If you want your home to be deep-down clean and fresh, but you don’t have the budget to hire a professional service, we have some good news for you. You can get your home clean like a pro, and it won’t take long with the right techniques and equipment.

Take a Top-Down Approach

Gravity ensures that everything will fall eventually, so you want to take a methodical approach when you’re cleaning. Dusting should always begin at the highest point, before you vacuum, and work your way down. The same goes for washing windows. Wet the thoroughly with a mild soapy solution, then either use a small window squeegee to go across the top, then use a downward motion across the surface. If you’re using a cloth, use a circular motion from left to right, top to bottom.

Don’t overlook places like ceiling fans and the tops of doors and shelving. Just because you can see it, doesn’t mean the dust isn’t there.

Use Environmentally Responsible Products

Harsh chemicals don’t; necessarily clean better, and they will affect the quality of your indoor environment. Natural cleaners like baking soda and white vinegar are just as effective, and they’re gentle on your surfaces. They also act as a natural disinfectant. Do not use these products on wood or other porous materials, however. For daily dusting, a plain soft cotton cloth is fine, for cleaning an conditioning, use an oil. You can make a great, natural polish by combining equal parts olive oil and lemon juice, and apply it with a soft cloth.

Invest in Quality Supplies and Equipment

As far as vacuums and other cleaning equipment, this is a place to invest more money for quality, if possible. Cheaper equipment that’s low quality may not do as thorough a job, and it has a much shorter useful life. Brooms should be angled, with split bristles at the end. Natural straw or a man-made fiber are more a matter of taste than function. Sponge mops are absorbent, and provide friction than the old string mops; just make sure that you buy the kind with a detachable head the can be washed and sterilized.

Microfiber dust mops are a great addition to your cleaning supply cabinet. They protect surfaces from scratches during cleaning, they’re absorbent and the last a long time; some reports state that a good-quality microfiber will last through 500 washings. That’s a good ROI on your cleaning investment.