A room-by-room deep clean checklist

Work top to bottom and dry to wet. Dust settles downward, so ceiling fans and shelves come before floors, and dry dusting comes before anything involving water.

Kitchen

Start with the extractor filter soaking in hot soapy water while you do everything else. Degrease the hob, then worktops, then the sink, then the floor.

Bathrooms

Apply descaler to taps and shower screens first and leave it to work while you clean the toilet and basin. Come back to rinse.

Living areas

Dust, then vacuum, then mop. Move what you can safely move — most of the dust in a room lives behind and under furniture.