Cleaning Strategy Week 3: Clean Deeper

Let's go back to the same rooms we tackled last week, but focus on deep cleaning. If the weather's fine, throw open the windows in each room as you clean it; a whole winter of heated and treated air can feel stale, no matter how clean your house is.

Clean one room at a time; try to do one a day this week, then go to one a week as a habit after that. Each room should take you no more than 20 to 30 minutes. Once you've developed your daily routine, your weekly routines will take even less time. The clean accumulates!

Customize Your Routine

Remember, you will need to alter your routine so it works for you. "Your home doesn't have to be as clean as your mom's home is," says Linda Cobb, the Queen of Clean®. "If you let the papers sit for a couple of days, it's not going to kill anybody." For instance, you may want to vacuum more often if you have a baby eating teething biscuits in your family room. Or, you may only need to deep clean the bathroom every other week, especially if there are only two of you.

There's only one set rule: Do what you can.

Let's break down the rooms and get to cleaning!

Deep Clean the Kitchen

• Clean countertops, front of cabinets, and daily-use appliances.
• Clean pet bowls.
• Wipe garbage can with disinfectant.
• Clean and polish stove top.
• Sweep, then wet mop your floor.

Deep Clean the Family Room

• Wipe television and coffee table with microfiber dust cloth.
• Dust picture frames, mantle, lamps, media equipment, books.
• Wipe phone and computer keyboard or remotes.
• Clean off grimy baby toys.
• Vacuum rug and furniture (if you have a toddler, you might want to vacuum more).

Deep Clean the Bedroom

• Put new sheets on the bed and launder the old. Hang the washed sheets to dry in the sun if you can—a great energy saver and they smell wonderful.
• Dust dressers, jewelry box, lamps, and lamp shades (ceiling fan too, if you have one).
• Check for cobwebs.
• Vacuum or dust bedroom floor with dry mop.

Deep Clean the Baby's Room

• Disinfect baby's changing area (try castile soap or borax solutions).
• Wipe off dirty diaper bin.
• Wash and change crib sheets. Again, hanging sheets out to dry saves energy and can prolong the life of sheets. Skip this practice on a high pollen-count day.
• Dust or wipe crib, baby books, toys.
• Vacuum or dust bedroom floor with dry mop.

Deep Clean the Bathroom

• Scrub your shower and tub, and launder shower curtains. (Consider replacing vinyl curtains with cloth as they are likely to contain phthalates.)
• Empty trash.
• Spray tiles with grout or tile cleaner. Vinegar diluted in water, a paste of baking soda and water, or a mixture of lemon juice and borax can all serve this purpose.
• Disinfect the light switches, bathroom sink, and toilet handle. If you have young boys who are potty trained, or are in training, keep an extra keen eye on the area in front of the toilet.
• Clean mirror.
• Sweep and wet mop your floor.