It could be seasonal change, family coming to visit or the end of the school holidays – whatever the reason, your house needs a deep cleaning! Here are some tips to make it easier.

What is a deep clean?

Day-to-day cleaning is about surfaces: dusting, vacuuming and giving countertops a wipe, but a deep clean means getting underneath things. Lifting objects to dust and clean the furniture under them, and moving items to dust and mop in the corners is all part of a thorough clean. Do this every few months to keep your home healthy and in good shape.

Practical tips to keep it simple

• Get all the cleaning products and tools you’ll need together before you start. Running out of furniture polish halfway through or not having enough paper towels to finish shining the shower door is just annoying.
• Plan the job room by room – clean from top to bottom and finish one room before starting the next.
• Turn off your computer and your phone – distractions just make the job last longer!
• Get the family involved. Give the kids chores that they can handle and make it fun – think of a small reward for doing a good job!
• Keep a refuse bag with you to throw out any clutter as you go: old magazines or newspapers, broken toys, plastic containers or lids without partners and clothes have outlived their use. Donate what you can and throw out the rest.
• Don’t forget to vacuum cloth upholstery and under the cushions. This is also a good time to clean and condition leather upholstery.
• To clean skirting boards: dampen a clean absorbent cloth in a soapy solution, wring it as dry as possible and wipe along the top and sides. This way you get clean boards that also dry quickly.
• Before vacuuming your carpets, sprinkle baking soda on them and let it stand for about 30 minutes before vacuuming it up. The soda absorbs odours without giving off the chemicals that you may find in carpet deoderisors.

Make a regular date with deep domestic cleaning services and you’ll keep your house looking and feeling new.