Follow me on a strategic cleaning process

Well, well. It is that time of the year. Yes! You guessed it right – Deep Cleaning. Now, this can be a one-week process of seasonal/occasional/enlightenment cleaning. Enlightenment cleaning (Innovative term: I say!) is when you know you have gone too far in getting your home into a messy affair. “Uh, been there, done that.” Whatever be the reason, where one has to clean through every nook and corner, the below will set you in the right direction. By far, I am guessing this is a common approach. Nevertheless, penning this for that favorite statement: Look at all this mess! Where do I start?

So…, let’s begin, oh wait! Before you start, ensure your favorite playlist is on. Perfect!

1. Start from the ceiling downwards: don’t forget gravity. Tackle the cobwebs first. Poor spiders, I feel sorry for them but can’t help. Cover all the corners in the room. Then check for places where there is a possibility to find them. But remember the golden rule; begin working from up and make your way down.
2. Clean fans, AC, Chandeliers, high wall-mounted lights, or photo frames. If you can take them down, good! or else wipe clean as it is. I recommend using a damp cloth, as it captures the majority of the dust. It is like: let me get done with you once and for all. 
3. Remove curtains and toss them off for the laundry. Again use a moist wipe approach for the doors/windows/bars. First, wipe clean the curtain rods and frames. I dread window cleaning, with so many corners and hard-to-reach edges. But you really cannot ignore them. In comparison, doors are easy to clean. 
4. Then comes any shelving, cabinets, clocks, or wall décors. For shelving: first, remove everything from them. Second, wipe clean the shelves, wipe clean all the items, and finally, replace them. 
5. Wipe down the appliances and their cords. Remember to switch off the appliances while cleaning.  
6. Remove all the décor on the furniture, clean dust off them. Remove cushion covers, furniture cover. Wipe clean all the furniture and storage in them. 
7. Wipe clean any floor lamps and plant pots in your space. As much as you can, move the plants outdoor to the balcony for some bright light. Now would be the best time to do so.  
8. Vacuum clean the rugs and fixed sofa cushions. Remove the clean the floor rug and keep it aside.
9. Finally, sweep/vacuum clean the floor to remove dust and then mob the floor. 
10. Replace curtains, covers, and the décor.

I call it the three eye-level cleaning strategy; forgive me if anyone has called it so before. First, clean everything that is above your eye level. Then everything that comes in your eye level, and finally everything that is below your eye level. This way, you remember where to start and what comes next. Towards the end of the process, you would have touched it all. Following this approach also ensures it is a one-touch clean. Incorporate for toilets deep cleaning as well. 

Every time a week-long cleaning schedule is planed at my end, I fix a specific amount of time. Once done with that set time, I would have the floor swept clean. Ensuring the dust; I have gathered for that day gets eliminated from that space. Finally, towards the end of the schedule, I mob. It’s wise to have the rug cleaned and kept aside till the cleaning process is over. I never ask myself where do I start, and you should not either.