Spring cleaning checklist: a room-by-room deep clean checklist for London homes.

A good deep clean checklist works room by room and top to bottom: clear the clutter, dust high surfaces first, clean appliances and cupboards inside, descale the bathroom, then finish with skirting, under the furniture and the floors. The full checklist is below. If you would rather hand it over, a Hausio deep clean costs £45 per hour per cleaner with a 5-hour minimum (£225), and a 2-bed flat usually takes 5–7 cleaner-hours.

How to use this spring cleaning checklist

• Declutter first. You cannot clean inside a cupboard or under a bed that is full. Bag up donations and rubbish before you start.
• Top to bottom. Dust light fittings, the tops of wardrobes and door frames before you wipe surfaces, and do floors last.
• Dry before wet. Vacuum or dust before you wipe, or you will be pushing wet dust around.
• One room at a time. Finish a room before moving on, so a half-done flat does not stall on day two.
• Read the labels. Never mix bleach with other cleaning products, open a window when you use descaler or degreaser, and test anything new on a hidden patch first.

Kitchen deep clean checklist

• Empty the fridge and freezer, defrost if needed, wash shelves and drawers, and wipe the door seals.
• Clean inside the oven, the racks and the glass door; soak the racks in hot water and bicarbonate of soda.
• Degrease the hob, the extractor hood and its filter.
• Empty cupboards and drawers, vacuum out crumbs, wipe inside and check dates on tins and spices.
• Wipe cupboard doors, handles and the tops of wall units, where grease and dust combine.
• Pull out the bin and any freestanding appliances you can move safely, and clean behind and under them.
• Descale the sink, taps, plughole and kettle.
• Scrub the splashback and tile grout.
• Run an empty hot wash or cleaning cycle in the washing machine and dishwasher, and clean their filters and door seals.
• Wash the floor, including under the kickboards where you can reach.

Bathroom deep clean checklist

Thames Water says all the water in its region is hard, which is why limescale builds up quickly on taps, shower heads and glass screens across much of London. Give descaler time to work rather than scrubbing harder.

• Descale taps, shower head, shower screen and the bath or tray.
• Clean tile grout and wipe the silicone around the bath and shower; note any mould that will not shift.
• Clean the toilet inside and out, including hinges, the base and behind the pan.
• Wipe the basin, overflow, plughole and pedestal.
• Clean mirrors, cabinet shelves and the inside of the bathroom cabinet.
• Dust the extractor fan grille and check it still pulls air.
• Wash the bath mat and shower curtain, or replace the curtain.
• Wash the floor, working into the corners and behind the toilet.

Living room and bedroom checklist

• Dust light fittings and lampshades, with the power off.
• Dust the tops of wardrobes, shelves, picture frames and door frames.
• Wipe doors, handles, light switches and sockets.
• Clean radiators and behind them with a radiator brush and the vacuum on low.
• Clean interior window glass, frames and sills, and vacuum the window tracks.
• Wash or steam curtains, and wipe blinds slat by slat.
• Move the sofa and beds, and vacuum underneath and along the skirting.
• Vacuum the mattress and turn or rotate it if the manufacturer recommends it.
• Wipe skirting boards top to bottom with a damp microfibre cloth.
• Vacuum carpets and rugs thoroughly, and wash hard floors last.

Hallway, stairs and storage

• Wipe the front door, letterbox and door handles inside and out.
• Dust banisters and handrails, and vacuum stair edges.
• Clear the shoe pile and coat hooks, and wipe the floor underneath.
• Sort the cupboard under the stairs or the hall storage.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms; London Fire Brigade advises testing alarms regularly.

Spring jobs that are not cleaning

A deep clean often shows up jobs that need tools rather than cloths: blackened silicone that needs replacing, cracked grout, a dripping tap, a sticking window or a loose shelf. These are handyman jobs, and grouping them into one visit makes the best use of a minimum booking; see our handyman hourly rate guide. Outside, our seasonal garden maintenance guide covers what to do in spring.

How long a deep clean takes and what it costs

Doing it yourself, plan on a weekend for a whole flat: kitchen and bathroom on the first day, living rooms, bedrooms and hall on the second. With a professional team, the deep clean times on our deep cleaning page are a guide.

The base labour price covers homes with up to two bedrooms and one bathroom. Larger homes and extra tasks cost more, and larger-home supplements are itemised by the online estimator. Worked examples, as estimates:

• 1-bed flat: the 5-hour minimum, 5 × £45 = £225.
• 2-bed flat with oven and fridge: 7 × £45 = £315, plus £25 and £15, so £355. Add Hausio products and it is £370.
• Two cleaners to finish sooner: the minimum applies per cleaner, so 2 × 5 × £45 = £450.
• 3-bed house: 7–9 hours is £315–£405 in labour, plus any larger-home supplement shown in the estimate.

There is no weekend premium within opening hours (08:00–20:00, seven days), and same-day booking is +£15 when applicable.

Deep clean, spring clean or end of tenancy clean?

A spring clean is a deep clean timed for the end of winter. A deep clean covers everything in a one-off clean (dust, floors, bins, kitchen surfaces and bathrooms) plus detailed limescale removal, skirting boards and built-up grime in hard-to-reach areas. If you are moving out, book an end of tenancy clean instead: it follows the check-out inventory, includes oven and fridge interiors, and is £32 per hour with a 5-hour minimum. Our end of tenancy cleaning cost guide shows typical totals.

How to compare deep cleaning quotes

• Ask how many cleaner-hours a fixed price assumes, and whether the minimum applies per cleaner.
• Check whether inside the oven and fridge are included or extras.
• Ask who supplies the products and what they cost.
• Get travel, parking and Congestion Zone costs confirmed before the day. With Hausio, travel and access are quoted after postcode review, with no automatic £18 charge.

Red flags: a price given without asking how many bedrooms and bathrooms you have; "deep clean" used for what is really a standard clean with no limescale or skirting work; no confirmation of the hours booked; and no invoice.

Deep clean checklist: FAQ

What should a deep clean checklist include?

Inside the fridge, freezer and oven; inside cupboards and drawers; descaling taps, shower screens and sinks; grout and silicone; skirting boards, doors, switches and radiators; light fittings; under and behind furniture; and floors last.

How long does a deep clean take?

With a professional team, a 1-bed flat usually needs 5 hours or more, a 2-bed 5–7 hours and a 3-bed house 7–9 hours. Doing it yourself, plan on a weekend for a whole flat.

How much does a deep clean cost in London?

A Hausio deep clean is £45 per hour per cleaner with a 5-hour minimum, so bookings start from £225. Inside the oven is +£25, inside the fridge +£15, and Hausio products are £15 per visit.

What is the difference between a spring clean and a deep clean?

Very little: a spring clean is a deep clean done after winter. Both go beyond a regular clean into limescale, skirting boards, built-up grime and hard-to-reach areas.

Do I need to provide cleaning products?

No. You can use your own products at no extra cost, or add Hausio products for £15 per visit when you book.

Book a deep clean in London

See deep cleaning in London for what is included, then use the booking calculator to add the oven, fridge and products and see an itemised estimate before you book.