House Cleaning Checklist

While house cleaning may seem like a reasonably obvious task that you need to do regularly, you may be astonished at exactly how many areas in your home aren’t getting the cleaning that they deserve. Creating a housekeeping checklist that walks you through the cleaning of your home room by room can help you turn your haphazard cleaning method into a well-oiled machine.

When it comes to cleaning the entire house, how sure can you be that you’ve tackled every nook, cranny, and corner of the house? When you create a simple house cleaning checklist, you can be confident that your home has received a proper cleaning.

If you’ve ever worked with professional cleaning services, you’ll know that they follow a residential cleaning checklist to clean your home and ensure everything has received the attention it needs.

If you want your home to look as though you’ve hired a professional to deep clean your house, but don’t want to fork over the cash to hire a professional, then you need to make a habit of cleaning.

1. Home Cleaning Tips and Tricks to Clean Your House Quickly
2. Before You Start Cleaning
3. Extra Cleaning Tips and Tricks
4. How to Clean Your House from Top to Bottom
5. The Step-by-Step House Cleaning Checklist
   • Cleaning the Kitchen – Checklist
   • Cleaning the Living Room
   • Cleaning the Bathroom
   • Cleaning the Bedrooms
   • Cleaning the Dining Room
   • Cleaning the Laundry Room
6. Whole House Cleaning Schedule
   • Daily Cleaning Chores
7. Weekly Cleaning Checklist
   • Bathroom
   • Bedrooms
8. Dining Room
10. Kitchen
12. Living Room
13. Monthly Cleaning Checklist
    • Bathroom
    • Kitchen
    • Living Room
    • Throughout the House
14. Seasonal Cleaning Checklist
    • Bedroom
    • Kitchen
    • Living Room
      • Laundry Room
      • Throughout the House
15. Free Printable House Cleaning Checklist

Home Cleaning Tips and Tricks to Clean Your House Quickly

For many, cleaning the house isn’t one of the most fun and exciting things to do in life, and if you let your mind wander too much, you’ll find that it can take a lot longer to complete. The following cleaning tips will help you quickly get through your housekeeping checklist and get your house sparkling clean in no time.

Before You Start Cleaning

Before you start cleaning your house, walk around the rooms and pick up clutter as you go. Throw away the trash, recycle old magazines and generally tidy up the rooms making sure to put everything in their place. Remember that the less you have, the less you’ll have to put away, dust, and clean. Don’t be afraid to get rid of the things that you don’t use anymore. As you’re walking through the rooms, take the time to turn off ceiling fans and light fixtures to get ready for dusting. Next, don’t waste your time running around your house gathering your cleaning supplies. Put all your cleaning products in a bucket so that you have everything you need to get started. Make sure your bucket contains a disinfectant, glass cleaner, soap scum remover, detergent degreaser, a scrub brush, all-purpose bathroom cleaner, sponge, toothbrush, and a green scrubby for starters.

Extra Cleaning Tips and Tricks

When dusting, always use a microfiber cloth and move from the left to the right, and top to bottom, and make sure you finish dusting before you vacuum. A microfiber cloth will help to improve the air quality in your house by keeping allergens down. To remove cobwebs from high corners and from around furniture, tie a lightly wet cloth to the end of a broom or mop. When cleaning slated blinds, you can use the string to close them in one direction and dust, then reverse the direction and dust the other side. Doing this will save you a ton of time and is much more effective than trying to clean them one slat at a time. When dusting, don’t forget to dust ceiling fans, the tops of doors, light fixtures, picture frames and all of your little knick-knacks. When vacuuming, make sure that the compartment or bag isn’t already full and make sure you are using the right settings and attachments. Get all the floors in the entire house, as well as your upholstered furniture. When you mop your floors, start in the farthest corner of the room, and move back toward the entrance of the room. After cleaning a 4×4 foot area, rinse the mop thoroughly.

How to Clean Your House from Top to Bottom

You’ll first need to decide how clean you want your house and how long you want to spend doing it. This will help you figure out how to set up your housework cleaning schedule. The best way to keep your house clean is to do a little bit every day. You can make a daily checklist to keep you on track and help expedite the process.

The Step-by-Step House Cleaning Checklist

Cleaning the Kitchen – Checklist

• Wipe down the kitchen cabinets, making sure to wipe down the cabinet fronts thoroughly, as well as the tops and corners. Cleaning wooden cabinets requires a little different care than painted or stained ones, so be sure that you use the correct cleaning solution to prevent damage.
• Use a microfiber mop to dust the walls and then use a wet mop to get the surfaces gleaming. Take the time to address any stains you encounter. Remove marker from a wall or scuffs with a little bit of alcohol on a cotton ball.
• Clean the inside of the microwave. You can use baking soda to clean the microwave without leaving a harsh smell.
• Wipe kitchen countertops with a reliable household cleaner, starting to the right of the stove. If you have granite countertops, make sure you use the appropriate granite cleaner to avoid damaging the surface.
• Wipe down the stovetop, clean the drip pans, under the burners, the control knobs, and under the range top. You may need to pull the drip pans out and the knobs off and soak them in the sink to remove stubborn grease.
• Don’t forget to take care of the range hood while you are cleaning the stove and oven. Grease tends to accumulate in this area, in particular. Take the time to wipe down all surfaces with grease-cutting dish soap and warm water, know how to clean a range hood filter so that it works effectively, and sanitize all parts of the area to ensure that you have a clean area for the next time you cook a meal.
• Clean the inside of the refrigerator. Empty and pull out the shelves and the drawers and thoroughly wash them with soap and warm water. Pull out the drip pan from underneath and be sure to vacuum the dust from the coils.
• Clean the freezer.
• Clean the inside of the dishwasher. Use a handful of paper towels to grab any debris in the tub at the base of the dishwasher.
• Clean the inside of your sink and around the edges. Clean the drain with vinegar, baking soda, and boiling water.
• Wipe down the face of all your appliances, including the refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave and their handles. If you have stainless steel appliances, use a special stainless steel cleaner to get them sparkling clean.
• Take out the trash and wipe the inside and the outside of the garbage can. This will help to prevent any fruit flies or gnats in your kitchen.
• Sweep and mop floors. Don’t use too much floor cleaning product in the water to avoid chemical build up on your hardwood or laminate floors.

Cleaning the Living Room

• Dust the furnishings. Start with the furniture, then move on to the electronics. Use a microfiber cloth and wipe down the outsides of your stereo, cable box, and television.
• Sanitize the remote controls with a disinfecting wipe. Your remote control and video-game controllers are germ magnets and often overlooked when cleaning.
• Wipe down all the upholstery with a damp microfiber cloth. If you have stains or your upholstered furniture seems overly soiled, you can go over it with a dry-cleaning sponge.
• Clean the windows, window sills, and window screens. Use a glass cleaner on the windows, and a disinfecting cloth on the window sills. Take the screens out and wash them down outside with a hose.
• Dust the fixtures. Use an extendable duster to wipe down the light fixtures, recessed lighting, and ceiling fans.
• Dust inside furniture drawers with a cleaner and microfiber cloth.
• Clean the drapes and blinds and use a vacuum on a low setting with the brush attachment to clean and dust your curtains.
• Clean metal blinds or those made from wood or vinyl with a clean microfiber cloth. It’s easy to clean mini blinds without removing them by simply wiping them down or using a small brush attachment on the vacuum cleaner. If there are stains on the curtains or blinds, address them at the same time so you won’t forget about them later.
• Dust artwork and photographs. Run a damp cloth or duster around the frames and clean the glass of the frames with a glass cleaner and cloth.
• Vacuum and spot treat the carpet and make sure to move furniture to get underneath. For uncarpeted areas, use the brush attachment on your vacuum.

Cleaning the Bathroom

• Clean shower and tub. Skip the harsh chemicals and make a natural cleaner with vinegar and dish soap.
• Spray a grout cleaner on the tiles of your shower walls and let it sit while you finish cleaning the rest of the bathroom.
• Clean the shower rack and soap dishes with a reliable bathroom cleaner.
• Use an old toothbrush to clean the shower track and dispose of collected debris and hair in the trash can.
• Rinse and wipe down the shower walls, paying particular attention to water stains and areas of mold or mildew.
• Wipe down the shower rods and rings, which are often overlooked and are where mildew and stains can build up.
• Clean the vanity. Take everything off the countertop and wipe it.
• Scrub and polish the sink fixtures with an all-purpose bathroom cleaner.
• Clean the mirror. Lightly spray the mirrors with a glass cleaner and wipe them with old newspapers or paper towels.
• Clean out the drawers and the medicine cabinet. Take a few minutes to empty them, wipe down the insides, and reorganize.
• Clean the toilet, both inside and out.
• Clean the wastebasket by rinsing it out in the shower. After you’ve rinsed it turn the can over and let it air dry.
• Unclog the air vents. Remove the vents and wipe the inside with vinegar and paper towels.
• Dust and wipe the baseboards, an area that often gets overlooked. The best way to clean baseboards is to run a damp cloth along the top and sides to pick up dirt and other debris.
• One of the final cleaning tasks for the bathroom is to wash and air-dry the bath mat and bathroom rugs.
• Sweep and mop the floors. Use a steam mop for laminate floors or make your own cleaning solution. Grab a spray bottle with your favorite floor cleaner and a rag to clean tile floors. Spritz sections of the floor and wipe clean with the rag. Most bathrooms are too small to make using a big mop practical. Using a cloth makes it easier to get into the corners and tight areas around the toilet.

Cleaning the Bedrooms

• Gather everything that doesn’t belong in the room and pick up any trash from under the bed, on the nightstands, and the dressers.
• Remove the bed linens and take them to the laundry to be washed.
• Remove drapes and curtains and take them to the laundry or dry cleaner.
• Dust the room, starting at the top and working your way to the bottom. Do not forget dusting off and watering any bedroom plants you might have around.
• Clean the windows and any other glass surface in the room.
• Remove the lamp shades and wipe down the light bulbs with glass cleaner. Run the duster over the inside and outside of the lampshade.
• Remove the mattress cover from the bed and wash it. Then it’s time to deep clean all mattresses and take care of disinfecting mattresses at the same time. When setting out to clean the mattress, you may discover that you’d rather have a new one instead. If that is the case, you can learn how to recycle a mattress that is not worth cleaning or, if you are willing to spend the time and effort cleaning it, how to donate it to a worthy organization.
• Clean the mattress with the upholstery attachment for your vacuum. Vacuum the top and sides of the bed first, then flip and rotate it and vacuum the top again. Take care of any stains or mold with a strong homemade cleaner after vacuuming. Let air dry before replacing the mattress cover and linens.
• Clean the carpet. Move your furniture and vacuum under and behind it. Use the crevice attachment to vacuum around the baseboards to remove dust buildup and clean your carpet thoroughly using a carpet shampoo or cleaner.
• Take the trash out and wash and disinfect the trash can. This will help you to get rid of ants and spiders in your bedroom.
• Finish washing your linens. Hang the freshly washed curtains and drapes to air dry, and wash your bed linens according to the care label. When dry, place them back on your bed.

Cleaning the Dining Room

• Dust the table and chairs and any other furniture.
• Use a reliable multipurpose cleaner to wipe down the surfaces of the table and chairs.
• Wipe the walls and corners with a damp cloth to remove dust and cobwebs that have accumulated.
• Vacuum any upholstery chairs in the dining room.
• Wash the windows and curtains. Wipe the windowsills, clean the windows with glass cleaner, and vacuum or launder the curtains or drapes as needed.
• Clean marble floors by sweeping them first and then mopping them. Be sure to get under the dining room table and chairs. If you have any area rugs, vacuum them to eliminate crumbs and dust or take them outside for a good shaking.

Cleaning the Laundry Room

• Sanitize the washer. Run white vinegar through the machine to clean the inside and get rid of soap scum.
• Empty the lint trap in the dryer using an old fabric-softener sheet. Wash the screen in the sink to remove the waxy build-up that’s caused by fabric softener.
• Clean the inside of the dryer with a cloth dampened with liquid dish soap and warm water.
• Clean the outside of both the washer and the dryer. Dampen a cloth with a few drops of dishwashing liquid or all-purpose cleaner, and wipe down the tops, fronts, and sides of both machines.
• If you have a sink, use a cleaner and cloth to clean, and use a microfiber cloth to shine the faucet.
• Clean the surfaces, shelving, and bins on the counters. Wipe down the surfaces with cleaner, making sure to get the cabinet fronts in the process.
• Clean the dryer hose and the area behind the washer and dryer that tend to accumulate dirt and a single sock. There are easy ways to clean a dryer duct to eliminate lint build-up and prevent an accidental fire.
• Clean the windows with glass cleaner. Be sure to wipe down the window sills and the blinds.
• Clean the iron to remove mineral deposits and the buildup from the spray starch.
• Sweep and mop the floors. Start from the farthest corner of the room and work your way toward the door when getting rid of laundry room smell and debris from the floor.

Whole House Cleaning Schedule

Knowing when to clean what in your home can be a bit confusing, as not everything needs to be thoroughly cleaned every day. The truth is, there are certain items on your home cleaning to-do list that should be done daily, weekly, monthly and seasonally.

No one cleaning checklist will work correctly for everyone, but you can use the following housework cleaning schedule as a starting point to ensure you always have a clean house.

Daily Cleaning Chores

These are the chores that are the absolute minimum that you need to do to keep your home clean. Depending on the kind of house you live in, some of these chores may need to be done more than once throughout the day, especially if you have small children.

• Make the bed
• Manage clutter
• Sort the mail
• Clean as you cook
• Wipe up spills when they happen
• Sweep the kitchen floor

Weekly Cleaning Checklist

While most chores don’t require you to complete them daily, they are still essential to tackle every week. You can schedule these chores for completion in a single day, or you can divide them over each day in the week, so you don’t have to waste an entire day cleaning.

Bathroom

• Wash the bath mats, towels, and washcloths
• Clean the toilets, bathtubs, showers, and sinks
• Dust the light fixtures
• Empty the trash
• Vacuum and mop floors
• Wipe mirrors.

Bedrooms

• Wash sheets and pillowcases
• Dust surfaces
• Empty Trash
• Vacuum floors

Dining Room

• Dust surfaces
• Vacuum upholstery and floor

Kitchen

• Get rid of expired food
• Dust light fixtures
• Clean the sink drain
• Wipe down surfaces, including the countertops, sink, appliances, and cabinet doors
• Wipe down the inside of the oven, microwave, and toaster oven
• Clean the inside and outside of trash can and recycling bin
• Vacuum and mop the floor

Living Room

• Get rid of clutter from the coffee table and side tables
• Dust all surfaces and objects
• Vacuum upholstery and floor

Monthly Cleaning Checklist

These are the things that you can afford to neglect during the daily and weekly chores but should be taken care of about once a month. These chores will take a bit longer to accomplish and would be best tackled on the weekend.

Bathroom

• Scrub grout
• Wipe insides of medicine cabinet and drawers
• Wipe down the surroundings of the tub and shower

Kitchen

• Get rid of food from the freezer that has expired
• Wash ventilation hood filters
• Learn how to clean refrigerator coils and tackle this task each month

Living Room

• Vacuum the fireplace screen and clean the glass front.

Throughout the House

• Buff wood floors, waxed stone, concrete, and masonry
• Dust portable and ceiling fans
• Flush drains with boiling water, vinegar, and baking soda
• Vacuum window treatments, moldings, and windowsills
• Clean the interior and exterior of doors and trim
• Wipe down switch plates

Seasonal Cleaning Checklist

The cleaning chores that you do a couple of times a year are essential but are often the most forgotten parts of home organization and maintenance. While these chores only need our attention a couple of times a year, they are also vital for maintaining and cleaning the house.

The first time during the year that you should do a deep cleaning of your home is spring cleaning time. This is the time when you should gather items to be donated and get rid of anything you no longer want or need.

Bedroom

• Wash pillows
• Turn the mattresses
• Vacuum the mattresses, box springs, and bed frames

Kitchen

• Clean hanging pot rack
• Clean the oven
• Organize the pantry
• Replace the baking soda in the freezer and refrigerator
• Clean the insides of the cabinets
• Wipe down the kitchen ceiling
• Clean the inside of the refrigerator

Living Room

• Clean leather furniture
• Sweep out the fireplace

Laundry Room

• Clean the insides of the washer and dryer
• Clean out the dryer vent

Throughout the House

• Wipe down baseboards and moldings
• Clean the window screens
• Clean the gutters
• Shampoo the carpet

Keeping your entire house clean can be a pain, but it’s essential if you want to live in a fresh and clean home. While cleaning isn’t a chore that anyone wants to do, you can follow a simple cleaning schedule and have the tasks completed in no time.

We hope you enjoyed learning about how to clean your house quickly and effectively with easy house cleaning checklists. If you found our house cleaning schedules useful, please feel free to pass the house cleaning checklists on to your friends.