In this five-part series, we’ll take you through the steps to deep clean every room in your home!

Take off all cushions from couches and chairs and vacuum the spaces underneath. Pay special attention to the nooks and crannies where crumbs or dust might have made a home.

Shampoo your rugs and carpets. Or, if you’d rather not spend the time, money, or effort to shampoo the whole house, spot clean stains using pet stain remover or a steam cleaner.

*Tip: In a pinch, the “steam” function on your clothing iron works great as a steam cleaner.

Polish your wooden furniture. Remove any items from bookcases or coffee tables to clean every surface with a dust rag, followed by wood cleaner or polish. Fix scratches by rubbing a walnut along the scratch or by using a stain pen.

*Tip: Remove water stains on your wooden furniture by blasting it with a hair dryer at close range and treating the wood with furniture polish.

Wipe down baseboards, window treatments, light fixtures and ceiling fans. Use a telescoping pole or the vacuum cleaner extension attachment to reach high ceilings and corners. Remove and launder the drapes and clean the windows with glass cleaner. Don’t forget to disinfect door handles!

*Tip: Use a lint roller on lamp shades to remove any dust or pet hair that have accumulated there.

Dust your decor. Gently wipe or brush away dust from all of your picture frames, and clocks. Depending on how many decorative items you keep in your home, this may be the most time-consuming activity you do during your spring cleaning.

Clean your electronics. Another germy place in your house? The TV remotes. Just think of all the (sometimes sticky) hands that touch it. Give your electronics a good wipe down, including the top of your TV and DVD player. Dust the front of any screens with a microfiber cloth or a feather duster, making sure to get the corners.

Stay tuned for part 3: Deep cleaning your kitchen!