Home Cleaning Checklists for Your Cleaning Business

When you first open a residential cleaning business and start taking on your first clients, you might feel overwhelmed by trying to ensure you don’t forget to clean anything. Neglecting to clean certain areas will leave your clients dissatisfied with your services and less likely to book you to clean their homes in the future. To take away the pressure of cleaning homes, we have created a house cleaning checklist. By following this list, you won’t take the chance of forgetting any areas and your customers will be thrilled with your high-quality cleaning services.

Our house cleaning checklist includes each of the common areas of the home, like the kitchen, dining room, bathroom, bedroom, and home office. Use this list to ensure you cover everything in the home, like window sills, appliances, electrical outlets, and light switches. We have also included our insider advice for each area and a checklist specialized for deep cleaning as well!

Common Areas of the Home

• Dust wood furniture with furniture polish.
• Dust all remaining furniture tops.
• Dust photo frames and decorations.
• Dust blinds and window sills.
• Clean the inside of every window.
• Dust ceiling fans or lighting fixtures (within reach).
• Dust any lamps and lampshades.
• Wipe down spots on the walls and doors.
• Dust baseboards.
• Disinfect all doorknobs.
• Clean all electrical outlets.
• Clean all light switches.
• Clean all mirrors.
• Sweep all tile and hardwood floors.
• Mop all tile and hardwood floors.
• Vacuum all carpet (including the closets).
• Empty all trash cans.

Pay close attention to detail, especially in the common areas of the home. These are the areas that guests will see most frequently when they visit your client’s home. When you are dusting, be sure to pick up each object separately and dust under the object. If you only dust around the items that are on top of the furniture, dust will be left behind and will be visible to your client when they inspect the quality of your cleaning. It is worth taking the extra time!

For the doorknobs, light switches, and electrical outlets, we always advise using a product that has high-quality disinfecting properties. These areas are often touched frequently and can have the most germs. By using a disinfecting product, you will ensure that you remove all germs and provide your clients with the best cleaning service possible.

While you are vacuuming or sweeping, pay attention to the corners and edges of the room. This goes for every room in the home, but we especially recommend this for the common areas since they tend to be the most used. We recommend using the vacuum wand along the edge of the carpet to get any areas the base of the vacuum may miss. Crumbs and animal hair can easily get stuck on the edges and corners. Vacuuming or mopping should also be the last thing you do, so any dust that may be on the furniture or baseboards has already fallen onto the floor.

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Kitchen & Dining Room

• Dust all furniture.
• Dust blinds and window sills.
• Clean the inside of every window.
• Dust any ceiling fans or lighting fixtures (within reach).
• Wipe down spots on the walls and doors.
• Dust baseboards.
• Clean all electrical outlets.
• Clean all light switches.
• Disinfect all doorknobs.
• Clean and disinfect all countertops.
• Clean and disinfect the dining room table.
• Wipe down and disinfect all dining room chairs.
• Wipe down the front of all cupboards.
• Clean any dishes (if requested).
• Clean outside and inside of the microwave.
• Clean and disinfect the outside of the refrigerator, including the top.
• Clean the inside of the refrigerator (when requested).
• Clean and disinfect the exterior of the oven.
• Clean the interior of the oven (when requested).
• Clean and disinfect outside of the dishwasher.
• Wipe down the inside and sides of the dishwasher.
• Sweep any tile and hardwood floor.
• Mop any tile and hardwood floor.
• Empty all trash cans.

Before cleaning the kitchen for a new client, we recommend asking the client what items they specifically want to be cleaned. You may have some clients that want their dishes cleaned, along with the inside of every kitchen appliance. You may also have clients that prefer to do their own dishes and only want the outside of appliances cleaned regularly. By having a clear understanding of what services your clients want regularly, you will have an easier time staying within their budget and giving them the best experience possible.

For cleaning kitchens, it is advised to have specific cleaners available to clean specific areas. We recommend stocking up on granite stone cleaner, stainless steel cleaner and oven cleaner for cleaning kitchens. If you use a multi-purpose cleaner for cleaning granite countertops, you will likely leave behind streaks. By using a cleaner made specifically for stone surfaces, you will protect the surface and it will also come out spotless when you’re done. A stainless steel cleaner will help stainless steel appliances really shine as well!

If your client wants you to clean the inside of their oven, it is important for you to invest in a high-quality oven cleaner, like any oven cleaner by the brand Easy-Off. We prefer the fume-free version of their oven cleaner since heavily fumed cleaner can make it more difficult to clean the area. The fumes can get so strong that you’ll have to take more breaks. The fume-free version will save you more time. If you buy a cheaper, generic oven cleaner, you are going to have a much more difficult time getting a dirty oven completely clean.

Another tip when it comes to cleaning inside an oven is checking the oven when you first arrive at the home! If the inside of the oven has a lot of black residues that don’t come off easily, you will want to spray the oven with a thick layer of oven cleaner before you clean any other spot in the home. After you spray the oven, you will want to clean other areas of the kitchen first and clean the oven last. By allowing the oven cleaner to sit in the oven for at least an hour, the residue will come off a lot easier.

Unless your client requests otherwise, we recommend cleaning both the inside and outside of the microwave during every cleaning. This is an appliance that is used frequently and can get dirty quickly since food often splatters in the microwave. If you put a cup of water in the microwave and heat it up for 1-2 minutes before cleaning the microwave, the sides of the microwave will wipe clean a lot easier with less effort. We prefer to use a multi-purpose spray cleaner and cloth to clean both the inside and outside of microwaves. If the microwave is stainless steel on the outside, which we would use stainless steel cleaner for that part.

Bathrooms

• Clean and disinfect shower and tub.
• Scrub and disinfect the inside of the toilet.
• Wipe down and disinfect the top and bottom surfaces of the toilet.
• Clean and disinfect countertop of vanity.
• Wipe down shelves in the medicine cabinet.
• Clean all mirrors and glass.
• Wipe down the front of the cupboards.
• Dust any blinds or window sills.
• Clean the inside of every window.
• Clean all electrical outlets.
• Clean all light switches.
• Dust baseboards.
• Wipe down spots on walls and doors.
• Disinfect all doorknobs.
• Sweep all tile floors.
• Mop all tile floors.
• Empty all trash cans.

Bathrooms are another area of the home where you want to invest in specific cleaners. By having bathroom cleaners, you will have an easier time removing mildew or scum from the shower. For the most challenging showers, we recommend buying the powder version of Comet with bleach. You can sprinkle the Comet on the shower first and allow it to sit. While it’s sitting, you can work on other parts of the bathroom.

By allowing the Comet with bleach to sit in the shower before you scrub it down, the residue will begin to lift, and you’ll have an easier time getting it truly clean. Comet works well for not only the tub, but it also works well for grout if a shower has tile walls. You can also use Comet on the inside of a toilet as well, especially if it is full of residue.

Some of the common areas in a bathroom that are often missed are the bottom of the toilet and the inside of the medicine cabinet. The bottom part of the toilet near the floor may not be easily noticeable, but it is an essential area to clean and disinfect. If the bathroom you are cleaning has any shelves for medicine or hygiene products, it important to remove the items and wipe down the shelves regularly since they can collect dust.

We recommend investing in a bathroom spray cleaner like Scrubbing Bubbles for the bathrooms that don’t require as much work. This will be common if you’re cleaning a home on a consistent basis. If your client’s budget allows you to clean regularly, it will make cleaning a home much easier when it comes to all areas of the home.

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Bedrooms

• Dust wood furniture with furniture polish.
• Dust all remaining furniture tops.
• Dust photo frames and decorations.
• Dust blinds and window sills.
• Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures (within reach).
• Dust any lamps and lampshades.
• Clean all mirrors.
• Clean the inside of every window.
• Wipe down or polish the bed frame.
• Change sheets (if requested).
• Finish making the bed (if requested).
• Wipe down spots on walls and doors.
• Wipe down closet shelves.
• Dust baseboards.
• Clean all electrical outlets.
• Clean all light switches.
• Disinfect all doorknobs.
• Vacuum all carpet (including the closets).
• Empty all trash cans.

The most commonly missed area when cleaning a bedroom is the closet. It is important to remember to wipe down any closet shelves and vacuum the carpet in the closet. Like the kitchen, you will want to ask your clients what they are wanting done in their bedroom. Some clients might want you to change the bedsheets and make their bed during each cleaning. On the other hand, you will likely have clients that prefer that their bed not be touched.

One piece of advice for bedrooms is to be cautious of ceiling fans. If there is a ceiling fan over the bed that you will be dusting, dust the fan before you change the sheets and make the bed. Dusting the fan can cause large amounts of dust to fall onto the bed. If you are dusting a ceiling fan and your client prefers that their bed not be touched, we recommend warning the client upfront that dust may fall on the bed (in case they didn’t realize the mess dusting the ceiling fan could make).

It is important to be extra cautious when handling your client’s belongings. This is important for all areas in the home, but it can be especially true for the bedroom. People often keep their most prized and sentimental belongings in their bedroom where they tend to be safer. Take your time while picking up items during dusting. You will be glad you slowed down. Rushing only causes more accidents to happen!

Home Office

• Clean and disinfect the desk.
• Dust any bookcases or furniture.
• Wipe down and disinfect desk chair.
• Dust photo frames and decorations.
• Dust blinds and window sills.
• Clean the inside of every window.
• Empty the paper shredder (if approved).
• Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures (within reach).
• Dust any lamps and lampshades.
• Wipe down spots on walls and doors.
• Dust baseboards.
• Disinfect all doorknobs.
• Clean all electrical outlets.
• Clean all light switches.
• Empty all trash cans (if approved).

In today’s world, it is very common for people to have a home office or den in their home, which is why we’ve included this area on our house cleaning checklist. Since this is an area your client can often forget to clean on their own, it is important to ask your client if they’d like the home office cleaned if they have one.

One of our tips for cleaning home offices is being careful of any paper on the desk. You want to ensure that your hands are clean and dry when lifting all paper or moving belongings. You also want to be extra careful to respect your client’s privacy and not read any of the papers you see on the desk. If a client catches you reading papers on their desk, it can cause them to lose respect and trust for you as their cleaner.

Our last tip for cleaning home offices is asking the client if they’d like their trashes and paper shredder emptied. Since a home office often contains important and private documents, it is always better to have the client’s approval first. As the saying goes, “Better to be safe than sorry.”

Deep Cleaning Checklist

• Wipe down all baseboards.
• Wipe down all blinds.
• Clean door frames and panels.
• Wipe down inside of cupboards.
• Wipe down inside of drawers.
• Clean inside the oven (if not done regularly).
• Clean inside the dishwasher (if not done regularly).
• Thoroughly disinfect all closet shelves.
• Clean and disinfect all trash bins.
• Steam or scrub all grout in flooring (if you have the tools).
• Vacuum upholstered furniture.

Deep cleaning is a service that is in high demand. However, there are a few differences between deep cleaning and the cleaning you will regularly be doing for clients. Deep cleaning includes all the regular cleaning tasks we listed above for each specific area. On top of those tasks, you will also be completing extra in-depth cleaning tasks as well. Most client will want their home deep cleaned seasonally or annually. You will also provide deep cleaning services when you are cleaning for a move-out or rental home.

Our first piece of advice for deep cleaning is to pay careful attention to the smallest of details. This may include vacuuming the furniture to get any crumbs you may not regularly look for. You’ll also want to clean inside drawers and cupboards. For blinds and baseboards, we recommend thoroughly wiping them down during deep cleaning instead of simply dusting like you normally would.

For our second piece of advice for deep cleaning, we recommend investing in a high-quality disinfecting product! When it comes to deep cleaning, the overall goal is to really get the home as clean and disinfected as possible, removing germs from areas you may not expect. By investing in a high-quality disinfecting product, you will be able to ensure you are getting rid of as many germs around the home as you can! When it comes to disinfecting products, it always better to invest in a higher-quality product rather than go with a cheaper generic brand.

This list is will not only prevent you from missing any areas of your client’s home while you’re cleaning, but it also serves as an excellent resource for your client. By printing out this checklist and giving it to your client, they will be able to clearly see what items are being cleaned in their home during every appointment. This will also give your client more trust in your services and will encourage them to book you on a consistent basis! You can never go wrong by relying on a house cleaning checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What area should I start cleaning in the home first?

The area that you start cleaning first in a home will depend on your personal preference. There is no right or wrong way to choose what room you will clean first. As you begin to clean more homes, you will develop a routine that you consistently stick to for every home.

In our experience, we start with the kitchen and the common areas. Once those are finished, we will then move on to the bathrooms and, finally, finish with all the bedrooms in the home.

If two cleaners are on the job, one will start with the kitchen and then move on to the common areas. The second person will start on the bathrooms and then move on to the bedrooms. This way, both cleaning professionals will finish at roughly the same time. If one cleaner is done early, they can help the second person. Starting in separate areas of the home prevents both cleaners from going over the same area twice. The goal is to be as efficient as possible!

Is it possible for me to clean too thoroughly?

Cleaning a home “too thoroughly” will ultimately depend on your client’s desires and budget. Every client is different and will have different priorities when it comes to cleaning their home. Before you clean your client’s home for the first time, we recommend asking the client what type of cleaning they are looking for and what their budget is. By being aware of their budget, you can plan your cleaning according to the amount of time you can clean and still stay within the price they want to spend.

If a client has a lower budget and you provide a very thorough and deep clean, you are taking the risk of going over your client’s budget. However, if your client has a higher budget and is wanting more of a deep clean, then you are less likely to clean a home too thoroughly. We always recommend asking the client first to make sure you have a clear understanding of what they are looking for.

How often should I provide deep cleaning for my regular clients?

If you are cleaning for a specific client regularly, the frequency of deep cleaning will depend on the client’s preferences. We recommend asking each of your regulars how often they would like a deep cleaning of their home. Some clients may prefer to have a deep cleaning every quarter or season. However, some clients may prefer deep cleaning only be done once a year; for example, every spring.

It is important to ask for permission first before doing any deep cleaning. Since this cleaning job will take longer, it will increase the total price of your client’s invoice. If you are providing regular services for a client, they are probably familiar with the amount that each cleaning service costs. If you provide deep cleaning without asking first, you may catch your client off guard with a higher price on their invoice. This will often result in your customer being unhappy in the long run.

When you are asking your client if they want deep cleaning done, we recommend providing them with the deep cleaning checklist and explaining what your deep cleaning services come with. This will help your client have a better understanding of what to expect and will also help them make the decision on how frequently they’d like deep cleaning done.

To learn more on how to start your own cleaning business, check out my startup documents here.

Please note that the contents of this blog are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Any action taken based on the information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk. Additionally, all images used in this blog are generated under the CC0 license of Creative Commons, which means they are free to use for any purpose without attribution.