House Cleaning Checklist

Do you love to clean the house? Great! Some people find it therapeutic to clean, clean, clean. But what if you don’t? Many individuals dread cleaning and avoid it more than they do the flu. If you keep on postponing cleaning your home, what happens is you have to clean it more intensely when you really need it cleaned. You have to spend more time trying to take out the dirt, grime, mold and mildew. The secret to not spending too much time cleaning the house is to have a house cleaning checklist.

A house cleaning checklist is a great way to breakdown the cleaning tasks in manageable chunks. You can have your house clean in record time if you have a checklist. It keeps you on track, making sure you don’t miss a spot.

It’s a good idea to make a house cleaning schedule for daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal chores. For daily and weekly chores, you put these up on the refrigerator or your message board preferably beside a calendar. The monthly and seasonal chores can be written down in your planner; if you use an electronic calendar or organizer, so much the better. Take advantage of the alarm feature to remind you of monthly and seasonal cleaning tasks.

Daily Checklist

A sample daily house cleaning checklist follows. Doing the laundry and ironing are not in the checklist because it depends on the number of individuals living in the house. It can be done daily or weekly but never monthly.

Bedroom

• Straighten up the bed
• Keep the clothes in the closet. Dirty clothes go into the laundry hamper.
• Put back things in their proper places.

Bathroom

• Arrange toiletries.
• Wipe down sink, bathtub and bathroom fixtures.
• Empty the garbage can.

Kitchen

• Wash the dishes, pots and pans. Dry and keep them in their proper place.
• Wipe the kitchen counter as well as any kitchen appliances you used. Wipe the dining table also.
• Wash the sink thoroughly then dry it.
• Put away food containers or food items in the pantry, cupboard or refrigerator.
• Empty the garbage can.

Living room, Hallway and Staircase

• Fix the sofa; fluff the throw pillows if any.
• Put away magazines and any other items that are not in their proper place.

Weekly Checklist

There are some items in the weekly checklist below that you can do every two weeks. It all depends on how dirty it gets. If you live in an area where dust accumulates fast, it is best to do the chores below on a weekly basis.

Bedroom

• Change the sheets. Wash the beddings and keep them as soon as they are dry.
• Using a duster or a microfiber dusting cloth, dust away table tops and the top edge of the door. Don’t forget to dust the bed frame and any wall frames.
• Vacuum the floor including moldings and baseboards. If you have polished hardwood floors, you can polish it to maintain the shine.
• Empty the wastebasket.

Bathroom

• Clean the bathroom. Dust the corners and upper walls. Scrub the walls and floors. Wash the sink, bathtub and toilet bowl. Use a disinfectant cleaner to kill germs.
• If you have a shower curtain and liner, launder it.
• Clean mirrors as well as windows with a glass cleaner. You can also use a mixture of water and vinegar to do the job. The secret to streak free glass is using old, clean newspapers for wiping instead of using a rag.

Kitchen

• Mop your kitchen floor with water and a disinfectant cleaner.
• Sanitize the counter tops.
• Clean the microwave.
• Wipe appliances.
• Check the refrigerator for any spoiled food and throw it away.
• Check for the accumulation of grease on your stove. Clean it with hot water and mild detergent or any appropriate degreasing product.

Living room, Hallway and Staircase

• Dust shelves, table tops, display objects, photo frames, ceiling fans, window sills and basically anything else that you can dust in the living room.
• Mop and/or vacuum the living room, hallway and staircase. Wipe the staircase handrails and balusters.

Monthly Checklist

The monthly cleaning checklist involves chores that you can do more or less every month.

Bedroom

• Wash windows.
• Clean blinds or wash curtains.
• Clean the air filter of the air conditioning unit.
• Wipe overhead light fixtures and dust walls.
• Move furniture and vacuum.

Kitchen

• Clean the cupboards, pantry and under the sink.
• Thoroughly clean the oven and the refrigerator.

Living room, Hallway and Staircase

• Vacuum behind and under furniture.
• Clean blinds or wash curtains.
• Wipe sliding glass doors
• Clean screens.

Seasonal Checklist

There are chores that you can do every two months, every quarter, semi-annually or every year. Include these cleaning chores in the seasonal checklist.

Bedroom

• Clean out your closets and drawers. Sort items according to those for giving away to family and friends, for charity, for recycling, and for re-use.
• Turn over the mattress according to directions found on the mattress tag.

Bathroom

• Clean out the bathroom closet. Throw away any expired toiletry items.

Kitchen

• Pull out the refrigerator and oven. Vacuum and mop behind and under these two appliances.

Living room, Hallway and Staircase

• Shampoo carpets and rugs.
• Move heavy cabinets so you can vacuum and mop the area.
• Clean out hallway closets and drawers.

This is just a sample checklist. Every checklist is different depending on the design of the house and the furnishings and fixtures it contains. Some houses have study rooms, dens, patios, garages, gardens, swimming pools and more. You checklist should include chores for these areas. Making the checklist may seem like a chore but you only have to prepare it once. By having and following your personalized checklist, your house cleaning will be more organized and efficient.

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Kitchen Cleaning

Meals prepared in the kitchen nourish the body and soul. All food that comes from the kitchen should be hygienic and safe to eat. Whether you are a Top Chef, a full-time parent who cooks or a busy, no fuss meal maker, it is your responsibility to make sure that the kitchen is kept clean.

When a kitchen is clean, it gives you more motivation to whip up yummy dishes for you and your family. Food safety does not only come from the actual food preparation, but in how you keep the heart of the house clean.

Here are some kitchen cleaning tips:

1. Make sure that all the dishes have been washed after every meal. If you don’t have a dishwasher, manually wash your dishes, glasses, utensils, pots and pans. Don’t allow them to accumulate in the sink. Dry them well after washing and put them in their proper place. End each day with a clean sink that has been washed and wiped down.

2. For burned on food in pots and pans, boil water and a few drops of liquid soap in the pan. Let the pan cool before cleaning it in the sink.

3. Sponges should be dried after each use. Never leave a sponge wet to avoid breeding germs and bacteria that can harm you and your family. Place the sponge in the microwave for two minutes.

4. Put away containers of food. Cereal boxes and other breakfast items (coffee, sugar, milk, etc) should be put away after breakfast. Bottled condiments, spices and other ingredients which came from the cupboard, pantry or refrigerator should be kept after use.

5. Keep coffee makers, toasters, blenders, mixers and other kitchen appliances clean. Wipe down the kitchen appliances with a mild solution of water and soap.

6. Clean the microwave by placing half a lemon in a bowl of water and microwaving this on high for 2 minutes. Wipe down the microwave when done.

7. Once a week, check your refrigerator for any leftovers which you can prepare for Leftover Night. Throw away any spoiled food. Clean the inside when necessary. A box of baking soda in the refrigerator will keep the inside smelling fresh.

8. Clean your oven with an over cleaner. Make sure to follow the instructions on the product to the letter.

9. If your drain is sluggish, pour ½ cup each of baking soda and white vinegar into the drain. Cover the drain and let the mixture stand for a few minutes. Flush this solution with boiling water (about 8 cups).

10. Empty your garbage can every night or as soon as it is full. If you have citrus peels, place them in the garbage can or garbage disposal for that fresh smelling scent.

11. Clean the floors by vacuuming and mopping it at least once a week. Use water with an all purpose disinfectant cleaner for mopping. If spills occur, wipe it as soon as it happens.

12. Don’t forget to wipe windows, window sills, base boards, moldings, doors, walls, ceiling fans and other parts of the kitchen when necessary.

13. Make a schedule when you can pull out the heavy appliances like the oven and refrigerator so you can clean behind and beneath them.

14. Clean out cabinets and drawers containing food, dishes and kitchen tools every so often. Even if cabinets and drawers are closed, dust can still accumulate inside.

15. For thorough cleaning of all appliances, check the manufacturer’s reference manual for cleaning instructions.

16. Have your daily kitchen cleaning supplies handy. These are usually placed under the sink.

17. Post a kitchen cleaning checklist on your refrigerator. The checklist should be divided into kitchen chores that need to be done daily and weekly. For monthly and seasonal kitchen cleaning, use an electronic planner or calendar to remind you of these tasks.

Cleaning the kitchen is one of the most important tasks in the home. Keeping a clean kitchen ensures that you can prepare food in a safe and hygienic manner. It lessens the possibility of you or your loved ones from ingesting food that can make you sick. Remember: A clean kitchen is a healthy kitchen!

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Weekly Checklist for House Cleaning

Unfortunately our homes do not clean themselves. For some cleaning might be second nature, but for the majority of us cleaning is just plain daily work. However, there are many essential chores that can be done on a weekly basis and which will help keep your home clean, neat and healthy.

Creating your own checklist
With our busy lives many people rely on keeping some sort of diary or checklist in their daily lives. House cleaning should be no different. Keeping a constant reminder of items that need attending to will help cut down on time and energy. A checklist will also ensure that nothing important is left out. Consider a checklist as something helpful rather than a hindrance.

The benefits of using a checklist
First a checklist will ensure that you are covering all the weekly cleaning that needs to be done. It will help ensure that the areas you want cleaned will not be forgotten. As you go along you can amend the list to suit.

Using a checklist will help speed up the entire cleaning process as you will eventually get into a rhythm of repetition of cleaning in a certain order. Before you know it your chores will become second nature. A checklist is also able to show who is responsible for which areas or items. Dividing cleaning chores amongst family or housemates will not only speed up the process but will help alleviate one person from carrying the entire load.

Professional home cleaners use checklists as they find them the most efficient method for ensuring optimum cleaning. Post your checklist in an area where it can be seen and start cleaning.

What a weekly schedule should encompass

Step 1
There are essential tasks that need to be done on a weekly basis. Start be breaking down each room under a separate heading and tackle them on this basis. The reason for this is twofold. Firstly it will help you get your home cleaned quickly and efficiently and secondly it will prevent your entire home from becoming uninhabitable while you are cleaning.

Step 2
Tackle your cleaning chores in the order you write them down. The secret is in creating a list that helps you clean efficiently. Start with chores from the top down and in a clockwise method. For instance start with dusting pelmets, tops of cabinets, picture frames and door frames. Dust and wipe shelves and ornaments, all the while working around the room. Straighten up closets and dressing area, remove and change laundry in the bedrooms. Straighten up bookshelves and ornaments before finishing with a vacuum or mopping. Dust appliances carefully, or use a slightly damp cloth to remove dust.

Step 3
The kitchen requires daily cleaning plus a few weekly chores such as cleaning the refrigerator, microwave and stove. Dust on top of cupboards and wipe ornaments or small appliances free of grime. Remove garbage bags, wash out the bin, and insert a new garbage bag. Wipe down cabinet doors and handles and last vacuum the floor before mopping.

Step 4
Apart from a daily cleaning of the bath and sink, showers need weekly attention. Use a cleaning solution suitable for tiles, glass and shower fixtures spray and leave for a few minutes before scrubbing and rinsing. Use the same cleaning method on taps and mirrors. Wipe cabinet doors and handles, tidy up shelves, do the laundry and replace used towels with fresh ones. Lastly mop the floors.

Step 5
After you have completed your checklist per room ascertain what cleaning materials you will need. Gather them together and keep them close at hand while you are working. This will cut down on cleaning time and ensure that you have the right solution for each task.

Step 6
Divide or allocate chores amongst family members. Using a checklist will help each one identify what they are responsible for and will help cut down on energy and time. Ask your children which tasks they prefer as this will get them involved and instil a sense of accountability. Offer them small rewards for tasks completed and try not to overwhelm them. Try to make it fun so that they remain fully involved in the process.

Cleaning your home does not have to be difficult or unpleasant. If you keep a consistent schedule and follow a few basis guidelines such as a checklist, you will find that your home will remain clean, tidy and inviting with minimal effort.

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Kitchen Cleaning Supplies

Food for the family is prepared in the kitchen so it must be kept clean and hygienic. In order to do this, some tasks must be done daily like washing the dishes and sanitizing the counter tops. Some are weekly and monthly kitchen chores like cleaning the oven, microwave, refrigerator. In order to complete these tasks, you need the right cleaning supplies.

The following supplies should be kept on hand:

1. Sponges, scrubbers and scouring pads. These are used for cleaning dishes, pots and pans, kitchen counters, oven tops and insides. Also use them to wipe down kitchen appliances. A word of caution: dry your sponges, scrubbers and scouring pads after use. Or, they will become smelly and act as breeding grounds for bacteria and germs! Popping them in the microwave for two minutes should do the job.

2. Bottle and toothbrushes. Bottle brushes can help you get into those tight glass or plastic bottles. Toothbrushes are great for brushing small kitchen tools and corners of baking pans. Wash and dry these after each use.

3. Kitchen rags. Soak up spills with rags. But just like sponges, don’t leave them wet. Unless you only wiped spilled water, it is best to wash the kitchen rag immediately with soap and water. After which, hang it up to dry.

4. Paper towels. To prevent bacterial growth on your sponges and rags, opt for paper towels to mop up raw meat or fish juice and broken eggs.

5. Latex gloves. Always good to protect your hands from any chemicals or caustic agents found in commercial cleaning products.

6. Mop and bucket. Used in cleaning your kitchen floor.

7. Dish-washing liquid. For washing your dishes, glasses, pots and pans. If you have a dishwasher, you will also need dish-washing detergent or liquid.

8. Oven cleaner. Used to remove any baked-on food. Before using read the instructions.

9. All-purpose cleaner. Use in its diluted form to mop the floor. In a bucket, add a cup or less of this cleaner to water and mop away.

10. Glass cleaner. If your kitchen has shelves with glass windows, you can use glass cleaners to keep them clean. Also use on glass oven doors.

11. Cleaners and polishers for stainless steel, copper, and aluminum. To make your pots and pans shiny again, keep the right cleaners and polishers on hand. If you have silverware, have silver cleaners or polishers on hand.

To be more eco-friendly, you can opt for natural cleaning products. Baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, cornstarch and borax are great for cleaning, deodorizing and sanitizing your kitchen. Apart from being eco-friendly, they are also safer to use than commercial cleaners.

Keep all your daily kitchen cleaning supplies in the cabinet under the kitchen sink. These items should be organized and stored neatly for easy access. For cleaning items that you only use once a week or longer, especially those that are chemically enhanced, it is best to store them in the garage. Lock them in a cabinet or place them where your young children and pets cannot reach them. Don’t forget to check the expiration dates, if any, on your cleaning supplies. Throw out any cleaning supplies (including sponges, rags and mops) that have gone past their useful age.

Keep things clean as you go! Dishes, pots and pans, cooking and baking tools (especially the cutting boards), containers, and the kitchen and oven counter tops must be cleaned after each use. The kitchen is where your family’s meals are prepared. Keeping the right kitchen cleaning supplies handy and using them properly ensures that whatever comes from the kitchen is healthy and safe for the whole family.

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House Cleaning Tips

Cleaning a house and keeping it that way can be a real tough task. It is all fun and games once it is done, but the hard part comes when it needs to be done. One might not even know where to start. To help with that we have decided to post a few house cleaning tips that is aimed at helping you do a more efficient job in a shorter space of time.

Preparation
Just like with any other job or task that you might take on, it is extremely important to be prepared and ready when you get started. This is probably the most important house cleaning tip you will ever read and will not only save you a vast amount of time but also allow you to work more efficiently.

Make a list
The first house cleaning tip, preparation, starts with making a list. Even though it sounds tedious, a list will give you some direction and help you to stay on track and not get distracted. A list could be broken up into different rooms with the things that you will need to do in each room.

A typical list for a kitchen (as example) would look something like this:
Kitchen:

· Wipe all surfaces with a dry cloth
· Spray surfaces with a detergent
· Wipe all surfaces with a damp cloth
· Use damp cloth to wipe down appliances like the toaster, kettle and microwave.
· Spray detergent on the oven top and leave to soak.
· Dust all cupboard doors and wipe with a damp cloth
· Clean soaked oven top with a soft sponge
· Dry oven off with a dry cloth
· Do the dishwashing
· Sweep the floor
· Mop the floor
· Pack away the clean and dried dishes

The list can be used as a ‘tick list’ where you tick off the items that you have already done. It is great to give you a sense of achievement and also to make sure that all the things are done. Please also note the order in which the list is constructed. If you were to sweep and mop the floors first, you will have to do it again after the rest of the work has been completed. If you wipe, dust and clean all the surfaces first, then all the small bits would fall onto the floor and by sweeping and mopping last you will ensure that the floor is clean and dirt free.

The same principle will apply in all the other rooms. Always leave the sweeping and mopping for last and if you have a vacuum cleaner, also leave that for last.

Keep everything close and ready
The second part of preparation is to make sure that you have all the materials you need within close range. A good house cleaning tip is to have a small bucket or plastic container that you can move around with you from room to room. Inside the container will be all the materials you might need like your duster, dry cloth, damp cloth, furniture polish, detergents and any other materials you might need. By not having to search around for these items you will not waste time and you will eliminate the possibility of getting distracted.

If you are using a vacuum cleaner you can also connect all the cables and the vacuum head you prefer to use before hand to save you some time.

Clean as you go
It can be a disgusting and terrible task to clean a bathroom that is very dirty and in serious need of cleaning. To avoid getting into a situation like that we recommend the following house cleaning tip: Clean as you go. This is a technique not only is great for keeping your bathroom fairly clean and hygienic, but also for the rest of your house. It is a technique that you can teach your whole family and if everyone pitches in and is sold on the idea, it will eliminate the need for bigger monthly cleanings. It works in a simple and easy to understand way. After a bath or shower, spray it with a bathroom cleaner or the detergent of your choice, wipe the surfaces with a sponge or cloth that is kept close by for that specific reason, and rinse. The same principal can be applied in the rest of your house.

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House Cleaning FAQs

How do you clean laminated floors?

Laminated floors require only minimal attention. Sweeping laminated floors will get rid of debris and dirt that can wear down their finish. A cleaning solution should be used periodically in order to remove sticky or dirty areas. The manufacturer of your laminate floors will be able to recommend the best product.

The internet today offers many environmentally friendly products you can make yourself.

What is the best way to clean hardwood floors?

Wood is one of the most durable materials in the modern world yet without proper maintenance will not provide optimal use. Prevention is always the best way to care for your wooden floors. A regular vacuum, sweep or dusting will remove dirt that would otherwise be tramped into the wood.

Be cautious when using household chemicals on wooden floors. First check if they are suitable. Generally there are two cleaners available one for a wax finish and one for a surface finish.

For light stains use a #000 steel wool for a wax finish. Once sanded out buff the floor. If your floors are surface finished simply use any recommended cleaner. If stains go deeper you may need to contact a professional.

Oil or grease stains can be easily removed with a recommended cleaner if the floor is surface finished. If it is wax finished it becomes more difficult. Rub the spot with a soap containing lye. You can also place a little hydrogen peroxide on a clean cloth and cover the stain. On top of that place another cloth dipped in ammonia. Keep repeating the process until the stain has disappeared. Follow up with a buffing.

How do you get rid of mould?

In more humid conditions it is not long before mould begins appearing in places that are not that noticeable such as under the sink or behind the toilet.

Before you start cleaning mould ensure that you wear eye goggles, rubber gloves, a dust filter mask and clothes that can be thrown away. For non-porous items scrub the mould away using a solution containing a normal detergent and water. Once the mould has been removed wait for the area to dry completely before treating with a disinfectant consisting of half cup bleach to each gallon of water. Again ensure that you have good ventilation before spraying as well as the correct safety gear. Soak the area in this solution and leave to dry.

The only way to eradicate mould for good is by removing its ideal growing condition which is moisture. Attend to leaky areas or any other sources that promote moisture.

How do you get rid of stains on leather?

Getting rid of stains on leather depends on whether it is pigmented. If your leather is pigmented you will first need to check for color fastness. Apply a little leather cleaner onto an area that is not noticeable. Hold a clean and lint free cloth against it. If the color runs you will notice it on the cloth.

If the leather passes the color fastness test take a sponge and apply leather cleaner to it. Using a gentle circular movement work on the stain until foam appears. Do not rub the area. Leave the foam on the stain for about 5 minutes and then blot with a clean lint free cloth. This method works well for stubborn or old stains.

Most stains can be easily wiped away immediately afterwards with a damp cloth while older stains require a little more attention. Grease stains come away easily with a blotting motion and a solution made from 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water. They can also be attended to with blackboard chalk. Sprinkle the chalk on the area and leave for 24 hours. Do not rub it in, instead using a leather brush remove the powder. Fresh ink stains can be removed with a non-greasy liquid hair spray.

If you need to get rid of mould from porous areas such as carpets or curtains and if the problem is not too severe, sponge the area with a soapy solution and rinse. If the problem is severe the only solution may be to throw these items away.

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