Decluttering and removing unnecessary items in your home can be done anytime; you don’t have to wait for spring to regain control and rejuvenate your living environment.
The thought of thoroughly cleaning a home or property can be daunting, so we have compiled this comprehensive home cleaning checklist to help you devise an easy-to-follow plan for guaranteed success. Our guide will cover every area of the home, offering efficient methods for a successful cleaning experience. We’ll discuss the following:
- Getting Started
- Kitchen Cleaning
- Living Room Cleaning
- Bedroom Cleaning
- Bathroom Cleaning
- Attic Cleaning
- Basement Cleaning
- Garage Cleaning
- Outdoor Cleanup
- Tips for Faster Home Cleaning
Getting Started
The first step in a complete home cleaning project is to develop a strategy.
Determine your goal for the cleaning. Are you responsible for an estate or eviction cleaning and need to remove everything from the house? Are you preparing to move and want to minimize your possessions before packing? Has it been years since you last decluttered your home? Knowing your goal and the type/amount of items you want to dispose of will help you plan your disposal.
Next, create a schedule. Do you have a deadline for this project, or can you work on it at your leisure? Do you prefer to dedicate an entire week or weekend to complete the project, or do you like to work in sections with breaks in between? Having a rough idea of your project schedule will help you create a plan essential for a successful home cleaning. If you need help knowing where to start, map your home and rate each room from 1-5 based on cleaning difficulty, with 1 being the easiest and 5 being the most challenging.
Rooms like basements and attics that have accumulated items over time could be rated 5, while smaller, frequently used, and organized rooms like bathrooms might be rated 1. List the rooms in order of difficulty to help you decide which ones to tackle first and last. You can clean the most challenging rooms first and save the easy ones for later, or vice versa. Choose the approach that motivates you the most.
Are you throwing everything away? Will you be donating or selling some valuable or gently used items? Before beginning, ensure you can dispose of or organize the items you remove. If you’re keeping everything, have boxes or bags ready to sort items for donation or sale to avoid mixing them with the trash.
Kitchen Cleaning
A disorganized kitchen with cluttered utensils, expired pantry items, mismatched or chipped dishes, and messy cabinets can feel chaotic and stressful. However, with a solid plan, even the messiest kitchen cleaning can be completed with minimal stress and relative ease. First, decide what you want to eliminate. Are you discarding everything in the kitchen or only items you no longer use? Perhaps you’re moving and want to keep essentials while disposing of all the food. Establish your goal before starting.
If you’re dealing with an estate or eviction cleanout or moving, start by sorting through all cabinets and drawers and creating separate piles for items to keep, donate, and discard. If you’re not moving and are just doing a basic kitchen cleaning, leave the items you’re keeping in their places and remove items to be donated, sold, or discarded, sorting them into appropriate piles.
If you need to dispose of one or more kitchen appliances, consider hiring a junk removal company to handle the heavy lifting. They can also remove bags or boxes of unwanted items throughout the house, allowing you to eliminate all your junk at once. Additionally, junk removal companies can assist with the aftermath of a kitchen remodel, including any resulting interior demolition. They can haul away debris, appliances, and furniture as needed. To find local interior demolition contractors for your kitchen remodel, search on Hometown Demolition.
Once you’ve removed all unwanted items, it’s time to clean and organize them. If the kitchen is entirely cleared, cleaning should be straightforward. We recommend working from top to bottom.
Begin by dusting any fans, light fixtures, and top cabinets—next, clean lower cabinets, drawers, and other storage areas. For drawers and cabinets containing food and items, as well as the refrigerator, remove the contents to clean the storage spaces and then return the items neatly to their designated spots.
Afterward, if needed, clean the interiors of your kitchen appliances, such as refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, and ovens. Lastly, clean all remaining surfaces, including countertops, appliance exteriors, and floors.
If you’re taking breaks between cleaning different areas of your home, dispose of your piles of garbage and junk promptly to avoid living among them. Donations can be dropped off at Goodwill or The Salvation Army during business hours. Dispose of trash in your garbage bin, or if you have many items to discard, consider renting a dumpster and tackling the rest of your home as soon as possible. Dumpster rentals are an affordable and efficient way to manage a home cleaning project, taking the stress out of the disposal aspect.
Living Room Cleaning
Cleaning your living room can be approached similarly to kitchen cleaning, but it will likely take less time. Living rooms are not typically used for storage and are less cluttered than kitchens, basements, and bedrooms. However, if you have a large, outdated entertainment center with numerous DVDs, games, or other items, take the time to organize them and dispose of anything no longer in use.
Old furniture or technology may be sold, donated, or given away for free, but if they are too worn to be salvaged, they may need to be taken to a landfill. In this case, a dumpster rental or junk removal company is your best option. Even if you have a truck capable of hauling items to the landfill, you will likely need to make several trips by the time you finish cleaning your entire home.
Some cities allow you to place large furniture items at the end of your driveway for pickup, but you must pay for this service in advance and make arrangements with your trash pickup provider to avoid fines.
Bedroom Cleaning
Bedroom cleaning involves decluttering and organizing personal items, clothes, and furniture. Start by sorting through your closets, drawers, and storage areas, creating separate piles for items you want to keep, donate, and discard. For items you’re keeping, consider organizing them to maximize space and make it effortless to find what you need.
When decluttering, be honest about what you truly need and use. Let go of clothing that has yet to be worn in over a year, items that no longer fit your style, or possessions that no longer serve a purpose in your life.
Once you’ve sorted and removed unwanted items, clean your bedroom’s surfaces, furniture, and floors. Dust and wipe down dressers, nightstands, and any shelves. Vacuum or sweep the floors, cleaning under the bed and other furniture.
Bathroom Cleaning
Bathroom cleaning is usually less time-consuming, as these spaces are generally smaller and used more frequently. Start by going through cabinets, drawers, and storage spaces, disposing of expired medications, old toiletries, and items you no longer use. Organize the remaining items neatly in their designated areas.
Scrub the shower, bathtub, and toilet thoroughly, removing soap scum, mildew, and hard water stains. Next, clean all surfaces, including countertops, sinks, mirrors, and fixtures. Finally, clean the floors, paying special attention to corners and areas behind the toilet.
Attic and Basement Cleaning
Attic and basement cleaning can be challenging due to accumulating items over time. Begin by sorting through your belongings, creating separate piles for items to keep, donate, and discard. Be prepared to encounter sentimental items and make decisions about their worth and relevance in your life.
After sorting and removing items:
- Clean the space thoroughly.
- Dust and vacuum, paying close attention to corners, ceilings, and other hard-to-reach areas where dust and cobwebs may have accumulated.
- Inspect the space for any signs of water damage, pests, or structural issues, and address these concerns promptly.
Garage Cleaning
A garage cleaning project involves sorting through tools, equipment, and stored items. Organize your belongings, creating separate piles for items to keep, donate, and discard. Consider installing shelves or other storage solutions to maximize space and organize your garage.
Once you’ve sorted and removed unwanted items, clean the garage floors, walls, and surfaces. Sweep or vacuum the floors, removing dirt, debris, and oil stains. If necessary, use a pressure washer to clean the garage floor thoroughly.
Outdoor Cleanup
Outdoor cleanup involves tidying up your yard, garden, and any exterior living spaces. Trim overgrown plants, mow the lawn, and remove weeds—clean outdoor furniture, play equipment, and other structures, such as sheds or gazebos. Collect and dispose of any debris, such as leaves, branches, and trash.
Tips for Faster Home Cleaning
- Break the project into smaller tasks and focus on one room or area at a time.
- Use a timer to stay on track and maintain momentum.
- Enlist the help of family members or friends to make the process more satisfying and efficient.
- Set clear goals and deadlines for each stage of the cleaning project.
- Use appropriate cleaning tools and supplies to make the job easier and more efficient.
- Stay organized by labeling boxes and containers for donated, sold, or discarded items.
- Plan to dispose of unwanted items through donation, selling, or renting a dumpster.
By following this comprehensive home cleaning checklist, you’ll be able to tackle your home cleaning project confidently and achieve a clean, organized, and refreshed living space.
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