Checklists for Cleaning Your House (Daily, Weekly and Monthly)

Daily House Cleaning Checklist

Daily cleaning may seem like an insignificant task that takes up precious time. However, its impact is well worth it, and you don’t need to spend hours cleaning each day!

The daily house checklist below is also designed to facilitate your weekly and monthly cleaning routine—longer cleaning tasks are much easier to complete if your home is tidy and organised to start with.

• Make the bed each morning.
• Pick up clutter and put away items in their designated places.
• If your bins are full, dispose of the rubbish and replace the bin liners.
• Clean and put away dishes after each meal.
• Use a damp cloth or cleaning spray to wipe down worktops after use.
• Wipe down the stove, microwave, and other kitchen appliances after use.
• Put away clothes and straighten out your wardrobe.
• Fluff-up sofa cushions and pillows in the living room.

Weekly House Cleaning Checklist

While daily cleaning serves as the foundation for maintaining a tidy home, a weekly house cleaning checklist is the key to addressing more comprehensive tasks that don’t require daily attention. These tasks go beyond the surface, tackling deeper cleaning and organisation.

The beauty of a weekly cleaning routine lies in its flexibility—you can dedicate one day to tackle all the tasks at once or spread them out over the week, spending around 15 minutes each day. The latter approach is fantastic if you always procrastinate cleaning. It helps ensure your home remains clean without overwhelming your schedule.

So, whether you prefer a concentrated effort on a designated day or a gradual approach, this checklist will help you cover all the necessary tasks. As weekly cleaning is more comprehensive, we’ve broken it down room by room to help:

General cleaning:

• Clean window ledges and windows throughout the home.
• Dust lampshades and replace any broken bulbs.
• Wipe down furniture, shelves, and décor (photo frames, vases, etc.) throughout the house.
• Vacuum the floors in every room and mop all hard floors.

Bathrooms and toilets:

• Clean bathroom floors, countertops, sinks, and all other surfaces.
• Use a glass cleaner to clean mirrors and other glass surfaces, such as shower doors.
• Clean toilets using a toilet bowl cleaner and toilet brush.
• Clean showers and baths, including surrounding tiles, taps, and fixtures.
• Polish all chrome bathroom fixtures, such as chrome taps or towel rails.
• Launder all bathmats, towels, and flannels.

Kitchen cleaning:

• Go through your fridge, discard expired items, and wipe down the interior.
• Wipe down your oven and clean the oven racks using soapy water.
• Wipe down the stove, microwave, and other frequently used kitchen appliances.
• Clean and sanitise all food preparation areas.
• Wipe the kitchen bin (inside and outside) and replace bin liners.
• Flush the kitchen sink drain with a kettle of boiling water.

Bedrooms and living room:

• Launder and replace sheets and pillowcases in all bedrooms.
• Use a handheld vacuum to clean any upholstered furniture.
• Vacuum any rugs and treat any stains.
• Pick up dirty clothes left throughout the week and launder them.
• Throw out old magazines/catalogues or store any you want to keep.

Monthly House Cleaning Checklist

As the weeks pass, dust, grime, and debris inevitably find their way into less accessible nooks and crannies of your home. Layers of buildup gradually accumulate behind and beneath appliances, ventilation systems, and other out-of-reach spaces.

If left unattended, these neglected areas can be almost impossible to clean properly. Therefore, while daily and weekly cleaning attends to the immediate needs of your home, a monthly house cleaning checklist tends to these often neglected areas. It provides the opportunity to address these hidden spaces, preventing the gradual deterioration you might miss daily.

In essence, monthly cleaning goes beyond surface-level sparkle. It’s a preventive measure against the gradual wear and tear that – when ignored – may result in costly repairs or replacements. We recommend doing a few of these tasks each week to help spread the labour:

• Dust and wipe down walls, paying particular attention to corners and skirting boards.
• Clean the inside and outside of your kitchen cupboards.
• Run a descaling solution through your coffee machine if you have one.
• Clean your kitchen and bathroom extractor fans.
• Remove debris from your dishwasher filters and run a cleaning cycle.
• Deep clean your washing machine using white vinegar.
• Clean your tumble dryer vent.
• Clean all drains in your home using a drain cleaner or bicarbonate of soda.
• Launder or clean your shower curtains.
• Scrub the grout in between your tiles in the bathroom.
• Extend the lifespan of your mattresses by rotating and flipping them once per month.
• Move and vacuum under beds, dressers, sofas, and other furniture.

Seasonal House Cleaning Checklist

Almost all cleaning tasks around the home are done daily, weekly, or monthly. Nevertheless, a seasonal house cleaning checklist provides an opportunity to address specific tasks that may be influenced by changes in weather, temperature, and outdoor conditions.

The most common seasonal clean is a spring clean—many homeowners do a spring clean each year to wipe away the winter cobwebs and step into the warmer months. However, you should ideally perform a seasonal clean with every change of the season.

Below is a checklist for seasonal cleaning, divided into tasks that are particularly relevant for each season, the weather, and the amount of time you’ll spend outdoors.

Spring cleaning:

• Clean the inside and outside of your windows.
• Wash or hose down window screens.
• Power wash the decking or patio in your garden.
• Clean and organise the garage.
• Clean and inspect outdoor furniture.
• Rake and remove debris from the lawn.
• Clean out leaves and other debris from your gutters.
• Rotate seasonal clothing and donate items you no longer need.
• Launder duvets, store winter bedding, and replace it with lighter-weight options.

Summer cleaning:

• Change or clean air conditioner filters, if applicable.
• Clean and sweep outdoor pathways.
• Clean and organise the barbeque area.
• Touch up exterior and interior paint (it’s easier to do this in warm weather).
• Wash your carpets using a steam cleaner or bonnet cleaner.

Autumn cleaning:

• Schedule a professional inspection for your heating system.
• Bring out winter clothing and store summer items.
• Launder your lightweight duvets and replace them with heavier winter options.
• Clean and store patio furniture.
• Deep clean your oven.
• Sweep out the fireplace and arrange for a professional chimney sweep.

Winter cleaning:

• Clean humidifiers and replace filters.
• Inspect and clean draft stoppers on doors and windows.
• Clean and organise winter gear (coats, boots, etc.).
• Launder heavy blankets and throws.
• Declutter and donate items you no longer need.
• Organise all paperwork and filing cabinets before the end of the year.