What are the steps to access your I-Cloud account?

It's not as easy as it seems. Here's where I am so far, after two hours of trying to figure it out on my own.

1) You can only access it through an Apple product. I learned that even if I get the screen on my Windows based system, I don't have the apple software downloaded to start the process.

2) You have to enable JavaScript before you can access www.icloud.com from your Iphone 4s, which I only found by digging around. It's in Settings > Safari > Advanced > JavaScript.

3) Next you have to "set up" your device for iCloud. This is where I'm trumped up. Basic stuff, like ensuring you're up to the latest version of iOS.

4) Set up assistant. I'm not getting this screen because I think I'm already set up for the I-cloud.

Here's my question: I keep hearing that even if you delete a photo or document on your I-phone, it still exists up in the Cloud. So how do I access the Cloud database?