Most homeowners do a decent job at keeping their homes clean. While all major areas, such as bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, etc., might not always be spotless, most have routines that keep these rooms in great shape.
Basements, however, often tell a different story. Many Toronto residents use their basements to store holiday decorations, sporting gear, luggage, and seasonal clothing, or to do laundry. These spaces often sit idle and thus can become unclean over time.
A basement deep cleaning is a great way to eliminate that extra dirt and grime. However, many homeowners neglect their basements because they don’t know where to start or don’t want to put in the effort.
Taking the time to sweep up those nasty cobwebs and dirt accumulating behind your washer and wiping down the basement walls can prevent pests, produce fresher, cleaner air, and make your home more welcoming.
To make the process easier, we’ll explore different methods for basement deep cleanings and explain when to call a reliable house deep cleaning company in Toronto.
How To Get Started With Your Toronto Basement Deep Cleaning
Before starting your Toronto basement deep cleaning, you’ll need to empty out your basement, sorting through and organizing your items. Most likely, this task will take a full day, especially if you use your basement for storage.
Depending on your basement’s condition and what you keep in it, you should transfer your belonging to an appropriate location. A dilapidated basement that may have pests requires you to take your items outside.
Once all your items are out, it’s time to sort and organize them. Place your items into different categories, such as:
- Separating things into seasonal use
- Separating items by weight–i.e., light versus heavy
- Different categories like clothes, appliances, antiques, etc.
- Items to keep, donate, or sell
However you decide to sort through and organize your items, you should know that this step is often the hardest and most time-consuming. Often, homeowners start sorting through all their items and give up halfway, leaving an uncleaned basement.
Don’t be discouraged if you need to step outside for fresh air, grab a drink, or stop for the day. It’s crucial to prevent yourself from getting burnt out. You can always continue at a later time.
Now, Let’s Begin the Cleaning Process
Once everything is sorted and organized, the actual wiping, mopping, vacuuming, etc., will feel like a breeze. Your first step should be to gather up all the necessary cleaning supplies. Some must-haves on your list include:
- A heavy-duty vacuum
- A mop and bucket
- A big push broom
- Rubber gloves
- Microfiber cloths
- A long duster
- Regular and green cleaning products
- A soft bristle brush
Target Those Hard-to-Reach Areas First
Cobwebs are one of the first images that come to mind when people hear the word basement or attic. Even a well-used basement probably has some of these abandoned spider homes. Use your vacuum with its hose attachment or a long duster to eliminate these pesky cobwebs.
You can then use your heavy-duty vacuum or your duster to touch up the walls before you bust out the soapy water. For your floors, you’ll want to use the vacuum to target broad, open areas and those hidden cracks and corners, including around your drainage pipe.
Wipe Down Your Basement Walls
After removing as much dirt and grime as possible with the vacuum and duster, you can start wiping down your basement walls using a damp microfiber cloth and a bucket filled with warm, soapy water.
It’s best to start from the bottom of your walls and work horizontally upwards. This method is especially effective if extra dirt and grime covers your walls.
Use Cleaning Products in Special Areas
Some areas might call for cleaning products besides a cloth and warm, soapy water. For example, showers and bathrooms, certain appliances like your washer or dryer or electronics, furniture, stubborn stains, antiques, etc., need a bit more care.
The cleaning products you should use in these areas or on these items may vary, but opt for green products when possible. If you need to use more potent cleaning products, wear rubber gloves to protect your skin from potentially harmful chemicals.
Start Mopping Your Floors
Mopping your floors is one of the final steps in basement deep cleaning, but before you get your mop and bucket ready, do a final sweep. Use your big push broom and follow up with your vacuum to accomplish this task.
If your basement has concrete floors, add a quarter cup of detergent to your warm water bucket. Since your floors are bound to need extra TLC, you might want to alternate between two different mop heads. Remember to target areas like underneath your washer and dryer.
Be sure to mop up any excess water. Then, after giving your basement enough time to dry out, inspect it thoroughly.
If you notice any dirty spots remaining, simply repeat the mopping process. Some homeowners even prefer breaking the mopping process into sections to make it more manageable.
Get Rid of Any Remaining Odours
Lastly, bring in as much circulation as possible to combat lingering odours. Especially if you used strong cleaning products, your basement might smell of chemicals like ammonia.
Open as many windows as possible and turn on any fans your basement may have. If your basement has no ceiling fans, bring in some standing fans from other areas in your home. Lastly, a dehumidifier can remove any extra moisture or humidity.
Many homeowners avoid cleaning their basements, but ignoring your basement will just make the job more challenging in the future. The hardest part is getting started. However, we also know some people don’t have the time to deep clean their basement, which is where our expert cleaning service can help.
Our Brilho Luxury Home Services Inc provides basement deep cleaning and can help you learn more essential summer cleaning tips. Call our experts at 416-923-3300 or email [email protected] to learn more about our service and schedule an appointment with us today. We guarantee exceptional results.
