How to Deep Clean your Foyer
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The foyer is the first place most of your guests will see when they enter your home. It is also the place where backpacks, lunch boxes, shoes and work bags pile up.
Have a designated place for everyone to put their school and work belongings. Not only will they be out of the way, you’ll always know where they are. In addition, make sure there’s room in your hallway closet or mud room/laundry room for everyone to hang-up their coat and keep their shoes. We use a plastic mat in our laundry room and next to our back door to keep shoes. This prevents dirt and germs from being spread throughout the house and helps to preserve the carpet.
Now that you have a place for everyone’s belongings, let’s start the cleaning. But before we get into specifics, let’s discuss what it means to “deep clean.”
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What is Deep Cleaning?
The term “deep cleaning” is used to describe cleaning that goes beyond what is normally done during a regular weekly cleaning. I use the term deep cleaning and spring cleaning interchangeably as I see no difference between the two. However, this depends on who you ask.
Deep cleaning takes place once every six months compared to regular cleaning that takes place once a week or even once a month. Deep cleaning involves ridding of dirt and dust that has collected over the course of six months in places not normally cleaned, such as the top of the cabinets or behind appliances.
I do not include any cleaning behind appliances because I am not a fan of moving large items connected to gas or water lines for obvious reasons. However, there are plenty of other deep cleaning chores that are included that are not part of a regular daily, weekly or even monthly cleaning regimen.
Now that we’ve covered what deep cleaning means, let’s get started.
Dust the Ceiling & Walls
All of my spring cleaning posts start here. It’s simply the best way to prevent unnecessary work since the dirt and dust settles on the furniture and flooring below. I’m all about keeping a clean house but I really don’t want to do anything twice.
Begin by dusting around the room where the ceiling and the wall meet. Pay attention to the corners of the room, this is where dust tags tend to form. Work from left to right to avoid cleaning areas you’ve already cleaned (this works well if you tend to get distracted during your cleaning).
I use a long-handled Swiffer to reach up high and work my way down the wall. Be sure to give those air vents on the wall a thorough dusting while you have the Swiffer.
Lighting
Time to take down any overhead lighting globes and wash them with soap and water. Dry thoroughly before putting back in place. Depending on your type of lighting, you may need to dust the inside of the lights and/or wipe them down with glass cleaner.
Disinfect light switches and wipe down lamps with a microfiber dusting cloth. Use a lint roller to dust lamp shades.
Dust Furniture
Dust any furniture in your foyer such as a sofa table or bench seat in addition to any decorative items. This is a good time to rotate seasonal decorations or simplify the tops of your furniture by storing away some items. You may also want to consider donating those trinkets you no longer need.
Doors
Wipe down door knobs and light switches with sanitizing wipes to reduce the likelihood of spreading germs. In addition, wipe down the doors to remove dirt and grime. If you have white doors, I suggest using glass cleaner to clean the doors. If you have oak, cherry, walnut or other type of wood, I suggest using a wood cleaner such as Murphy’s Oil Soap or Dutch Glow Amish Wood Milk.
Wipe down your front door with glass cleaner and give it a good cleaning. At our house, dog nose prints and hand-prints riddle the front door. They are reminders of our busy life and they make me smile because I know who put them there. I do prefer however that our front door make a better impression than one covered in smudges.
Windows & Window Treatments
If you have windows in your bathroom, begin by using window cleaner to clean off any smudges and fingerprints. Make sure to wipe down both the top and bottom of the windows. Open the window and clean the track. I do this by spraying the track and wiping it down with a paper towel. If the dirt inside the track is hard to reach, try placing a butter knife inside an old washcloth and using it to reach tight spaces.
The method used to clean your window treatments will vary according to what you have. I currently have Roman shades in my kitchen and I am unable to take them down to wash them. Instead, I spot clean them with a damp cloth and mild soap and use a lint roller to rid of dust.
In other parts of my house, I have plantation shutters that I use a microfiber dust cloth to clean. If you don’t have microfiber cloths, I have found that Swiffer dusters work great as do dry Swiffer cloths. They both trap the dust and prevent it from spreading everywhere. Another trick is to wrap a microfiber cloth around a set of tongs. They move easily through the slats. You can also use these cleaning tips to get rid of dust on blinds.
Baseboards & Floors
For baseboards, begin by spraying them down with your favorite cleaner and wiping them with a cloth. You can use a Swiffer duster if you choose, I prefer to spray them because it works better to remove dirt. Dry dusting your baseboards is a good option though if you’re short on time.
Wash floor rugs on hot and vacuum or mop the floor.
Thank you for stopping by! I hope that you find this post helpful as you prepare to deep clean your house. For other rooms in your house, click on the following links to learn how to deep clean your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room and dining room.
Please feel free to leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you!
Happy Cleaning!
