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Having a clean home is rewarding and worthwhile. Are you new to a home and looking to get it in tip-top shape? Or are you ready to do a big deep clean of a cluttered space? There are so many methods out there for how to clean your house, and each person and home is unique in their needs. Whatever your situation, we have you covered.
While cleaning your house from top to bottom requires hard work and dedication, you’ll be so happy you made the jump when all is said and done. There are methods of house cleaning that can make things easier on you and your family while also making your house consistently cleaner over time.
Here’s how you can clean your house from top to bottom.
One of the fastest ways to clean your house top to bottom is to use the 20/10 rule. You may not have heard of the 20/10 rule, but you may have used it a time or two before without even realizing it.
The 20/10 rule is about cleaning for 20 minutes followed by a 10-minute break to rest or do something else, then repeating that process until your whole home is clean. While you don’t need to use the exact time frame offered, it can be a good jumping-off point to get your cleaning done.
Moreover, while this rule works well for decluttering, it can also work for deeper cleaning tasks too. Even if you don’t stick to this rule exactly, the concept can sometimes help you create a system for cleaning your home.
On one hand, people like to clean “marathon-style” by attacking task after task all day long until they’re tired and worn out. However, the 20/10 rule offers a slightly different approach — one that works to keep momentum going so you can finish tasks easier and more efficiently.
When it comes to the deep-cleaning aspect, it makes sense to go room by room. Specifically, going from top to bottom and left to right in any room can help put you on track to finish every task efficiently.
When you’re going room by room, there are definitely a few steps you need to pay attention to in each one to get a full, deep clean. Here’s what you need to do.
Here are the steps you need to clean your kitchen:
Here are the steps you need to clean your bathroom:
More articles on bathroom cleaning techniques:
Here are all the steps you need to clean your bedroom:
When it comes to your living room, you’ll likely follow many of the same rules as the bedroom. In addition, here are a few more steps you can take to clean up the space:
Suppose you’ve successfully gotten your house clean. What about helping it stay clean long-term? Even if you don’t mind the deep-cleaning process, you probably don’t want to keep cleaning and re-cleaning your home all the time.
Luckily, there are ways to stay on top of your cleaning regimen. Here are some of the best ways to keep your home consistently clean.
One thing you’ve likely noticed in many of these lists is the emphasis on decluttering. This is not only true for keeping things neat and tidy on the surface, but also to prevent dust and other buildup in the many rooms of your house.
With that being said, you can keep your space tidy by consistently decluttering. By doing so, you can avoid it getting out of hand. Staying organized with tools like drawer dividers and hampers can help you keep up with this.
While doing a big deep-clean every once in a while is a great way to give your home a reset, it can be difficult to find the time to clean everything so intensively.
That’s why cleaning as you go can make things much easier. Doing one room at a time can help you keep up with your cleaning so you can have a tidy house all the time.
One of the beauties of cleaning as you go is that you can devote focus where focus is needed. Obviously, certain areas of your home will need more attention than others. Additionally, when you clean as you go, you can spend a bit more time on your high-traffic areas and return to them as frequently as you need to.
| Room | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Kitchen | ☐ Declutter countertops ☐ Wash & put away dishes ☐ Clean stove & oven ☐ Clean small appliances ☐ Clean appliance exteriors ☐ Deep-clean sink ☐ Wipe countertops ☐ Sweep & mop floors ☐ Take out trash |
| Bathroom | ☐ Declutter countertops & shower ☐ Clean sink & countertops ☐ Clean toilet ☐ Clean bathtub, shower & grout ☐ Mop floors |
| Bedroom | ☐ Declutter thoroughly ☐ Take out trash ☐ Do laundry ☐ Put away clean clothes ☐ Strip & make bed ☐ Dust surfaces, fixtures & fans ☐ Wipe windows & mirrors ☐ Clean floors |
| Living Room | ☐ Dust & wipe entertainment systems ☐ Clean couch & soft furniture ☐ Fluff pillows & wash blankets ☐ Collect cups & plates |
| Long-Term Maintenance | ☐ Declutter regularly ☐ Clean as you go ☐ Focus on high-traffic areas |
All in all, when it comes to cleaning your home, it can sometimes feel like an overwhelming process. But no matter where you get started, you can create the clean, tidy, and positive environment that you need your home to be. What’s your favorite thing to clean in your home?
Original Publish Date 4/12/2021 – Updated 1/23/2026.
