Cleaning Supplies

• Before embarking on your deep cleaning escapades, be equipped with the proper tools. Gather all necessary cleaning items. A bucket, rubber gloves (to protect your hands from any harsh cleaning agents), a sponge, tile cleaner, floor cleaner, glass cleaner, disinfectant, and small scrubbing instruments such as a toothbrush will complete your cleaning arsenal. Opt to use natural cleaning products whenever possible. This will protect pets and small children -- who might end up crawling or walking on tiled floors that have just been cleaned -- from being exposed to harsh chemicals.
  
  

Declutter

• Get rid of all "junk" that is standing in your way. Decluttering your surroundings can have a positive effect on your overall mood and inspire you to clean. Face it. If you have too much clutter in the way, it will be hard to get to the deep cleaning. Fly Lady (flylady.net) suggests taking 15 minutes a day to declutter. This can actually be fun. Fly Lady suggests taking a garbage bag, walking around your house and placing 27 items that you no longer need into it. Recycle any items that are recyclable.
  
  

Kitchen

• Scrub the top of the stove as well as drip pans and burners. Countertops should be disinfected. Sinks should be cleaned using a metal-safe kitchen cleaner. Using a sponge to clean these items will work better than a washcloth at removing rust. Do not forget to clean the inside and outside of both the microwave and the refrigerator. Needless to say, these jobs can be a bit dirty and will require some time and effort. Sweep and mop the kitchen floor and do not forget the baseboards.
  
  

Bathrooms

• Clean your tub and shower with an appropriate cleaning agent. For example, if you have a white tile tub, a tub and tile cleaner with bleach will be useful. Make sure to clean the tile and grout. This may take a little more time and require great attention to detail. Clean sinks and fixtures. Scrub toilets and sweep and mop floors. Remove any cobwebs from the exhaust fan in the bathroom. Check for cobwebs on the ceiling and in corners of the bathroom. Clean mirrors and disinfect bathroom accessories such as toothbrush holders and soap dishes.
  
  

Living Room and Dining Room

• Clean all light fixtures. If you have a chandelier in your dining room or living room, take care in cleaning each piece. A simple mixture of vinegar and water can be used to gently clean light fixtures. Clean heater vents. This can be done using cotton swabs. Dust all coffee tables. Clean windows from top to bottom. Vacuum all areas to the edge of carpet. Mop tile floors and baseboards.
  
  

Bedroom

• Clean mirrors and disinfect doorknobs. Dust dressers and nightstands. Make sure to vacuum inside closets as well as carpets. Closets can often be overlooked, but pet hair and dust can make their way into closets easily. Clean baseboards. Wash all sheets.