Basic Daily and Weekly Cleaning Checklists
A cleaning checklist can help you work through your home, covering often-forgot-about-areas. Starting a cleaning routine is one of the best things you can do to stay on top of messes. All it takes is a few minutes each evening to achieve a space that looks tidy and is easy to deep clean.
If you’re ready to start a cleaning routine, use our checklists for daily, weekly, and room-by-room deep cleaning household tasks.
Daily Cleaning Checklist
A few daily tasks will help keep your house neat and clean.
If you’re not used to cleaning, these tasks might feel overwhelming at first. But, as you get used to this system, you’ll only need to spend 30 minutes or less per day cleaning.
- Put items back where they belong – Every evening, go through your home and put out-of-place items back where they belong.
- Pick up trash – Take a quick sweep through your main rooms picking up and throwing away trash.
- Do the dishes – Run your dishwasher every day and put away the dishes. Make it a goal to wake up to an empty dishwasher. If you don’t have a dishwasher, wash dishes by hand.
- Wipe down your kitchen counters – Before going to bed, wipe down your counters so you can wake up to a clean kitchen.
- Sweep – Sweep or vacuum main areas like the kitchen and living room.
Basic Weekly Cleaning Checklist
In addition to performing your daily chores, weekly cleaning tasks will keep your home in tip-top shape.
- Declutter – Spend a few minutes in each room decluttering items you no longer want or need.
- Dust – Dust all the surfaces in your home, working from top to bottom.
- Wipe down all counters – Wipe all bathroom and kitchen countertops.
- Take out the trash – Replace trash bags in the kitchen and bathroom.
- Scrub your sinks – Use a sink scrub or a mixture of baking soda and dish soap to scrub all of your sinks.
- Clean showers and bathtubs – Spray your shower with a tub and tile cleaner, scrub with a shower brush, and rinse away.
- Clean toilets – Squirt toilet bowl cleaner under the rim of your toilet and scrub with a toilet bowl brush. Next, clean the bowl and rim of the toilet with a bathroom cleaner and paper towels.
- Wash sheets and blankets – Strip your beds and wash your linens.
- Sweep and mop – Sweep all rooms, including area rugs. Mop all hard floor surfaces.
- Wash your laundry – You can do your laundry throughout the week as needed or save it for the weekend. Put away your laundry after you fold it.
Deeping Cleaning Checklists by Room (Once every Month or Two)
Depending on how dirty your house gets and how many family members you have, you can perform deep cleaning tasks every month or as needed.
Here’s a breakdown of how to deep clean your house by room.
Kitchen Deep Cleaning Checklist
The kitchen is the most-used room in the house and may require deep cleaning more often than other spaces.
If you’re ready to deep clean your kitchen, start by clearing off your countertops, washing your dishes, and putting them away. Then, use this checklist.
Clear dust from walls and ceilings – Use a broom or duster with a long handle to clear walls and ceilings from dust and cobwebs.
Clean your microwave – Knock all crumbs and leftover food out of your microwave and throw them away. Next, fill a deep microwave-safe bowl with one cup of water and three tablespoons of white distilled vinegar.
Run the microwave for five minutes or until the mixture starts to boil. Leave the door closed for five more minutes so the steam can loosen stuck-on food. Then, remove the bowl from the microwave and wipe the insides with a sponge or microfiber cloth.
Clean your dishwasher and dishwasher filter – Remove your dishwasher filter and use an old toothbrush to scrub food particles off of it. Rinse with water and place it back in the dishwasher. Next, add one cup of white distilled vinegar to a bowl and put it on the top rack of your dishwasher. (With no other dishes in it.) Run it on the regular hot cycle to disinfect and remove lingering odors.
Clean your fridge – Remove food from your fridge and wipe the inside with an all-purpose cleaner and microfiber cloth. Add food back.
Clean your oven – Clean your oven with a cleaner like Easy-Off. Follow the directions on the cleaner label.
Clean your stovetop – Clean your stovetop with dish soap and water, a baking soda paste, or a glass stovetop cleaner, depending on your stove type.
Wipe down counters and cabinets – Use a mild PH neutral cleaner and a soft microfiber cloth to wipe down your kitchen counters and the face of your cabinets.
Finish your kitchen deep clean by tackling the following tasks:
- Wipe down your appliances
- Scrub in and around your sink
- Dust baseboards
- Wash the windows
- Sweep and mop
Bathroom Deep Cleaning Checklist
Bathrooms are a breeding ground for germs. So while you should clean your counters and toilets at least weekly, these other tasks will help your bathroom shine.
Before you start, throw away any trash and put lingering items back where they belong.
Clear dust from walls and ceilings – Use a broom or duster with a long handle to clear walls and ceilings from dust and cobwebs.
Clean your shower and bathtub – Clear out shampoo bottles and other items from your shower. Spray the shower and tub with a tub and tile cleaner and allow it to set for a few minutes. Next, use a brush to scrub the walls, door, and grout. Dry with a fresh towel.
Wipe all shower accessories down and place them back in the shower.
Sanitize your toilet – Squirt toilet bowl cleaner under the rim of the toilet, and then use your toilet bowl brush to scrub it clean. Flush the toilet. Then, spray a disinfecting cleaner all over the toilet bowl and lid. Wipe clean with a paper towel.
Sanitize your sink – Spray your sink with a disinfecting bathroom cleaner and allow it to set for a few minutes. Then, wipe clean with a paper towel.
Wash towels, rugs, and shower curtains – If you have towels you leave hanging, throw them in the washing machine. Locate the care tag on your shower curtain and clean it according to the directions. If you have bathroom rugs, check to see if they’re machine washable. If they are, add them to the washing machine.
Clean your mirror – Clean your mirror with glass cleaner and wipe down the mirror frame.
Wipe down your counter – Wipe down your counters using an all-purpose cleaner.
Other tasks to complete your bathroom deep clean:
- Wash windows
- Dust baseboards
- Wipe down the trash can
- Sweep and mop
- Return the shower curtain, rugs, and towels after washing and drying
Bedroom Deep Cleaning Checklist
While bedrooms don’t get quite as dirty as other rooms, they still need deep cleaning from time to time.
Clear out all clutter – Take out any dishes, dirty clothes, or items that shouldn’t belong in the bedroom. If you have any clean clothes lying around, hang them up.
Clean light fixtures – Dust light fixtures. If you have a ceiling fan in your bedroom, wipe down its blades with a microfiber cloth and gentle cleaner.
Wash bedding – Strip all bedding and throw it in the washing machine.
Clear dust from walls and ceilings – Use a broom or duster with a long handle to clear walls and ceilings from dust and cobwebs.
Wash mirrors and windows – Use a glass cleaner to wash mirrors and windows.
Dust blinds and curtains – Use a duster to remove dust from blinds and curtains. If curtains are dirty, wash them according to their care instructions.
Finish cleaning your bedrooms by completing the following:
- Wipe down dressers with a gentle all-purpose cleaner
- Dust baseboards
- Sweep and mop
- Make the bed after the linens are washed and dried
Living Room Deep Cleaning Checklist
It’s much easier to deep clean a living room than any other space in the house. Start by picking up items that don’t belong and throwing away trash.
Then, check these items off your list:
Clear dust from walls and ceilings – Use a broom or duster with a long handle to clear walls and ceilings from dust and cobwebs.
Clean light fixtures – Dust your light fixture. If you have a ceiling fan, wipe down the blades with an all-purpose cleaner and microfiber cloth.
Wash throw blankets and pillow covers – Put all throw pillow covers and blankets in the washing machine and clean according to the instructions on their care tag.
Vacuum furniture – Use a vacuum to clean dirt from all living room furniture.
Move furniture and sweep underneath it – Move your sofa and chairs, pick up trash, sweep, mop if needed, and put the furniture back in place.
Wipe down all hard surfaces – Use an all-purpose cleaner to wipe down hard surfaces, including tables, mantels, and tv stands.
Complete your living room deep clean with the following tasks:
- Dust curtains and blinds
- Wash windows
- Dust baseboards
- Sweep and mop
- Put clean throw blankets and pillow back
Tips for Making the Cleaning Process Easier
To make cleaning easier, stay on top of clutter. The less stuff you have in your home, the less there is to maintain. So try to get rid of things you no longer need, love, or use at least a couple of times per month.
You can also keep cleaning time down by following your daily and weekly checklists. As little as 10-30 minutes spent each day on the basics will keep your house tidy and allow for easier deep cleaning.
How to Create Your Own Cleaning Checklist
Create a cleaning checklist you can print or access on your phone through Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
For Google Sheets, start by listing your cleaning tasks in the “B” column. Next, highlight the cells in the “A” column, click “insert,” and then “checkbox.” You can print the document or check off the boxes on your computer or phone.
Play around with the look and style of the cleaning checklist by changing the font type, color, and size.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ
What are the basic cleaning supplies you need to clean your house?
If you’re moving out on your own, the basic cleaning supplies you need include a vacuum, mop, all-purpose cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, toilet bowl brush, and microfiber cloths. Other items like baking soda, disinfecting cleaner, tub and tile cleaner, and glass cleaner are also helpful.
Should you use microfiber cloths to clean?
Microfiber cloths are one the best for cleaning because they’re lint-free and can break up dirt without scratching a surface.
Do I need to clean my toilet daily?
While you can clean a toilet daily, it’s most important that you do it at least once per week to kill bacteria in the bathroom.
How often should you clean your house?
There’s no set frequency for cleaning since every situation differs. For example, a family with seven kids will need to clean more often than a bachelor because the house will become dirty faster. So instead, focus on daily and weekly cleaning tasks and deep-clean as needed.
How often should I clean my fridge?
Aim to wipe down the front of your fridge once per week. As for the inside, it depends on how dirty it gets. Try a monthly fridge clean-out and adjust the frequency as needed.
Final Thoughts
Using daily and weekly checklists can help you keep your house in order. As long as you spend a few minutes each day and week tackling these chores, your home will stay tidy and deep cleaning won’t take you as long.
If you’re interested in customizing your own cleaning checklist, you can create one on Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel. You can then print the sheet or use it from your phone to help you stay on the most important cleaning tasks.