How Often Should You Deep Clean Your House? A Room-by-Room Schedule

You know your house needs a deep clean. The question is: how often? Clean it too rarely and you are living with accumulated grime, allergens, and bacteria. Clean it too often and you are spending time and money on work that does not need doing yet.

The answer depends on your household — how many people live there, whether you have pets, how much cooking you do, and where in Oregon you live. A family of five in a muddy-footed Portland Craftsman has very different needs than a retired couple in a Bend condo.

This guide gives you a practical, room-by-room deep cleaning schedule based on what actually matters. We have cleaned hundreds of Oregon homes at Otesse and have a clear picture of how often each space needs a thorough reset.

Deep Cleaning vs. Regular Cleaning: What Is the Difference?

Before building a schedule, let us clarify what deep cleaning actually means compared to regular (maintenance) cleaning:

Regular cleaning maintains your home's appearance. Deep cleaning addresses the buildup that regular cleaning misses — the grease behind the stove, the mildew in the grout, the dust on top of the refrigerator, the grime on baseboards.

Room-by-Room Deep Cleaning Schedule

Kitchen: Every 3 to 4 Months

The kitchen accumulates grease, food residue, and bacteria faster than any other room. A thorough deep clean every quarter keeps it sanitary and prevents the kind of buildup that becomes a major project if left too long.

What a kitchen deep clean includes:

1. Pull out the stove and refrigerator. Clean behind and underneath both appliances.
2. Degrease the range hood, filter, and exhaust fan.
3. Clean inside the oven (self-clean cycle or manual scrub with baking soda paste).
4. Clean inside the microwave, dishwasher, and any small appliances.
5. Wipe down all cabinet fronts, especially around handles where grease accumulates.
6. Clean inside the refrigerator — remove all items, wipe shelves, check expiration dates.
7. Scrub the sink and garbage disposal (ice cubes plus baking soda freshens the disposal).
8. Degrease backsplash tile and grout.
9. Clean light fixtures and the top of the refrigerator.

Oregon tip: Portland and Eugene homes with older kitchens often have limited ventilation, which means grease builds up faster on cabinets and walls. If your kitchen lacks a proper range hood, consider deep cleaning every 2-3 months instead.

Bathrooms: Every 2 to 3 Months

Oregon bathrooms need more frequent deep cleaning than bathrooms in drier climates. The moisture from our 150+ days of rain per year creates ideal conditions for mold and mildew, even in well-ventilated bathrooms.

What a bathroom deep clean includes:

1. Scrub all tile grout (shower, floor, and around the tub).
2. Remove and clean shower doors, tracks, and hardware. Descale with vinegar or citric acid.
3. Clean exhaust fan and vent cover (remove cover, soak in soapy water, vacuum the fan).
4. Scrub behind and around the toilet base.
5. Clean inside medicine cabinets and vanity drawers.
6. Wash or replace the shower curtain and liner.
7. Treat any visible mold or mildew on caulking, grout, or walls.
8. Clean light fixtures and mirrors thoroughly.
9. Wash bath mats, towels, and any fabric accessories.

Oregon tip: In homes throughout the Willamette Valley — Salem, Corvallis, Albany — the wet season from October through May means bathroom mold can develop in weeks rather than months. During this period, inspect grout and caulking monthly and treat any mold immediately.

Bedrooms: Every 4 to 6 Months

Bedrooms accumulate dust and allergens but generally stay cleaner than kitchens and bathrooms. A deep clean twice a year is sufficient for most households.

What a bedroom deep clean includes:

1. Flip or rotate the mattress. Vacuum the mattress surface (removes dust mites and allergens).
2. Wash all bedding including pillows, mattress protector, and duvet.
3. Move furniture and vacuum underneath beds, dressers, and nightstands.
4. Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, and the tops of doors and window frames.
5. Clean baseboards and door frames.
6. Wash windows and window tracks (inside).
7. Vacuum or clean closet floors and shelves.
8. Wipe down all furniture surfaces.

Oregon tip: If anyone in your household has allergies, increase bedroom deep cleaning to every 3 months. Oregon's pollen season (March through September) and the mold spore season (fall and winter) mean allergens are a year-round concern.

Living Room and Common Areas: Every 4 to 6 Months

What a living area deep clean includes:

1. Deep clean upholstery (vacuum with the upholstery attachment, spot-treat stains, or hire a professional for a full cleaning).
2. Move all furniture and vacuum or mop underneath.
3. Clean windows, window sills, and tracks.
4. Dust and clean all shelving, entertainment centers, and display surfaces.
5. Clean ceiling fans, light fixtures, and lampshades.
6. Wash or dry-clean throw pillow covers, blankets, and curtains.
7. Clean baseboards, door frames, and switch plates.
8. Deep clean carpets or refinish hardwood floors if needed.

Entryways and Mudrooms: Every 2 to 3 Months

Oregon entryways take a beating during the rainy season. Mud, leaves, and moisture get tracked in constantly from October through May.

What an entryway deep clean includes:

1. Deep clean or replace doormats (both exterior and interior).
2. Scrub floors — tile, stone, or hardwood — with attention to grout lines.
3. Clean shoe racks, coat hooks, and storage cubbies.
4. Wipe down the inside of the front door, door frame, and hardware.
5. Clean light fixtures and any windows.

Laundry Room: Every 3 to 4 Months

1. Run a cleaning cycle on the washing machine (hot water with white vinegar or a machine cleaner).
2. Clean the dryer lint trap housing (not just the screen — the housing it sits in).
3. Clean or replace the dryer vent hose (fire prevention).
4. Wipe down the exterior and top of both machines.
5. Clean the utility sink if you have one.
6. Organize laundry supplies and discard old products.

Seasonal Deep Cleaning Schedule for Oregon

Rather than trying to deep clean your entire home at once, spread the work across the year. Here is the schedule we recommend for Oregon homes:

This schedule results in two full-house deep cleans per year (spring and fall) with targeted mid-season attention to the rooms that need it most. For most Oregon homes, this is the sweet spot between keeping a clean home and not spending every weekend scrubbing.

Factors That Change Your Deep Cleaning Frequency

Pets

If you have dogs or cats, increase deep cleaning frequency by about 50%. Pet hair, dander, and tracked-in mud (especially in Oregon's rainy season) mean that buildup happens faster. Focus particularly on carpet deep cleaning, upholstery vacuuming, and entryway scrubbing.

Household Size

More people means more wear. A household of four or more should deep clean kitchens and bathrooms at the more frequent end of the recommended ranges.

Allergies and Asthma

If household members have respiratory issues, deep clean more frequently and focus on dust removal — mattresses, upholstery, carpets, curtains, and HVAC filters.

Home Age

Older Oregon homes — the Craftsman bungalows and mid-century homes common in Portland, Eugene, and Salem neighborhoods — often have less effective ventilation, more nooks that trap dust, and original hardwood floors that need extra care. These homes benefit from more frequent deep cleaning.

Should You Deep Clean Yourself or Hire a Professional?

A full-house deep clean takes 8-16 hours of focused work for a typical 3-bedroom Oregon home. Here is when each approach makes sense:

DIY deep cleaning works well if:

• You have the time (a full weekend) and physical ability.
• You enjoy the process or find it satisfying.
• You have the necessary supplies and equipment.
• Your home is relatively small and does not have severe buildup.

Hire a professional if:

• You would rather spend that time doing something else.
• You need it done in a few hours rather than a full weekend.
• You have a large home, significant buildup, or stubborn mold issues.
• You want commercial-grade results without buying specialized equipment.

Many Oregon homeowners use a hybrid approach: professional deep cleans twice a year (spring and fall) with DIY maintenance and spot deep cleaning in between. Otesse offers both one-time deep cleans and recurring maintenance plans designed to work together.

Build Your Deep Cleaning Schedule

The best deep cleaning schedule is one you actually follow. Start with the seasonal framework — a full deep clean in spring and fall, with targeted mid-year attention to kitchens and bathrooms. Adjust based on your household size, pets, and how your home responds to Oregon's wet climate.

If the thought of deep cleaning your entire house feels overwhelming, you do not have to do it alone. Get a free deep cleaning quote from Otesse. Our teams deep clean homes across Portland, Eugene, Salem, Corvallis, and 8 other Oregon cities — and we can set up a recurring schedule that keeps your home in top condition year-round.

Ready to get started? Call 541-844-2585 or request a quote online.