While you should clean your home on a regular basis, on occasion, you will need to do a deep cleaning. A deep cleaning differs from regular cleaning in that it requires a much more involved and thorough effort that covers the entire location. While it can be a big job, having a thoroughly cleaned house can do wonders for your health and your state of mind. If you feel that your home is due for a deep cleaning, read on for five tasks that should be part of your cleaning methods.

1. Dispose of Waste

Your house will inevitably collect large amounts of junk you will no longer need. Additionally, thorough cleanings and remodels will generate waste, for example, changing the flooring will require the old flooring to be disposed. Look for a service that provides dumpster rentals so you can have a way of easily disposing of heavy waste.

2. Use a Pressure Washer

Cleaning the outside of your house is just as important as cleaning the inside. A pressure washer can help clean your house’s exterior as well as the sidewalks and driveway. The tool allows you to use a strong burst of water to remove any heavy dirt and grime that may have accumulated outside your house.

When using a pressure washer, be sure to seal any light fixtures or decorative elements outside your house, as the jet of water is very strong and could damage your fixtures. A thorough pressure washing is also good if you plan on adding a new coat of paint afterwards to really give your home a fresh new look.

3. Clean Your Appliances

One aspect of tackling a major household cleaning is to ensure all of your kitchen appliances are clean. Be sure to thoroughly clean handles on your appliances, as those surfaces get the most hands on them and accumulate large quantities of bacteria. If your appliances have a stainless steel exterior, use a special cleaning spray for them and dry them with a microfiber cloth, as using soap and water on these surfaces can lead to stains.

When cleaning the inside of your refrigerator and freezer, remove any food or condiment containers that have been there for a long time. If you can remove any shelves, do so in order to wash them clean with soap and water more easily. Similarly, if your microwave has a removable plate, take it out of the unit and wash it thoroughly before returning it to its position.

4. Remove Dust

Doing a quick swipe with a microfiber cloth on a regular basis can remove dust from surfaces easily. However, a thorough cleaning of your house requires more involved methods of dust removal. You can use cleaning spray to more thoroughly tackle dust. There are also many fixtures in your house that you may not often think about that can easily gather dust. These include light fixtures, door frames, and ceiling fans. For the fixtures high up on the ceiling, use a tool with an extendable handle.

5. Handle the Floors

Removing dirt from your floors can differ depending on the type of flooring. If you have carpet flooring, a thorough shampooing of the floors may be necessary, as sometimes dust and dirt accumulates deep down in the carpet fibers that can’t be removed in a simple vacuuming. Wood and tile floors can be more easily scrubbed. If your home has had the same flooring for many years, consider getting the floors replaced altogether.

A deep cleaning of your home may be difficult, but on occasion, it can be necessary to do in addition to your routine cleanings. Large quantities of dust and dirt can accumulate in places you might easily forget about, so doing thorough cleanings of your home is essential to staying healthy. A deep cleaning is also necessary if you plan on selling your house, so that your home is presentable for future residents. If the task is too daunting or time-consuming for you to do alone, you can get the help of other people or hire a cleaning crew to assist you on the tougher jobs.