The house must be cleaned thoroughly to make sure that there is no hametz.  Every place that hametz is likely to be found must be cleaned.  Great care must be taken when there are children in the house as they may bring hametz in the most unexpected places. This thorough cleaning should be done before Bedikat Hametz, the search for hametz. 

• The kitchen  requires the greatest amount of preparation and cleaning.  Every area where hametz can be found must be thoroughly cleaned: 1) pantry;  2) cabinets;  3) drawers;  4) stove and oven;  5) refrigerator and freezer; 6) table, chairs;  7) highchair;  8) sink and counters. 
•  The kitchen walls should be cleaned well because hametz may be stuck to them, i.e., around the table, back splash, oven hoods, etc. 
• Other areas of the house requiring cleaning: 1) bookcases;  2) behind the furniture;  3) closets, drawers;  4) desk; 5) medicine cabinet;  6) crib & toy chest;  7) carriage, stroller;  8) pockets of clothing; 9) briefcases and pocketbooks;  10) garage;  11) garbage pails;  12) change vacuum cleaner bag after last vacuum. 
• Certain items are extremely difficult to clean thoroughly.  These things should be cleaned as well as possible and then put away in a locked closet so as not to be used inadvertently.  Included in this category are: 1) recipe books;  2) bread box;  3) toaster;  4) baking utensils;  5) mixer; 6) Birkat Hamazon books.  Other areas that have to be cleaned are the seams in the chairs and tables, formica counter and table tops or drawers. They should be scraped as well as possible, sprayed with ammonia and then covered (if possible).
• It is very important to make a distinction between Pesah cleaning and springcleaning.  It is only necessary to clean the house to remove hametz and organize things so at the time of Bedikat Hametz every area will be accessible.  Washing windows, chandeliers, etc., are spring-cleaning chores and not necessary to do for Pesah.  There is enough required work needed to prepare the house properly for Pesah without adding unnecessary work and making things more difficult and exhausting.  The kitchen, however, must be thoroughly and meticulously cleaned.