How to Deep Clean a Large Devon, PA Home Without Losing a Weekend
· By Cris & Cleber Santos
Devon homes tend to be big. Off Lancaster Avenue and around Waterloo Road you will find large colonials, stone farmhouse style houses, and newer homes on wooded lots, many with four or five bedrooms, several bathrooms, a large kitchen, and a finished basement. Those homes are wonderful to live in, but a deep cleaning can feel overwhelming because there is simply so much house.
The trick is to stop thinking of it as one giant job and treat it as a sequence. This guide breaks down a deep cleaning for a large Devon home room by room, explains what to do in what order, and helps you decide what to tackle yourself and what to hand off.
Work top to bottom, and in a set order
The most important rule in a big house is to work from top to bottom in every room and in the same order through the house. Dust falls, so clean ceiling fans, light fixtures, and high shelves before furniture, then furniture before baseboards, and baseboards before floors. If you mop first and dust later, you end up doing the floors twice.
Many cleaners also start with the kitchen and bathrooms, since they take the most time and use the strongest products, then move to bedrooms and living areas, and finish with floors throughout.
The kitchen: where deep cleaning really shows
A deep clean of a large kitchen covers everything a weekly clean skips. Wipe cabinet fronts, handles, and the tops of upper cabinets. Degrease the range hood and its filter, clean the stovetop and knobs, and clean inside the microwave. If you include appliances, the oven and refrigerator interiors take real time, so plan for them.
Clean the backsplash and grout, the sink and faucet, and under the sink. Pull out small appliances and clean behind them, then finish with the floor, paying attention to the edges along the cabinet base where crumbs and grease collect.
Several bathrooms: one at a time, done completely
With three or four bathrooms, it is tempting to rush each one. It is better to finish one completely before moving on. Spray shower walls and tubs and let the product sit while you clean the mirror and vanity, then scrub and rinse. Clean the toilet inside, outside, and behind the base, wipe the exhaust fan cover, and scrub grout lines, especially in humid summer months when mildew grows quickly.
Guest bathrooms that are used less still collect dust and can develop a stale smell, so do not skip them.
Bedrooms, living areas, and the details
In bedrooms and living rooms, deep cleaning means the details: baseboards, door frames and doors, light switches and outlet covers, window sills and tracks, blinds, vents, and the tops of tall furniture. Vacuum under beds and couches if they can be moved safely, and vacuum upholstered furniture and cushions.
Large homes often have bonus rooms, home offices, and playrooms. Give each one the same top to bottom treatment, and tidy as you go so surfaces can actually be reached.
The finished basement
Finished basements in Devon homes are often family rooms, gyms, or guest suites. They collect dust, and summer humidity can make them smell musty. Dust and vacuum thoroughly, clean any bathroom down there with the same care as upstairs, and keep a dehumidifier running in the warm months. A deep cleaning is a good time to check for any damp spots that need attention from a handyman.
Timing it around Main Line seasons
Devon's big trees mean a heavy spring pollen season and plenty of leaves and mud in the fall, and winter brings road salt from Lancaster Avenue onto entry floors. The best times for a deep cleaning are usually spring, to clear out winter grime and pollen, and late fall, before the holidays and family visits. Between deep cleanings, a recurring clean every week or two keeps the house from building back up.
Do it yourself or hire help?
A real deep cleaning of a large home can take a full day or more for one person. If you enjoy it and have the time, the plan above will get you there. If your weekends are already full, handing it off is often the better trade.
Cris & Cleber Home Cleaning serves Devon from our base in Northeast Philadelphia. Owners Cris and Cleber Santos are on every job, and on bigger first-time cleanings they bring one extra helper so a large home is done properly. We work from the same room-by-room checklist every visit, and we are open Monday through Saturday, 8am to 6:30pm. Call or text (835) 280-7875 to tell us about your home and get an estimate.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a deep cleaning of a large home take?
- It depends on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the condition of the home, and what is included, like inside the oven or refrigerator. A large home usually takes most of a day. We give you an estimate after hearing about your home.
- How often should a big home be deep cleaned?
- Once or twice a year works for most homes, often in spring and before the holidays, with regular cleanings in between.
- Do you serve Devon, PA?
- Yes. We serve Devon and nearby Main Line towns like Berwyn, Wayne, and Strafford from our base in Northeast Philadelphia. Call or text (835) 280-7875 to check your street.
- Should I start with a deep cleaning before recurring service?
- For a home that has not had a professional cleaning in a while, yes. A deep cleaning brings everything up to a clean baseline, and regular visits keep it there.
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