How My Deep Clean Went Down Today

Seriously needed to tackle the grime that built up over weeks. Felt like everywhere I looked there was dust or some weird sticky spot. Remembered reading Done and Dusted's expert tips and figured today was the day to put 'em to the test.

First Things First: Gear Up

Grabbed all my stuff before starting. Here’s what I hauled out:

• Those white vinegar and baking soda things everyone talks about
• A couple of microfiber cloths – the fluffy kind
• My trusty vacuum, though it sounds like a dying lawnmower
• Bottles of my usual store-bought cleaners
• A bucket that leaks a bit, but it still holds water mostly
• Different scrub brushes, including an old toothbrush

Kicking Off: Kitchen Nightmare

Started in the kitchen 'cause it’s always the worst. Done and Dusted said to clean top-to-bottom, left-to-right. Made sense. Wiped down the greasy cabinet tops first – pure nastiness up there! Then moved to the walls around the stove. Used their vinegar trick on the microwave plate after microwaving it in water. Actually worked better than my fancy spray! Scrubbed the sink like crazy with baking soda paste, that gritty stuff really got stuff off. Fridge shelves got pulled out and soaked in hot soapy water in the leaky bucket. Found science experiments in the crisper drawer. Threw 'em out, obviously.

Bathroom Blitz

Next stop: the bathroom. Showerhead looked clogged. Took it off and soaked it in vinegar overnight? Nope. They suggested filling a plastic bag with vinegar and tying it around the showerhead for an hour. Gave it a shot while I cleaned other stuff. Wiped down every surface. Used the old toothbrush on grout lines. Annoying job, but wow, the difference! The showerhead trick actually worked pretty well – water sprayed like it used to when it was new!

Living Room Dust Battle

Felt dusty just walking in here. Vacuumed like usual, but then remembered their dumb tip about vacuuming under the couch cushions. Seriously? Yeah, okay. Lifted the cushions and vacuumed that crevice. The amount of crumbs, dust bunnies, and one lost sock I found was horrifying. Definitely doing that monthly now. Wiped down all lamp shades and blinds with a dry microfiber cloth – no kidding, dust clouds flew everywhere! Then used a damp one after.

Floors – The Final Boss

Swept everywhere first. Done and Dusted folks swear by mopping with hot water and vinegar for tile. Tried it. Smelled like a pickle factory, but the floors actually felt clean and squeaked. For the wood floors? Nope, vinegar is bad news apparently. Used my regular wood cleaner. Moved rugs outside and beat 'em like they owed me money. More dust clouds!

What Actually Worked (And What Didn't)

Okay, gotta give credit where it's due. Here's the real deal:

• Winners: Vinegar bag on showerhead (total game-changer!), soaking fridge shelves (smells gone!), baking soda paste in sink (shiny!), under-cushion vacuuming (gross but necessary!).
• Meh: Store-bought sprays felt weaksauce compared to the vinegar/baking soda stuff most times. That vinegar steam trick for microwave plate? It worked, but honestly kinda messy.
• Surprise Winner: Dry then damp microfiber on blinds/lamp shades – captured SO much dust without just pushing it around. Genius.

Totally Wiped Out

Took me like, most of the dang day. Wrists hurt, back a little stiff. But honestly? Place smells fresh, looks brighter, and that weird sticky spot by the back door is GONE. Following Done and Dusted’s system made the whole thing less chaotic. Felt good actually seeing the results instead of just moving dust bunnies around. Would I do it again? Yeah, but maybe I’ll break it into chunks next time! Those pros really know their stuff about getting deep into the grime.