15 Things I Deep Clean Every Month (and Why It Saves Me Money as a Solo Mum)

I made a video about this on my YouTube channel to watch it just click below. 

Keeping on top of housework can feel overwhelming at the best of times – especially when you’re doing everything solo. Between parenting, work, life admin, and trying to grab five minutes to yourself, deep cleaning can often slip to the bottom of the list. But over the years, I’ve learnt that regular deep cleaning isn’t just about having a tidy home – it’s about saving money, protecting what you own, and reducing stress in the long term. 

I’m Rachel, a solo mum to one, and on my YouTube channel and blog I talk about real mum life, frugal living, budgeting, house maintenance, and doing the best we can with what we’ve got. One of the ways I save money every single month is by deep cleaning certain household items regularly so they last longer and work properly.

Every month – usually on the first weekend my son isn’t with me and he is with his Dad – I do a monthly deep clean. I deep clean my whole house anyway, but there are 15 specific items that I always prioritise each month. Some of them are obvious, and some are things you may not have even thought about before.

If you’re trying to save money, reduce waste, and avoid replacing expensive appliances before you need to, this list is for you. This is specifically important if you are still saving your emergency fund and if you are unsure what an emergency fund is you can check this post out here - “What is an emergency fund and why do I need one” 

Why I Deep Clean Monthly

(Not Just When Things Look Dirty)

A lot of us only clean things when they look dirty or stop working properly. The problem with that approach is:

  • Dirt and grime is what usual causes appliances to break down faster

  • Mould and limescale can damage internal parts

  • Smells and bacteria build up over time

  • You often end up replacing items sooner than necessary

As a solo mum on a budget, I can’t afford to replace appliances just because I didn’t look after them properly. A £300 washing machine or a £100 air fryer is a big expense – and one I’d rather delay for as long as possible and usually I find these things break down at the most inconvenient times such as school summer holidays or the Christmas period.

By doing a monthly deep clean, I can:

  • Extend the life of my appliances

  • Save money long term

  • Keep my home hygienic

  • Reduce stress and overwhelm

  • Stay on top of maintenance rather than reacting to problems

So let’s get into the 15 things I deep clean every single month.

Washing Machine

This one is non-negotiable for me.

My current washing machine is fairly new and cost me around £300. The previous one literally started smoking, so I’m very aware of how important maintenance is.

Every month I deep clean my washing machine by:

  • Emptying and clean the drain filter

  • Remove any trapped gunk or debris

  • Clean inside the rubber seal (where mould loves to hide)

  • Clean the detergent drawer thoroughly

  • Run a drum clean cycle

By doing this it stops:

  • Bad smells

  • Mould build-up

  • Clothes coming out less clean

  • Long-term damage to the machine

A washing machine that isn’t cleaned properly won’t last – and replacing one is expensive. This 10–15 minute job once a month saves me hundreds of pounds long term. It may feel like one of those things that you will do next month but if the washing machine breaks you may regret not taking those 10 - 15 minutes each month.

 Oven and Hob

My oven doesn’t currently work, but that doesn’t mean it gets ignored because even though the main oven doesn't work, the grill and the hob do, therefore it is important to still clean them and keep up maintenance for it to continue to work.

Every month to clean the oven I:

  • Remove and clean all trays and shelves

  • Clean the oven interior

  • Clean the oven door glass

  • Clean the hob and glass lid

Even if you mainly use an air fryer or slow cooker like I do, grease and food residue still builds up. Leaving it can cause smells, damage surfaces, and make future cleaning much harder, also if left for too long it could break or need further maintenance which is the last thing you want to happen if you have just prepped a delicious meal ready to be cooked in the oven.

Plus, if you’re renting or planning to sell in the future, keeping appliances clean really matters to future buyers and your landlord. 

 Fridge Freezer

My fridge freezer lives in the outhouse, and it gets a monthly deep clean without fail.

Each month I:

  • Empty and wipe down the fridge

  • Remove and wash shelves and door compartments

  • Clean the vegetable drawers

  • Organise the freezer drawers

  • Check dates and throw out old food

Freezers especially become dumping grounds where food disappears and gets forgotten. A quick monthly organise saves money by:

  • Reducing food waste

  • Helping me see what I already have which helps me meal plan for the week ahead 

  • Preventing overbuying on items which helps me save money on groceries each week.

And a clean fridge is just nicer to use.

Ironing Board

(The One Everyone Forgets)

This is one of those things people never think to clean – but I do it every month.

I:

  • Wipe down the top

  • Clean the legs and stand

  • Turn it upside down and clean underneath

  • Remove and wash the cover

It is surprising how dirty our ironing boards can get. Therefore if your ironing board is dirty, you’re literally pressing dirt onto clean clothes.

Mine lives down the side of the fridge, so I see it all the time – which helps me remember to clean it usually when I am cleaning the fridge freezer. Where does your ironing board live?

Iron

As we are talking about the ironing board, let's talk about the actual iron.If you don’t clean your iron, it will eventually ruin your clothes.

Once a month I clean the soleplate to remove:

  • Burnt residue

  • Limescale

  • Build-up that transfers onto clothes

There’s nothing worse than washing clothes, ironing them, and then having to wash them again because the iron is dirty.

Cleaning your iron:

  • Protects your clothes

  • Stops re-washing

  • Helps the iron last longer

Another money saver and who doesn’t love a money saver. 

Toaster

We don’t use our toaster very often, but it still gets cleaned monthly.

I:

  • Empty the crumb tray

  • Shake out crumbs

  • Wipe down the outside

Breadcrumbs build up quickly and can cause:

  • Burning smells

  • Fire risk

  • Faster wear and tear

Even if, like me, you only use your toaster occasionally, it still needs attention.

Air Fryers (Yes, Plural)

I have two air fryers – a large one and a smaller one. The smaller one gets the most use, but both get deep cleaned every month.

That means:

  • Cleaning drawers and trays

  • Cleaning inside the air fryer unit

  • Wiping the base, back, and top

A lot of people forget to clean the actual unit, not just the removable parts and it’s important to clean the entire unit to keep it in good working order.

A nice little cleaning trick is to simply use baking soda and water and a little washing up liquid or dish soap, leave to soak for 10 - 15 minutes and it works wonders as well as keeps everything fresh.

Given how expensive air fryers can be now, especially the bigger ones, regular cleaning is essential.

Microwave

Each time I use my microwave I always wipe my microwave clean, but once a month it gets a proper deep clean, even if I haven’t used it too much

The method I use to clean my microwave is:

  • Bowl of water with sliced lemons

  • Microwave for 2 minutes

  • Wipe everything down it will be much easier to wipe things off after the lemons

  • Leave the door open briefly to air

This:

  • Loosens grime making it easier to clean

  • Removes smells

  • Keeps it hygienic

Simple, cheap, and effective.

Bins (Inside and Outside)

I have two bins:

  • One is for general waste

  • One is for recycling (mainly cardboard)

The general waste bin gets cleaned every time it’s emptied with disinfectant spray, plus a cotton pad with peppermint oil at the bottom.

The recycling bin gets a monthly deep clean.

Important reminder: clean the lid and outside of the bin too – not just the inside.

Ensuring you clean your bins each month means:

  • No smells

  • No bacteria build-up

  • A nicer kitchen overall

Laundry Baskets

This is another one people forget, we focus on getting the laundry basket empty, we forget to actually clean the basket itself. 

I clean:

  • My main laundry basket (where my dirty washing goes)

  • My son’s laundry basket (where his dirty washing goes) 

  • The basket used for clean or drying clothes

Once a month the main laundry baskets go straight into the washing machine, as mine was machine washable, however, if they were not I would air them out with some fabric spray. 

Dirty clothes sit in these baskets every day – if they’re dirty too, you’re just spreading germs.

The clean washing basket even though it holds clean washing can still gather dust and become dirty by giving it a good clean even just once a month will ensure your clean washing stays clean.

Sofas

Every month I deep clean my sofas.

I do this when my son isn’t here because I’ve got an L-shaped sofa. I clean one side on one day and the other side the next, so I always have somewhere to sit.

By deep cleaning my sofas it removes:

  • Dust

  • Pet hair

  • Crumbs

  • Spills

  • Odours

Sofas are one of the most used pieces of furniture in the home, especially with kids and pets. Regular deep cleaning helps them last longer, keeps them hygienic, and saves you from having to replace them sooner than necessary. On top of the monthly deep clean I hoover the sofa at least once a week. 

Kitchen Cupboards (Inside and Out)

My kitchen cupboards get cleaned very regularly, but at the very least they should be deep cleaned monthly.

 How I deep clean my kitchen cupboard is to:

  • Wipe down the inside of every cupboard

  • Clean shelves and cupboard doors

  • Pull everything out to check dates

  • Look for spills, crumbs, or leaks

Food cupboards especially need regular attention to prevent smells, pests, and wasted food. Cleaning them monthly helps you stay organised and makes meal planning much easier which also helps you save money on your groceries each week. 

 Skirting Boards and Door Frames

Other things that often get forgotten about and these are easy to ignore but often collect dust and grime quickly.

Once a month I:

  • Wipe down all skirting boards

  • Clean door frames and handles

  • Remove fingerprints and marks.

This instantly makes the house feel cleaner without much effort.

 Light Switches and Plug Sockets

These are high-touch areas that rarely get deep cleaned, I clean them each week but make sure I give them a deep clean each month.

Monthly cleaning your light switches and plug sockets:

  • Reduces germs

  • Keeps walls looking fresh

  • Is especially important with children

A simple wipe with disinfectant makes a big difference.

Mattress and Bed Frames

Even if you change your bedding weekly, mattresses still need attention.

Once a month I:

  • Vacuum the mattress

  • Sprinkle baking soda over and leave for a few minutes then vacuum again

  • Air it out

  • Clean the bed frame, sides and legs of the bed

This helps with hygiene, reduces dust mites, and extends the life of your mattress – which can be a very expensive item to replace.

Final Thoughts: Deep Cleaning = Long-Term Savings

Monthly deep cleaning might sound like a lot, but it’s actually preventative maintenance.

By keeping on top of these 15 things, I in turn:

  • Save money

  • Reduce waste

  • Avoid emergency replacements

  • Keep my home calmer and cleaner

You don’t have to do everything perfectly. Even starting with two or three of these will make a difference.

I’d love to know:

  • Which of these do you already clean?

  • Is there anything you don’t do?

  • Is there something you clean monthly that I haven’t mentioned?

We can all learn from each other – especially as mums doing this mostly on our own.

If you’d like me to write or film a step-by-step deep cleaning guide with hacks and products I use, let me know.

You’re not failing. You’re learning, adapting, and doing your best – and that’s more than enough.

Until next time

Rachel

Solo Mum to One

Written by: Rachel Cole