Scratch "writing a cleaning to-do list" off your to-do list
Are you the type of person who loves to organize and clean everything daily? Or maybe you’re someone who could stand to clean more often but dreads doing it. Regardless of where you fall on the cleaning spectrum, you can benefit from our daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal, and annual cleaning checklists. These printable house cleaning checklists will help you reduce dust in your home, keep every room organized, and cut down on the big spring cleaning.
Compared to the cost of hiring a house cleaner, your largest DIY expense will be your cleaning tools and products. Double-check that you have the following cleaning supplies before diving into your cleaning duties.
Rubber or latex gloves
All-purpose cleaner
Protective glasses
Vacuum
Dishwashing detergent
Laundry detergent
Duster or microfiber cloths
Mop
Warm water and bucket
Sponges and scrubber
Baking soda
A fun way to stay on top of daily tasks is to time yourself to see which ones take the longest. Next time you clean, see if you can reduce the amount of time for each. Cleaning a room fast is definitely a special skill, especially when you have last-minute company coming over. Don’t cut corners, though! Remember, what matters most is having a clean home.
If the task of daily cleaning seems like too much, consider hiring a house cleaning service to tackle it for you. You can schedule recurring appointments on a weekly or monthly basis to keep your home clean all year round.
Here’s a list of easy daily tasks to tackle:
Make the bed
Squeegee the shower walls
Rinse the bathroom sink
Empty coffee grounds into the compost or garbage
Rid the sink of any dirty dishes
Unload and load the dishwasher
Wipe down countertops and cabinets
Put away any loose items (mail, toys, blankets, water bottles, etc.)
Tidy up remote controls, video games, and other electronic items
Do a load of laundry (based on needs)
Cleaning regularly used items once a week can help prevent bacteria and mold from growing. When completing this weekly cleaning checklist, try to finish two areas (bathroom and kitchen) one day of the week and another space (living area) another day of the week. This way, you’ll have a balanced routine on days you’re completing both daily and weekly cleaning tasks. Take an extra moment to learn how to clean your unique bathroom based on its unique finishes and gather the special cleaning supplies in an easy-to-grab area.
Here’s a weekly cleaning checklist to follow:
Sweep or vacuum the kitchen floor
Mop the kitchen floor, using mostly water to prevent the buildup of residue
Clean the inside of the microwave
Sanitize sponges
Wipe down fridge shelves
Wipe fronts of cabinets and handles
Scrub bathroom sink, toilet, and bathtub or shower
Spray the shower curtain liner with disinfectant to help prevent mold
Wipe down mirrors
Dust furniture
Empty all small trash cans
Toss expired food from the fridge and pantry
Dust window ledges
Tidy up pet spaces
Clean pet bowls with soapy water
Dust is more than just a nuisance. According to the American Lung Association, dust can cause allergy and asthma symptoms. Dust regularly to keep your home and family healthy.
Download Monthly Cleaning Checklist Here
You likely won’t want to do all these monthly cleaning items in one day or over one weekend. If you do, more power to you! For those who don’t have a full day to clean, the monthly checklist below will help you knock off individual tasks as you can. That way, no major cleaning chores sneak up on you.
Here’s a monthly cleaning checklist to use:
Vacuum vents
Dust and clean fans and light fixtures
Dust blinds
Dust light fixtures
Clean vacuum by washing parts or replacing bags
Clean oven
Soak and scrub stovetop burners or grates
Descale coffee maker or thoroughly wash French press
Clean outside grill
Wipe down patio surfaces and furniture
Beat dust out of rugs
Most people think of spring cleaning as the main season to clean due to dust buildup from the winter. Yet some appliances and objects need to be cleaned four times a year. Our seasonal cleaning checklist outlines these quarterly responsibilities. It also lists some season-dependent tasks. This is the moment to figure out how to clean those sticky floors, empty the pantry, and give your mattress some extra TLC.
Here’s a list of items that need cleaning throughout the year:
Rake leaves (fall and spring)
Clean blinds
Dust all plants
Replace air conditioning filters
Drain and store hoses (fall)
Clean out gutters (fall and spring)
Clean range hood and filters
Clean out the freezer
Wipe down the fridge and toss spoiled products
Clean dishwasher and laundry machine by running empty loads with detergent
Wipe down baseboards
Wash pillows and comforter
Spray and vacuum the mattress
Clean and freshen drains
Wash shower curtain liner
Download Annual Cleaning Checklist Here
Each year, there are a few cleaning tasks that need handling. Even though these chores are infrequent, they help keep your house running smoothly and can make certain items last longer.
When you do some of your monthly chores, tackle these cleaning tasks at the same time so they’re evenly distributed throughout the year.
Here’s a list of annual cleaning items:
Clean chimney and fireplace (either before or after winter)
Deep clean carpet and upholstery (rent or purchase a wet vac)
Purge the pantry
Wipe down pantry shelves
Vacuum and clean behind appliances (fridge, stove, washer, and dryer)
Clean walls
Clean air ducts (every two to three years)
Clean around dryer and vents
Rotate rugs 180 degrees to evenly distribute wear and tear
If you find some items are too soiled to clean on your own, consider hiring a specialized professional to come in. This happens most frequently with carpets where it’s worth spending a little extra on professional carpet cleaning costs.
Sometimes you only have enough time to tidy up one space. This is usually triggered by certain events, like sprucing up the guest room before family visits or following a kitchen cleaning checklist before a holiday meal. If you dedicate one day each week to a different room, you’ll have a steady cleaning schedule.
It costs between $120 and $240 to hire a professional house cleaner, but it can be as little as $70 or as much as $370, depending on the size of the job. Cleaning a 1,000-square-foot home will cost much less than a home that’s over 3,000 square feet with multiple stories. Most cleaners charge between $25 and $80 per hour.
Clean high-traffic areas such as kitchen surfaces, bathroom surfaces, and bedding once per week. Deep clean other areas every three months to a year. How you use a space can help you figure out how often it should be cleaned, with areas where eating, bathing, and food prep occur getting the most frequent attention.
You should wash your sheets at least once every two weeks and as often as once every week to keep your sleeping environment healthy. If it’s hot out, or if you have a job where you might deposit dust onto your sheets from your work environment, you should wash your sheets more frequently.
A toilet in a guest bathroom that doesn’t get used very often can usually be cleaned less frequently, but toilets that are used regularly should be cleaned every week. Cleaning your toilet more frequently than once per week is usually unnecessary.
