Giving your house or flat a deep clean will probably be too much work if you try to do it all in one go. Cleaning after some proper thought and preparation will make your life so much easier – especially considering you may want to take your time and clean in stages.
Plus, if you can get away with getting your flatmates involved, that’s even better! Sharing the workload will make it more fun and time’s more likely to fly by. Whether you’re with friends or alone, stick on your favourite playlist and sweep, mop and dust away!
Don’t dive head first into the cleaning just yet. Making sure you’ve got the right equipment and products will save you future trips to the shops when you realise you’ve got the dustpan but not the brush.
Starting out with the following should have you covered for the full cleaning sesh: washing-up liquid, sponges and a scourer, oven cleaner, bleach, a microfibre cloth, a dustpan and brush, a vacuum cleaner, a mop and bucket, multi-purpose cleaner, and window and glass cleaner.
If you haven’t already packed away your belongings, start by hanging up clean clothes and putting a wash on – including bedding and towels – and then tidy away any surface items.
Wipe down your desk, side tables, shelves and inside your wardrobe, then move onto cleaning your windows – including the frame and windowsill. Lastly, vacuum your floor, moving furniture out of the way when necessary. Don’t forget under your bed, under your desk and right in front of your door.
Start your kitchen deep-clean by washing up, then remove any remaining cabinet items so you can wipe down the shelves inside. Once done, tidy away any odd items on countertops and move onto cleaning your kitchen appliances, aka the oven, stove top and microwave.
Now, it’s time for the fridge and freezer. Throw away any old food and wipe down the shelves – not forgetting the side compartments! Move onto cleaning the windows and windowsills, and then the countertops and sink. Finally, sweep and mop the floor until it’s looking good as new.
It’s probably a good idea to start with your shower, as that’s going to take the longest. Spray it down and scrub the walls and shower floor – not forgetting the shower head and hose – and then chuck any remaining towels, the shower mat, flannels and shower curtain into the wash.
Moving on to one of the least glamorous jobs – the toilet. Bleach is your best friend for this one! Then, you’ll need to give the sink a thorough clean, and use your window and glass cleaner on the shower, mirror and windows. And finally – you must know the drill by now – sweep and mop the floor.
Decluttering is probably the biggest job in these areas. Figuring out who owns what and moving it back into bedrooms – or suitcases – is the first and most important task here. Once you’ve got clear space to work with, it should be simple.
At this point, you’ll know the routine like clockwork. Put any cushion covers, blankets, doormats etc. in the wash, clean the windows and windowsills, and wipe down any surfaces – including lamps, TV stands and tables. Lastly, time to mop wooden floors and vacuum any carpets.
And, if those bin bags we mentioned earlier were dropped temporarily in the hallway, let this serve as your reminder to take them all the way outside!
Our final words of wisdom:
- Double-check that the cupboards, fridge and freezer are empty.
- Remove Blu Tack and sticky tape left behind from photos, posters and fairy lights from walls.
- Empty the vacuum and throw away the mop when you’re done.
- Spray some air freshener and crack open a window.
We’re really proud of our properties – and the place you’ve once called, or will soon call, home – and we want to do what we can to help you keep your flats looking spick and span. If you need any advice, check out our looking after your home page, where we’ve answered some FAQs so you can understand our expectations from tenants, plus the support we offer. In short, we all have to do our bit to keep properties and flats clean and tidy!
Looking for accommodation this summer? Our student rooms are affordable and in great city centre locations – including London, Manchester, Salford and Dundee. Whether you’re looking to book for yourself or a group, you can find out more about the summer accommodation we have available online