It’s a new year and for many people, this means a fresh start or renewed commitment to something important to them. For some, it means building new routines to support a new behavior or practice. And for others, it’s learning something new or working to meet a desired goal.
Whatever your reason for finding this cleaning checklist today, we hope it inspires you to reach your goals this year.
Why Use a Cleaning Checklist?
Often we use checklists to help us organize our thoughts or tasks. It helps us “get it all out” so that we don’t forget things. A cleaning checklist works in the same way – helping us to prioritize and sort through all the items we want to get done.
Cleaning checklists can be organized by frequency, by room or area, or by the person responsible (or any other attribute that makes sense to you). For this list, we will be organizing by room.
Time Bound for Success
Often people fail to meet their goals because they don’t commit the time for it to be successful. While we’ve arranged this by room, be sure to note frequency as well. Put it into your calendar, or set a reminder for when items are due.
Block time on your calendar for when you know you will have the time and resources to work on the task. Resources include those who can help, your own energy levels, and the supplies needed. Set yourself up for success!
Remember certain areas may need cleaning daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually, or somewhere in between. Be sure to attach a time frame to each task and put items with the same timeline together.
For example, if you do a load of laundry every day, and also wipe the shower down every day, consider putting those tasks together to make it a daily routine. If you clean the toilet once a week and also vacuum once a week, assign the tasks to one person who is responsible for both.
Home Cleaning Checklist
Include all the areas of your home and exclude areas below that aren’t relevant.
Bathroom
- Take out trash
- Wipe flat surfaces
- Wash towels / washcloths / hand towels
- Clean sink(s)
- Clean toilet
- Clean tub/shower
- Clean mirror (s)
- Wipe down cabinets
- Clean floors
- Wash / clean curtain
- Wash / clean floor mats / rugs
- Deep clean tile / grout
- Wipe baseboards, light switches, doorknobs, door frame
- Other: ________________
- Other: ________________
- Other: ________________
Kitchen
- Load / unload dishwasher
- Wash dishes / put away dishes
- Take out trash
- Clean sink
- Wipe counters
- Wipe appliances
- Clean oven / stove
- Clean fridge / freezer
- Throw away expired food
- Wipe cupboards (outside)
- Wipe cupboards (inside)
- Organize shelving / cupboards
- Clean under appliances such as stove or fridge
- Clean toaster / toaster oven
- Clean / descale coffee pot
- Launder washcloths, sponges, hand towels, oven mitts, etc.
- Wipe baseboards, light switches, doorknobs, door frame
- Clean floor
- Wash mats / rugs
- Wash curtains / wipe blinds
- Clean window (s)
- Other: ________________
- Other: ________________
- Other: ________________
Bedrooms
- Make bed
- Pick up items from floors and put away
- Take out trash
- Wash clothes
- Fold / hang up clothes
- Iron clothes / linens
- Wash linens / curtains / blinds
- Sweep / vacuum
- Dust / wipe flat surfaces
- Clean mirrors
- Organize
- Dust ceiling fans / vents
- Wipe baseboards, light switches, doorknobs, and door frames
- Vacuum and flip mattress
- Vacuum / dust upholstery
- Wash rugs
- Dust / wipe furniture like lamps, sitting chairs, etc.
- Wash pillows
- Clean windows / window sills / sliding door tracks
- Other: ________________
- Other: ________________
- Other: ________________
Living Spaces
- Take out trash
- Organize / tidy
- Pick up items from floors and put away
- Wash / dust / vacuum curtains / blinds
- Sweep / vacuum
- Dust / wipe flat surfaces
- Clean mirrors
- Dust ceiling fans / vents
- Wipe baseboards, light switches, doorknobs, and door frames
- Clean floor (vacuum / mop / sweep)
- Vacuum / dust upholstery
- Wash rugs
- Dust / wipe furniture like lamps, sitting chairs, etc.
- Wash throw pillows and blankets
- Clean windows / window sills / sliding door tracks
- Condition wood / leather
- Clean the fireplace
- Other: ________________
- Other: ________________
- Other: ________________
Need help tackling all the items on your cleaning checklist? A Cleaning Service can help! If regular, ongoing cleaning tasks don’t bring you joy, consider letting them go into the professional and competent hands of A Cleaning Service.
We’re an award-winning cleaning company serving the Greater Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland areas. Contact us today for a quote and spend your time on the relationships and tasks that matter most to you.