Basic Cleaning Checklist
The Basic Cleaning Checklist That Protects Your Home and Saves Time Long Term
A Practical Guide To Cleaning Your Home Regularly And Keeping It "Guest-Ready" Without Spending Hours Each Week
It's common to only clean when things seem to have gotten completely out of hand. But few homes require perfection--most require a consistent, reliable cleaning schedule. That's why we call our Basic Cleaning Checklist a "cleaning rhythm". This is a simple system designed to prevent dirt buildup, protect surfaces in your home, and keep your space looking and feeling calm and livable.
At Karen's Green Cleaning, we view checklists as professional tools, not just pretty printables. We believe the perfect checklist must strike a balance between hygiene, appearance, and maintenance. Hygiene reduces the spread of germs in high-touch areas. Appearance helps your home look clean and fresh. Maintenance keeps floors, fixtures, and finishes intact so you're not paying for future repairs.
Below is a simple, practical checklist you can follow each week--along with some daily "micro-habits" to help with that weekly task.
The Basic Cleaning Checklist Mindset: Why "Little and Often" Is Better Than Weekend Cleaning Marathons
As professional cleaners know, many "deep cleaning" jobs are really nothing more than years of unaddressed basic cleaning issues. For example, dust turns into buildup. Soap scum turns into hard water deposits. Crumbs turn into sticky grime that will attract bugs.
That is why a Basic Cleaning Checklist is such a valuable tool. It addresses cleaning issues as they occur--when they are easiest to address:
Fresh spills are easy to clean; set-in stains may require treatment over several applications.
Light dust is easily wiped away; heavy dust creates a cloud of dust that settles back onto surfaces.
Small amounts of clutter can quickly be tidied up; large amounts of clutter can quickly render cleaning impossible.
Think of your Basic Cleaning Checklist as regular home maintenance, similar to brushing your teeth. It's not about the quality of cleaning; it's about the frequency of cleaning.
Daily Micro-Habits Basic Cleaning Checklist: 10-Minute Resets That Keep Messes From Building Up
Daily cleaning does not necessarily mean cleaning every inch of your home. It simply means being proactive against the mess that builds up throughout the day.
Do each of the below daily (or almost daily):
Clear all items off of kitchen counter tops and quickly wipe down the counters.
Complete your dish routine and ensure the sink is not full of dirty dishes.
Quickly wipe down the sink area in your bathroom and rinse off toothpaste/soap residue.
Wipe down high-touch areas (door handles, light switches, refrigerator handle, etc.) particularly during flu season.
Take a moment to quickly vacuum or sweep floor areas where there are high amounts of crumbs/pet hair in order to prevent slipping hazards.
Practical fact: High-touch surfaces are one of the fastest ways germs move through a home because hands go from phone to handle to face without anyone noticing. A quick daily wipe down makes a big difference in the amount of household germ transfer, even if everything else appears to be clean.
Weekly Task Basic Cleaning Checklist: What Will Actually Keep Your Home Feeling Clean
Weekly cleaning is where your home moves from surviving to being maintained. This checklist is your starting point.
Living Room + Bedrooms
Top-down dusting of all surfaces (shelves, tables, baseboards).
Coffee table, side table and other frequently touched surfaces need to be wiped down.
Rug/Carpets and Edges Need to be Vacuumed.
Throw Pillows/Blankets need to be straightened and any clutter needs to be removed from floors.
Bathrooms
Sink, Faucet Handles, Counters need to be cleaned and disinfected.
Toilet Bowl Needs to be Scrubbed and Disinfected Exterior Touch Points.
Mirrors Need to be Cleaned and Shower/Tub Surfaces Where Residue Builds Up.
Trash Needs to be Empty and Liner Replaced.
Floors Need to be Mopped, Focusing On Toilet Area and Corners.
Kitchen
Countertops and High-Touch Points Need to be Wiped Down and Disinfected.
Sink Basin and Faucet Handles Need to be Thoroughly Cleaned.
Stove Top and Back Splash Need to be Cleaned to Prevent Grease Build-Up.
Microwave Interior Needs to be Cleaned More Thoroughly and Fridge Shelves Need to be Cleaned As Needed.
Trash Needs to be Emptied, Lid/Handle Need to be Wiped Down and Sticky Spots on Cabinet Fronts Need to be Cleaned.
Floors Need to be Swept/Vacuumed and Mopped.
These are the types of cleaning activities that will keep your home from entering "Deep Clean Territory".
Basic Cleaning Checklist for Monthly Maintenance: Addressing "Hidden Buildups" in Your Home
Monthly cleaning activities are how you protect your home long-term. These activities will also help to eliminate odors and keep your home smelling fresh.
Use a vacuum to clean underneath furniture and in the corners of the rooms that were missed by the weekly pass.
Use a damp cloth to wipe down baseboards and door frames (fingerprint marks build up in these areas).
Use a damp cloth to clean light switches and the surrounding walls (smudge marks build up in these areas).
Clean the microwave interior more thoroughly and wipe down the refrigerator shelves as needed.
Wash or replace washable items (such as shower liners, bath mats, and pillow protectors).
Dust the vents and/or return air grills (these areas collect dust and then circulate the same dust throughout your home via the heating/cooling systems).
Practical fact: Indoor dust is made up of fibers, skin flakes, soil tracked into the house from outside, and airborne particles. When these items collect on vents/shelves/carpets, they can be stirred up by movement (which is why homes may appear to be dusty despite recent cleaning efforts).
Basic Cleaning Checklist Supplies: A Small Set Of Safe, Effective, and Easy-To-Grip Supplies That Still Get The Job Done
You do not need an arsenal of cleaning products to effectively clean your home. A good cleaning kit should include safe, effective, and easy-to-grasp products.
Our go-to basics at Karen's Green Cleaning include:
Microfiber cloths (washable, capture dust better than paper towels).
Multi-Surface Cleaner (for daily wiping down).
Dish Soap (also a great degreaser for kitchens).
Baking Soda (mild abrasive for cleaning sinks and tubs).
Glass Cleaner (for mirrors and fingerprints).
Disinfectant (for high-touch areas, use as directed).
Vacuum With Crevice Tool (for getting into edges and baseboards).
Pro Tip: Microfiber cloths work well because the tiny fibers create increased surface contact and help pull debris along rather than push it around.
Making Your Basic Cleaning Checklist Work Long Term: Tips for Making a System That Won't Fall Apart
A cleaning checklist only works if it works within your lifestyle. Here are some tips to making a cleaning checklist that won't fall apart:
Divide your home into zones, but assign a zone per day (e.g., "kitchen and bathrooms today, floors tomorrow").
Use a timer: 20-30 minutes per day or two times per week is much more reasonable than spending four hours on the weekend.
Store cleaning supplies near where they will be used (i.e., bathroom cloths in the bathroom, not in a separate closet).
Create a "starting point" for cleaning (i.e., take a few minutes to tidy before cleaning).
When homeowners feel stuck, it is usually not lack of motivation, but a cleaning checklist that is too large to be repeated. Your basic cleaning checklist should be able to be followed even on the busiest of weeks.
Q&A: Frequently Asked Questions About Basic Cleaning Checklists (With Some Very Persuasive Answers!)
How Often Should I Follow My Basic Cleaning Checklist?
Following a Basic Cleaning Checklist is meant to be done daily, weekly and monthly. Daily micro-habits will keep your home relatively clean, weekly cleaning will keep your home truly clean and monthly cleaning will help to prevent the buildup of dirt, dust and other unwanted substances in your home.
Q1. What Is The Biggest Mistake People Make With Basic Cleaning?
Most people fail to develop a routine of cleaning their home and tend to wait until the mess has built up beyond manageable levels before they attempt to clean. However, the best way to keep your home clean is to catch grime early (before it hardens, sets into stains or spreads).
Q2. Will Using a Basic Cleaning Checklist Save Time?
Yes, using a Basic Cleaning Checklist will likely save you time in the long run. Instead of having to spend an entire Saturday or Sunday deep cleaning your home, you can focus on keeping your home clean on a weekly basis. Additionally, using a Basic Cleaning Checklist will help you establish a cleaning routine, which will help to minimize the amount of time spent cleaning on a daily basis.
Q3. I Am Busy -- What Is The Minimum Number of "Must-Do" Activities I Must Complete in Order to Use a Basic Cleaning Checklist?
In order to benefit from a Basic Cleaning Checklist, you will need to complete the following minimum number of "must-do" cleaning activities: clearing all items off of kitchen counters and quickly wiping down the counters, completing your dish routine and ensuring the sink is not full of dirty dishes, quickly wiping down the sink area in your bathroom and rinsing off toothpaste/soap residue, quickly wiping down high-touch areas (door handles, light switches, refrigerator handle, etc.), sweeping or vacuuming the high traffic areas of your home (where there are a lot of crumbs/pet hair), and taking a moment to quickly vacuum or sweep floor areas where there are high amounts of crumbs/pet hair in order to prevent slipping hazards.
Q4. When Should I Hire a Professional Cleaning Service Such as Karen's Green Cleaning Rather Than Doing the Cleaning Myself?
If you are behind on cleaning, feel overwhelmed by the thought of cleaning, or would like to have a professional "reset" to get your cleaning routine back on track, Karen's Green Cleaning can assist you. At Karen's Green Cleaning, we do not simply clean -- we provide a baseline cleaning and a cleaning routine that will allow you to maintain a comfortable, healthy, and guest-friendly home.