The short answer: a cleaning checklist tells you what "clean" means in every room, so nothing gets skipped and nobody has to guess.
- Room by room: kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms and living areas
- Daily, weekly and monthly tasks for each
- Cleaning order: declutter first, top to bottom, dry before wet, floors last
- Turn it into a routine with a schedule
- Next step: Plan it with the Cleaning Schedule ($4.49).
Our picks for cleaning checklist
Printables
Cleaning Schedule
Daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal lists - plus a family chore chart.
Save 48%Bundles
Home Management Bundle
Household binder, maintenance log, moving planner, cleaning schedule, home inventory and password log.
Starter pickPrintables
Kids Chore Chart
Weekly chore chart, morning and evening routines, chore ideas by age, a sticker reward chart and an allowance tracker.
Printables
Household Binder
Family info, emergency plan, calendars, meals, groceries, cleaning, bills and sitter notes.
A cleaning checklist tells you what "clean" means in every room, so nothing gets skipped and nobody has to guess. Below is a complete house cleaning checklist, room by room, with what to do daily, weekly and monthly, plus the cleaning order that saves time and links to our cleaning schedules and planners.
Our Cleaning Schedule printable turns this into room-by-room checklists plus daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal lists you can check off.
If you want to know when to do each job, pair this list with a weekly cleaning schedule that gives each day one zone.
Kitchen cleaning checklist
| How often | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Daily | Dishes or load the dishwasher, wipe counters and table, quick stovetop wipe, sweep crumbs, take out trash if full |
| Weekly | Clean the sink and faucet, microwave inside and out, wipe appliance fronts and cabinet handles, mop the floor, clear old food from the fridge, wash dish towels |
| Monthly | Wipe cabinet fronts, clean the oven or run the self-clean, deep-clean the fridge shelves, clean the dishwasher filter, wash the trash can |
Bathroom cleaning checklist
| How often | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Daily | Hang towels, quick sink wipe, put away products |
| Weekly | Clean the toilet inside and out, scrub sink and counter, clean mirror, clean the shower or tub, swap towels, wash bath mats, mop the floor, empty the trash |
| Monthly | Wash the shower curtain or liner, clean grout, wipe light fixtures and the exhaust fan cover, sort the medicine cabinet |
Bedroom cleaning checklist
Twice a year, add the mattress. Our guide on how to clean a mattress walks through vacuuming, spot-cleaning and deodorizing.
For spills and deeper cleaning, here is how to clean carpet.
| How often | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Daily | Make the bed, laundry in the hamper, clear the nightstand |
| Weekly | Change and wash bedding, dust surfaces, vacuum or sweep, return stray items |
| Monthly | Vacuum under the bed, wipe baseboards and doors, wash pillows if the label allows, rotate the mattress if the maker recommends it |
Living room and family areas
For the trim along the floor, our guide on how to clean baseboards has a quick routine you can do without bending down.
When the glass needs more than a wipe, see how to clean windows.
Our guide on how to clean hardwood floors covers daily sweeping, damp-mopping and what to never use on wood.
| How often | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Daily | 10-minute tidy, fold blankets, clear dishes and cups |
| Weekly | Dust surfaces and electronics, vacuum rugs and floors, vacuum or brush sofa cushions, wipe remotes and light switches |
| Monthly | Dust ceiling fans and vents, clean windows and window sills, wash throw pillow covers, vacuum under furniture |
Entryway, laundry and the rest of the house
Once a season, give the linen closet a reset too; our linen closet organization guide has a six-step plan.
Every few months, wash the pillows. Our guide on how to wash pillows covers each fill type.
To keep laundry from taking over, try our free laundry schedule, with a weekly plan and a guide to how often to wash 15 items. If you're new to it, start with these laundry tips for beginners.
- Entryway, weekly: shake out the mat, sweep, wipe the door handle, clear shoes and bags.
- Laundry room, weekly: clean the lint trap every load, wipe the machine tops, clear the floor.
- Whole house, monthly: test smoke alarms (the U.S. Fire Administration recommends monthly tests), wipe light switches and door handles, change or check HVAC filters as the maker recommends.
The cleaning order that saves time
- Declutter first. You can't clean around piles.
- Top to bottom. Dust shelves and fans before counters, and counters before floors.
- Dry before wet. Dust and vacuum before you wipe and mop.
- Let products sit. Spray the shower and toilet first, then clean the mirror and sink while it works.
- Floors last, working toward the door.
Cleaning vs. disinfecting
Cleaning with soap or detergent removes dirt and organic matter from surfaces, while disinfecting uses chemicals to kill viruses and bacteria, as the EPA's explainer on the difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting explains. Disinfect when someone in the house is sick or after handling raw meat. Always follow the product label and never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.
Turn the checklist into a routine
A checklist only helps if you use it. Three ways to make that happen:
Starting from scratch? Our guide on how to start a cleaning routine has a 7-step plan, a sample daily routine and a beginner weekly schedule. For more on this topic, see our cleaning routines hub.
For one-off jobs that aren't on the checklist, write them on a to do list template so they don't get lost.
- Use a schedule. Give each weekday one zone from the checklist. Our weekly cleaning schedule shows how.
- Plan for hard days. If starting is the problem, an ADHD cleaning planner uses a two-task minimum day and 10-minute zones.
- Share the work. Put names next to tasks. Our guide to a chore chart by age shows what kids can do at each age.
The printable cleaning checklist
Our Cleaning Schedule ($4.49) puts this all on paper: room-by-room checklists, a daily checklist, a weekly cleaning schedule, a monthly checklist, a seasonal deep clean, a family chore chart, a cleaning supplies list and notes. It's 9 pages in US Letter and A4, made to go in sheet protectors so you can reuse it with a dry-erase marker. Want a house cleaning schedule you can print tonight? That's the one.
For the whole home, the Home Management Bundle ($16.99, $32.94 if bought separately) adds the Household Binder, a home maintenance log, home inventory, password log and moving planner. For the kids, the Kids Chore Chart ($3.49) has routines, chore ideas by age and a sticker reward chart.
More cleaning checklists
Need more detail for one job? See our deep cleaning checklist, the bathroom cleaning checklist, the kitchen cleaning checklist and the move-out cleaning checklist, each with a free printable PDF.
Want to write your own list? Our free checklist template has blank and weekly pages you can fill in by room. For tasks beyond cleaning, use the household chores list to divide the rest of the household work.
Renting a small place? Our free apartment cleaning checklist has a weekly list by room, a ten-minute daily reset and a move-out list.
- Spring cleaning checklist: the once-a-year deep clean, split over weekends.
- How to clean house before holiday guests: a three-day plan for when people are coming over.
- January decluttering checklist: four weekends to clear the house after the holidays.
- Label maker guide: label bins and shelves so things go back where they belong.
Not sure where to begin? Our guide on how to clean a house walks through the right order, room by room.
A cleaning schedule you can actually keep
Daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal lists - plus a family chore chart.
$4.49 · Instant download. Print at home or fill it in on screen. Or browse the full Home & Organizing collection.
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a house cleaning checklist? A house cleaning checklist should cover every room: the kitchen (dishes, counters, stovetop, sink, floors, fridge), bathrooms (toilet, sink, mirror, shower, towels, floor), bedrooms (bedding, dusting, floors, clutter), living areas (tidy, dust, vacuum) and the entryway. Split each room into daily, weekly and monthly tasks so the list stays manageable.
What is the difference between a cleaning checklist and a cleaning schedule? A cleaning checklist lists what to clean in each room. A cleaning schedule says when you'll do it, such as bathrooms on Monday and floors on Tuesday. Most people use both: the checklist so nothing gets missed and the schedule so it fits into the week.
What order should I clean a room in? Clean top to bottom and dry to wet: declutter first, then dust high surfaces, wipe counters and furniture, clean glass and mirrors, and finish with the floor. That way dust and crumbs land on surfaces you haven't cleaned yet.
How often should I clean the bathroom? Most households wipe the sink and toilet a couple of times a week and do a full bathroom clean, including the shower and floor, once a week. Swap towels at least weekly, and wash bath mats every week or two.
How often should I change the sheets? Many households wash bedding about once a week, and every one to two weeks is common. Wash more often if someone is sick, sweats at night or a pet sleeps on the bed.
How often should I clean the kitchen? Do dishes, counters and a quick stovetop wipe every day. Clean the sink, microwave and floors weekly, and clear out the fridge each week before you shop. Deeper jobs like the oven and cabinet fronts can be monthly.
What is the difference between cleaning and disinfecting? The difference between cleaning and disinfecting is that cleaning removes dirt and grime from surfaces with soap or detergent and water. Disinfecting uses a chemical product to kill viruses and bacteria on surfaces. For most homes, regular cleaning is enough, with disinfecting saved for times someone is sick or for surfaces like raw-meat cutting boards. The EPA explains the difference between products that clean, sanitize and disinfect, and says to follow the label directions, including how long the surface must stay wet.
How long does it take to clean a whole house? A weekly clean of a typical three-bedroom home often takes two to four hours for one person. Splitting it into 20 to 30 minute zones across the week, or cleaning together as a family, makes it much easier.
What is a deep cleaning checklist? A deep cleaning checklist covers the jobs you don't do every week: baseboards, windows, inside the oven and fridge, under furniture, light fixtures, vents and washing curtains. Most families spread deep cleaning across the seasons.
How do I make a cleaning checklist for my family? Make a family cleaning checklist by listing each room, writing the daily, weekly and monthly tasks, then putting each person's name next to the jobs they own. Younger kids can match socks or wipe a table; older kids can vacuum or clean a bathroom. A shared family chore chart keeps it fair; the Cleaning Schedule includes room-by-room checklists and a Family Chore Chart.
Is there a printable cleaning checklist? Yes, the HomeBase Cleaning Schedule is a printable cleaning checklist. Our Cleaning Schedule printable includes room-by-room checklists, a daily checklist, a weekly cleaning schedule, monthly and seasonal lists, a family chore chart and a supplies list, in US Letter and A4.
What cleaning supplies do I need for a basic house clean? A general-purpose cleaner, dish soap, glass cleaner, a toilet brush and bowl cleaner, microfiber cloths, a scrub sponge, a vacuum, a mop and bucket, and trash bags cover most jobs. Read and follow the label on every product, and never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.
Free printable
Clean the whole house in order: get the free deep cleaning checklist
A printable room-by-room deep cleaning checklist that tells you what to do first, so nothing gets cleaned twice. You'll also get our weekly HomeBase email with simple cleaning routines and chore ideas the whole family can help with.
