each morning to maintain neat appearance.
• Put away clothing, shoes, and accessories immediately after wearing.
• Use storage bins and hooks to contain clutter.
• Assign a laundry bin for dirty clothes.
• Schedule time weekly to file away paperwork and accessories.
• Reduce surfaces – keep only essentials on nightstands and dressers.

Cleaning Frequency for Bedrooms

• Wash sheets and pillow cases weekly.
• Tidy and vacuum daily.
• Dust, scrub surfaces, spot clean walls monthly.
• Vacuum under furniture every 2-3 months.
• Deep clean carpet annually.

Cleaning Bathrooms

Aim to deep clean bathrooms weekly. Disinfect surfaces like toilets, showers, sinks, and countertops then scrub floors.

Tips for Cleaning Tiles, Mirrors, and Showers

Tile Floors

• Sweep first to remove hair and debris.
• Mix equal parts vinegar and water for cleaning and disinfecting.
• Scrub grout lines with an old toothbrush.
• Rinse thoroughly and squeegee away moisture.

Mirrors and Glass

• Wipe down daily with glass cleaner.
• For streak free shine, spray cleaner on rag first.
• Rinse soap scum with mix of vinegar and water.

Showers and Tubs

• Spray down surfaces with non-toxic cleaner.
• Let sit 5-10 minutes to penetrate grime.
• Scrub with nylon brush then rinse clean.

Disinfecting and Cleaning Bathroom Surfaces

Toilets

• Scrub bowl with toilet brush and disinfectant.
• Wipe exterior surfaces with bathroom cleaner.
• Rinse handle and seat with mixture of vinegar and water.

Counters

• Use all-purpose spray on granite, marble, quartz.
• For laminate and wood, use mild dish soap and water.
• Disinfect sinks with bathroom cleaner or bleach solution.

Doorknobs and Light Switches

• Scrub well with disinfecting wipes or spray cleaner.
• Spot clean walls around switches.
• Dust light fixtures and top of door.

Cleaning Frequency for Bathrooms

• Disinfect surfaces like toilets daily.
• Quick wipe down of counters, mirrors, sinks daily.
• Deep scrub floors, surfaces, tiles, grout weekly.
• Dust light fixtures, baseboards, trim monthly.
• Wash walls, touch up caulking annually.

Cleaning the Kitchen

Kitchens require frequent cleaning to keep grease, food, and bacteria under control. Set an aggressive schedule to keep this high use area sparkling.

Cleaning Countertops, Cabinets, and Appliances

• Clear surfaces completely first.
• Use degreaser on countertops and stovetops.
• Clean inside cabinets with all-purpose spray and rag.
• Wipe down fronts of cabinets and appliances.
• Dishwasher – clean filter monthly, run empty cycle with vinegar.
• Oven – scrub racks, trays, interior with oven cleaner per directions.
• Fridge – wipe interior and exterior. Pull out and clean behind regularly.

Techniques for Cleaning Floors and Walls

• Vacuum small debris before wet cleaning floors.
• For tile, use vinegar/water mix. Grout brush weekly.
• Wood floors – damp mop to remove sticky spots.
• Spot clean painted walls. Disinfect near trash and prep areas.
• Use degreaser on floor near stove.
• Clean baseboards monthly.

Cleaning Frequency for Kitchen Areas

• Clear counters, wipe appliances daily
• Full kitchen clean weekly
• Inside cabinets monthly
• Wash walls, clean baseboards every 2-3 months
• Clean behind fridge every 6 months
• Descale dishwasher, coffeemaker, and sink fixtures as needed

Cleaning the Exterior of Your Home

A spotless interior means little if your home’s exterior looks unkempt. Routinely clean outdoor space and exterior surfaces like windows, doors, and siding.

Tips for Cleaning Windows, Gutters, and Outdoor Surfaces

Windows

• Clean screens seasonally – spray with hose, degreaser, leave to soak, then rinse.
• Spot clean exterior windows as needed with glass cleaner. Do full wash a few times per year.

Gutters

• Remove leaves and debris with gloved hands or small shovel.
• Place gutter guards to prevent future buildup.
• Use shop-vac on dry leaves, then spray gutters clean.

Siding and trim

• Use an extending duster to remove cobwebs and debris between stories.
• Spot clean with mild soap and water.
• For vinyl siding, spray clean and rinse.

Maintaining Landscaping and Outdoor Spaces

• Keep lawn mowed, trimmed, and edged.
• Prune and shape bushes and trees.
• Weed flower beds and garden areas.
• Sweep debris from paths, patios, and driveway.
• Pressure wash surfaces like siding, decks, and driveways periodically.

Cleaning Frequency for Exterior Areas

• Pick up yard debris weekly
• Test gutters for leaks, clean twice per year
• Pressure wash exterior surfaces annually
• Clean outdoor furniture and grill before/after seasons
• Clean windows exterior 2-3 times per year
• Touch up faded exterior paint every 5-10 years

Conclusion

While it takes time and diligence, cleaning your home to a professional standard is achievable. Break down cleaning tasks room by room so they feel manageable. Maintain cleanliness between deep cleans by doing regular maintenance. Set up a schedule and give each space and surface the detailed attention it deserves. Declutter first so cleaning goes quickly and efficiently.

With some organization, efficient methods, and elbow grease, your home can maintain the spotless appearance of a professional clean. Your home will become healthier, happier, and a point of pride. When guests stop by unannounced, you can welcome them into a sparkling space with confidence. Use these comprehensive tips and customized strategies to make your house shine.