Is your home feeling stale and icky right now? A clean home is great, but we often put off deep cleaning tasks until they become overwhelming. If this sounds familiar, this 30-day deep cleaning challenge will become your new best friend for getting your home spotless again!
With just a few minutes each day, you can give your home the ultimate Spring clean (even if it’s not Spring) and you will have a home you are proud of. Plus I have a free printable 30-day deep clean challenge calendar for you too.
Why Deep Cleaning Your Home is Important
Regular cleaning tasks such as dusting, vacuuming and wiping down surfaces are necessary to maintain a presentable home, but they only scratch the surface.
Deep cleaning involves tackling those areas that often get neglected or those embarrassing areas that we stop noticing because we see them every single day. But our guests see them…
Regular deep cleaning of your home is important for your health. It removes dust, allergens, bacteria and other nasty things that can impact your family’s health.
Deep cleaning also helps to prolong the life of your home’s furnishings and appliances by removing built-up dirt and grime that can cause damage over time. And possibly the most underrated reason, it makes your home a more enjoyable space to live in.
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30-Day Deep Cleaning Challenge
No one loves cleaning, so let’s make it fun! Well, sort of fun. Adding a challenge is always a great way to boost motivation and this 30-day cleaning challenge is designed to do exactly that. Motivate you!
The idea is simple: each day for the next month, tackle one deep cleaning task within your home. I have compiled a list of 30 deep cleaning tasks to tackle each day for the next month. Feel free to adjust the order to fit your schedule or skip a day if needed. The important thing is to stay committed and not give up!
And if you skip a day or two, don’t let that halt your progress. Get back into it ASAP. It doesn’t matter if it takes you 35 days instead.
Make sure you don’t forget to clean any of these places. Some of them are easily overlooked and can get very cringe-worthy over time!
Day 1: Refrigerator
Start the challenge by purging your fridge of expired and wilted food items. Take everything out, wipe down the shelves and drawers with a mild detergent. If your fridge is extra stinky, use a solution of water and white vinegar to eliminate odours.
Make sure you dry everything thoroughly before putting your shelves and racks back into the fridge. Extra moisture is not good for keeping your food fresh.
Then put all your food and condiments back into the refrigerator. You will find tips here on how to organise a refrigerator to help keep your food fresh longer and avoid contamination.
Day 2: Oven & Stovetop
The oven is one of most people’s most dreaded household chores, but I guarantee if you do this often, it’s far less daunting. Don’t worry if it has been a while though, as these oven cleaning hacks will help you remove any really persistent build-up from your oven racks and trays. With a stove degreaser, tackle the cooked-on residue.
Start by removing your oven racks and shelves and applying a cleaning product to soak if needed. While you do this, work on cleaning your racks, giving time for the product to activate.
If it’s really bad, leave it for a couple of hours, then scrub away the grime for a sparkly clean oven—perfect for baking that celebratory cake later this month.
If you can remove the glass from your door, this makes it easier to clean. Just be very careful!
Spray and wipe down your stovetop, using a degreaser for those stubborn oily spots. Don’t forget to clean around the knobs and dials as well, as this is often an area that collects dust and food particles. They can get so sticky and icky!
And lastly, don’t forget to do your backsplash as well.
Day 3: Dishwasher, Sinks & Drains
A dirty dishwasher can lead to smelly dishes, not to mention less effective cleaning. Remove the racks, clean the filters, and use a dishwasher-safe cleaning product or vinegar and baking soda during a hot wash cycle.
Pour a drain cleaner down all the drains in your home. I typically use a generous amount of baking soda followed by white vinegar down my drains, for a natural cleaning solution.
This is great for regular maintenance of fresh drains, but if you’ve got issues with clogged drains, a heavy-duty chemical drain cleaner might be needed. Leave the drains for at least half an hour before you come back and clean down your sinks.
If you have a garbage disposal, grind ice cubes with some baking soda to clean and freshen.
My favourite sink cleaner is The Pink Stuff Cream Cleanser.
Day 4: Freezer
When did you last defrost and empty out your freezer? If it has been a while, you might find some mystery frozen items at the bottom… and a few peas!
Unplug your freezer, remove the contents and let it defrost. Remove all the ice and crud from the bottom, then wipe down the inside with warm water. If you need a little something extra, vinegar or a small amount of dishwashing soap are safe options. Dry inside the freezer before turning it back on.
Wipe down the outside of your freezer too.
Day 5: Pantry
Remove everything from your pantry and throw away anything expired, that has weevils or has gone bad. Also, throw away or consider donating anything you won’t be eating.
Wipe down shelves, pantry walls and doors. Put back all your food, organised by food type.
You will find some great pantry organisation ideas here.
Day 6: Microwave & Small Appliances
Follow this step-by-step tutorial to clean your microwave using natural ingredients from your pantry. Wipe down the outside too.
Clean your other small appliances. Wipe down the outside of each of these appliances, descale your kettle, remove the crumb tray from your toaster and clean any other appliances you have in your kitchen.
Day 7: Cabinets & Kitchen Surfaces
Today your task is to deep clean all the surfaces in your kitchen. This includes bench tops, cabinet doors, inside shelves, handles, etc.
This also includes the top of any hard-to-reach shelves and ledges too. These can get that awful sticky dust feeling over time so use an all-purpose cleaner or a homemade vinegar, dishwashing liquid and water mixture in a spray bottle.
If you’re feeling extra motivated, empty the contents of your drawers and clean these out too. The top drawer that typically holds the cutlery is often full of crumbs.
Day 8: Washing Machine & Dryer
It’s time to clean your washing machine and dryer. Wipe down the inside of your washing machine, including inside the rubber seals where it can be especially gross.
Clean out the filter of your washing machine by opening the small door (usually at the front bottom of a front loader washing machine). When you pull the cap off, you will typically get a lot of gunky water come out so have a shallow tray or old towel beneath it to catch the water. Pull out anything stuck in the filter and give it a good rinse and scrub.
Run your washing machine on the hottest cycle using a washing machine cleaner. You can use vinegar as it has great antibacterial properties. If it’s really bad, some people prefer to use bleach or a specific washing machine cleaner. I prefer natural where I can.
Clean out the lint trap and filter of your dryer. This should be done regularly as it can be a serious fire hazard!
Also, wipe down the outside of both appliances, including the inside of the door.
Day 9: Under The Sinks
Under the sinks of each of your bathrooms and laundry can end up a bit of a mess.
Start by pulling everything out from under the sink, throwing away anything that is expired or you no longer use.
Use an all-purpose cleaner to wipe down the inside and outside of the cabinet doors. This will help get rid of any dirt or grime that has built up over time. Clean the shelves and bottom of your under-the-sink area and check to make sure there have not been any leaks from your pipes.
Take this opportunity to organize your cleaning supplies or toiletries. Use baskets or bins to help separate different products and make it easier to find what you need.
Day 10: Garbage Cans
Even the cleanest-looking garbage cans can harbour unseen germs. Take them outside, spray them with a hose, and scrub them with a strong cleaner or dishwashing liquid. Allow them to dry thoroughly before bringing them back inside.
Ideally, I like to do this task on a sunny day, letting the UV rays help kill any lingering bacteria. It also helps them dry faster! But we can’t plan the weather, so use an old towel if needed.
Day 11: Bedding and Linen
Your bedding should be laundered at least every one to two weeks, but for this deep clean, it’s worthwhile going beyond your typical laundry day routine and cleaning the household linens you don’t often clean.
This can include cleaning pillows, comforters, cushions, rugs, and throw blankets. Also, any mattress toppers or protectors and pillow protectors that are wash-safe.
Always follow the care instructions on the labels, or take them to a professional cleaner for a deep clean. Especially if you don’t have a machine large enough for some of these items.
While your linens are in the wash, take some time to dust and vacuum your bedrooms thoroughly, including the mattresses. This will help reduce allergens and improve air quality while you sleep.
If you have stains on your mattresses, do a spot clean with a solution of baking soda and water and leave until dry.
Day 12: Under Beds
Pull out everything from beneath all the beds in the house. Throw away rubbish, declutter things you no longer need and give them a thorough vacuum or mop.
Day 13: Showers
Today is all about getting those showers sparkling. Start by spraying a bathroom cleaner on your shower surfaces. If you have glass shower doors, you may need two different types to focus on the different areas. Leave these to soak for at least 20 minutes.
While your showers are soaking, add a mixture of bicarb and vinegar to a zip-lock bag and tie this around each of your shower heads. You can also do this to taps if needed. Leave this for at least an hour to descale your shower heads – better still, if you can leave this overnight. Then run hot water and scrub it.
Scrub the shower surfaces with a non-scratch sponge or brush. Grout can be one of the toughest areas to clean. Use a grout cleaner or a paste of baking soda and water.
A toothbrush or grout brush is ideal for reaching into the tight spaces and thoroughly scrubbing the grime away. I have a battery-operated grout cleaner that makes this job much easier!
Rinse thoroughly with warm water and dry with a clean towel.
Day 14: Toilets & Tubs
Spray bathroom cleaner all over your tub and allow it to soak. Apply toilet cleaner into the bowl and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before scrubbing clean.
If your toilet bowl is especially dirty or full of stubborn stains, my favourite toilet cleaning hack is adding a generous amount of citric acid and leaving it to soak for an hour. You can find this in the baking section of the grocery store.
While these are soaking, spray the outside of your toilet with an all-purpose cleaner and wipe down with a microfiber cloth or disposable paper towel. Also wipe down your toilet roll holder.
Soak your toilet brush in a bucket of hot water with vinegar or bleach for half an hour. Allow to dry. Even our cleaning tools need cleaning!
Scrub your tub surfaces with a non-scratch sponge or brush, focusing on any areas with soap scum or grime build-up.
Use a grout brush to scrub any mouldy grout, following similar strategies to yesterday’s shower task.
Rinse your tub and dry it with an old towel.
Day 15: Mirrors & Surfaces
For mirrors, a vinegar and water solution or a glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth will give you streak-free results. Pay special attention to bathroom and hallway mirrors that get the most traffic and, therefore, the most smudges.
While you’re at it, use the same cleaner and cloth to wipe down any surfaces in your bathroom, including countertops, shelves, and cabinets. This will remove any dust or grime that has accumulated over time.
Day 16: Furniture & Upholstery
For wood furniture, choose a cleaner that corresponds to the finish (varnish, oil, or paint). Polish with a clean cloth in the direction of the grain. Consider using a wax for finer wood finishes.
For fabric furniture, use an upholstery cleaner or a mix of dish soap and warm water. Always do a spot test before using anything on your upholstery to make sure it doesn’t bleach the fabric.
Wipe down any other hard furniture surfaces.
Day 17: Toys
Your children’s toys are often put in their mouths and can harbour germs. Or for older kids, they simply get grubby from so much love!
Wash toys such as LEGO or building blocks, plastic toys and figurines in a bucket or sink with soapy water. Allow to dry.
Stuffed animals can be cleaned according to their care labels. If they are looking a little fragile, spot clean them rather than risk a cycle in the washing machine. This is a good day to do any repairs too, like stitching up torn seams or sewing eyes back on.
Day 18: Hair Brushes & Accessories
Your hair brushes, combs, and accessories can gather a lot of dirt, oil, and product buildup. To clean them, fill a sink with warm soapy water. Soak your brushes and combs for an hour before rinsing them off with clean water and removing any excess hair and build up.
For hair accessories like hair ties, fabric headbands and scrunchies, soak them in warm water with a small amount of washing powder to remove any oil and dirt. Rinse them off and allow to air dry.
You can also clean your make up brushes today by giving them a soak and allowing them to naturally dry.
Day 19: Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans
These often-overlooked items can accumulate significant dust. Use an extendable duster or a ladder and a cloth to clean chandeliers, light fixtures, and ceiling fan blades.
Be very careful not to accidentally knock glass light fixtures or bulbs as you’re cleaning, since that’s a smashed disaster you don’t want to deal with.
For a great ceiling fan hack, use an old pillow case and cover a dusty ceiling fan blade, sliding the dust off with it. Shake the dust outside and repeat for each blade. This way you’re not just dumping all the dust on your floor.
Today is also a good day to do lampshades and pedestal fan cleaning too.
Day 20: Electronics
Ensure that screens are off and devices are unplugged. Use specialized electronics cleaning wipes or a microfiber cloth to clean each of your electronics.
For keyboards, turn them upside down and gently tap or use compressed air to dislodge any debris, followed by a careful wipe-down.
Today’s task includes devices such as phones, computers, tablets, televisions, stereos, smart home devices, digital clocks and instruments.
Day 21: Pet Bedding & Pet Areas
For your furry friends, their bedding can be a home for pests, odours, and allergens. Use the appropriate pet-friendly detergents and, if possible, allow the bedding to dry in the sun for natural sanitisation.
Scrub bowls, food containers, toys, brushes, and any other items with hot water and a pet-safe disinfectant. Vacuum or sweep up any hair or debris in your pet’s designated areas.
Day 22: Garage
Deep cleaning the garage might sound like one of the most daunting tasks on this list, but it really depends on your priority in this area. Of course, it’s much easier to clean a decluttered garage, but this isn’t a decluttering challenge!
Instead, Sweep or hose down the garage floors to remove debris, throw away any obvious trash, use a broom to remove cobwebs and give any easy-to-reach surfaces a dust.
If you have a doormat in your garage, give this a clean if needed.
Day 23: Patio & Outdoor Furniture
If you are doing this as 30 day Spring cleaning challenge, getting your outdoor areas in good shape will be high priority for warmer days spent outdoors.
Move everything off your patio or balcony areas and give it a hose. If your surfaces are really dirty, consider using a pressure cleaner to really deep clean them. We like to do this every 6 months or so and it’s so satisfying watching the patio tiles go back to their brighter colour without the layer of dirt.
Wipe down all surfaces of your outdoor furniture with a mild detergent and warm water. If necessary, give them a good scrub with a sponge or soft-bristled brush.
Don’t forget to clean any cushions or fabric covers according to their care instructions.
Give the area a tidy up and throw away or declutter anything no longer needed before putting the rest back in place.
24: Windows
This is one of my least favourite days of the 30-day cleaning challenge! But it’s a satisfying one when it’s done. Clean windows not only let more natural light into your home, but they also give the impression of a cleaner space.
Use a glass cleaner to clean both the indoor and outdoor surfaces of your windows. If you don’t have glass cleaner, a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar will also do the trick.
For hard-to-reach windows, consider using a squeegee for easier cleaning. We also take our windows off the tracks to allow for easier cleaning so if you can do this, it can be a great way of getting into all the hard-to-reach areas.
I have a glass vacuum which is one of my favourite ever cleaning purchases for getting the windows really clean and streak-free! It also works in the shower. Or finish your window clean with a glass cleaning cloth for a great streak-free finish.
Clean your window sills and tracks, as these can accumulate dirt and debris over time… and bugs! Use a toothbrush or similar to get into smaller crevices.
Day 25: Curtains and Blinds
Curtains can hold on to dust and odours, especially in kitchens, so it’s important to launder them every so often.
For cleaning blinds, use a duster or a cloth dampened with a warm water or a suitable cleaning solution. You can also remove them and place them in a bathtub to soak and then rinse.
If you have a shower curtain and did not clean this during your shower clean, today’s the day for that too!
Day 26: Doors & Door Handles
The entrance to your home is often the first impression, so make sure it’s clean! Clean your front door and any glass panelling with a mild cleaning solution. Clean the handles too – these can harbour germs and bacteria. Wipe them down with an all-purpose cleaner or use a disinfecting wipe for quick and easy cleaning.
For interior doors, wipe down with a damp cloth and a mild cleaning solution. Pay attention to any smudges or marks, especially around door handles.
Don’t forget about your closet doors too. Give them a wipe down to remove any dust or marks.
Day 27: Dust Surfaces, Picture Frames & Decorations
Dusting may seem like a never-ending task, but it’s important to keep surfaces free from dust and allergens. Use a microfiber cloth or duster to remove dust from surfaces such as shelves, tables, and countertops.
Dust any picture frames and decorations around your home. These can often accumulate dust over time, especially in high-traffic areas. Clean ornaments and bookshelves and pot plants (especially artificial pot plants that get really dusty).
Day 28: Clean Walls & Baseboards
Walls, especially near cooking and living areas, can become discoloured with dust, and baseboards tend to gather pet hair and more.
Use a gentle cleaner or simply use a damp microfiber cloth for walls and baseboards. Don’t forget to dry these surfaces thoroughly to avoid any potential damage. This can be a huge job so I often get my kids involved in cleaning the baseboards while I do the walls. This is a great chore for kids.
Day 29: Vacuum and Mop Floors
Combine vacuuming (including the tricky edges and under furniture) with a thorough mopping of hard surfaces throughout your home for a comprehensive clean. Clean under furniture and move things out of your way so you can get to those hard-to-reach areas.
Shake out rugs outside beforehand and give them a vacuum too when you return them to their place.
Day 30: Cleaning Tools
We’ve spent the last 29 days of this cleaning challenge going deep, cleaning your home from top to bottom. Today might seem like an unusual task and it does differ from the free printable challenge, but I think it’s an important one.
Today you’re going to clean your cleaning tools. But what the heck does that mean?
I mean clean out your vacuum cleaner filters and bags. If you have a robot vacuum cleaner, replace the brushes and give it some TLC.
Wash your mop pads, cleaning clothes and scrubbing brushes. Sanitise all your cleaning tools so that they are in top condition for keeping your home really clean!
And that’s it… you’re done!
Free Printable 30-Day Deep Cleaning Challenge
To make the challenge easier to follow along, I’ve created a free printable 30-day cleaning challenge calendar for you to track your daily tasks. You can get this from my free printables library, which is an exclusive gift to my email newsletter subscribers. It’s not the only challenge you will find in there!
But do make sure you save this article for reference too as there are a lot of my favourite cleaning hacks and tips to help you tackle each of your deep cleaning tasks.
At the end of these 30 days, your home will be noticeably fresher and hopefully it feels like a home you love again! A clean home is a healthy home – both physically and mentally! After all, being in an environment that doesn’t feel good can have a huge impact on our mood so consider doing this 30-day deep cleaning challenge at least every year (better still, every 6 months) and it will get easier to maintain!
Want additional deep cleaning tips? Save time with these simple cleaning hacks or use these time-saving habits to cut down your clean time. Expecting guests? Check out this speed cleaning guide to clean your house in 2 hours or less!
Get the whole family involved by adding some fun to your cleaning routine or try one of these cleaning games.
Try one of these challenges next:
