House cleaning checklist

How to use this checklist

A written checklist is what makes your cleans consistent. Clients get the same result whichever cleaner shows up. New hires learn faster. And when a client says something was missed, you have a clear list to check against.

Use this as a starting point and adjust it to your services. Share it with clients so they know what a standard clean includes and what counts as an extra.

Before you start

• Read the client’s notes for the visit: pets, alarm codes, rooms to skip and any special requests
• Do a quick walk of the home to spot anything unusual, like damage or a mess bigger than expected
• Tell the client or the office right away if the job will take much longer than booked
• Set up your caddy and vacuum in a central spot so you are not walking back and forth

Work in the right order

• Top to bottom. Dust high surfaces first so debris falls onto floors you have not cleaned yet.
• Dry to wet. Dust and vacuum before you wipe and mop.
• Back to front. Start at the far side of each room and work toward the door so you do not walk over clean floors.
• Let products sit. Spray bathroom surfaces first, then do something else while the cleaner works.
• Color-code cloths. Keep bathroom cloths separate from kitchen cloths.

Kitchen

• Clear and wipe countertops and backsplash
• Wipe the outside of appliances: fridge, dishwasher, oven and range hood
• Clean the stovetop and drip pans or burner grates
• Clean the inside and outside of the microwave
• Wipe the outside of cabinets and drawer fronts, focusing on handles and spots
• Scrub and shine the sink and faucet
• Wipe the table and chairs
• Wipe light switches and door handles
• Empty trash and recycling and replace the liner
• Sweep and mop the floor

Bathrooms

• Spray tub, shower and toilet first so the cleaner can work
• Scrub the tub, shower walls and shower door or curtain
• Clean the toilet inside and out, including the base and behind it
• Clean the sink, faucet and countertop
• Clean mirrors and glass streak-free
• Wipe the outside of cabinets and drawers
• Wipe towel bars, toilet paper holder, light switches and door handles
• Fold or hang towels neatly
• Empty trash and replace the liner
• Vacuum and mop the floor, including corners

Bedrooms

• Make the bed, or change linens if the client leaves fresh ones out
• Dust reachable surfaces: nightstands, dressers, shelves and headboard
• Dust lamps, picture frames and decor
• Dust ceiling fan blades if reachable with an extension duster
• Wipe mirrors
• Wipe light switches and door handles
• Tidy items that are out of place without moving personal belongings far
• Empty trash
• Vacuum floors, including under the edges of the bed where reachable

Living areas

This covers living rooms, family rooms, dining rooms, hallways and entryways.

• Dust surfaces: shelves, side tables, TV stand and mantel
• Dust the TV screen with a dry microfiber cloth only
• Dust lamps, picture frames and decor
• Fluff and straighten couch cushions and pillows
• Vacuum upholstered furniture surfaces if the client requests it
• Wipe the dining table and chairs
• Wipe light switches, door handles and handrails
• Spot-clean fingerprints on doors and glass doors
• Fold throw blankets
• Empty trash

Floors

Do floors last in each room, working back toward the door.

• Vacuum all carpets and rugs, including edges
• Vacuum or sweep hard floors before mopping
• Mop hard floors with the right product for the surface
• Check the client’s notes for floors that need special care, like hardwood or natural stone
• Shake out or vacuum entry mats
• Vacuum stairs

Final walkthrough

The walkthrough catches the small misses that clients notice most. Do it every time, even when you are running late.

• Walk every room you cleaned, in order
• Check mirrors and glass for streaks from different angles
• Check that all trash is out and liners are replaced
• Look for missed spots on floors, especially corners and behind doors
• Make sure lights are off and windows and doors are as you found them, or as the client asked
• Put back anything you moved
• Collect all supplies and equipment
• Note any damage, issues or items needing attention for the client
• Lock up and secure keys or lockbox as instructed

Some owners have cleaners take a few photos at the end of each job. It helps settle questions later and gives you material for reviews and your website, with the client’s permission.

Deep-clean add-ons

These tasks take extra time and are not part of a standard clean. Offer them as part of a deep clean, a first clean or as separate extras. See deep clean vs standard clean for more on the difference.

• Baseboards, door frames and window sills by hand
• Inside the oven
• Inside the fridge and freezer
• Inside kitchen cabinets and drawers
• Interior windows and tracks
• Blinds and window treatments
• Light fixtures and ceiling fans in detail
• Grout scrubbing in showers and floors
• Walls spot-cleaned or washed
• Behind and under movable furniture and appliances
• Vents and returns

Price each add-on by the time it takes. Our guide on how to price house cleaning covers extras and first-clean surcharges. For empty homes, use our move-out cleaning checklist instead.

Put the checklist where cleaners will use it

A checklist in a binder at the office does not help much. Cleaners need it on the job, for the specific home, with that client’s notes. Sweepivo’s cleaner app shows room-by-room checklists for each visit on iPhone, Android or in a browser, alongside directions and job notes.

Review your checklist every few months. When the same complaint comes up twice, add a line for it.

Written by the Sweepivo team, October 2026. General guidance only: check your state and local rules, and talk to an accountant or lawyer about tax and legal questions.

Questions

What is included in a standard house cleaning?

A standard clean usually includes dusting, wiping kitchen and bathroom surfaces, cleaning sinks, toilets, tubs and showers, making beds, emptying trash, and vacuuming and mopping floors.

What is not included in a regular house cleaning?

Tasks like inside the oven or fridge, inside cabinets, interior windows, baseboards by hand and blinds are usually extras or part of a deep clean. See deep clean vs standard clean.

In what order should you clean a house?

Work top to bottom, dry to wet and from the back of each room toward the door. Spray bathrooms first so products can work, and do floors last.

Try it yourself

Every plan comes with a 30-day free trial, no card needed, in English and Spanish. Set up your services and prices, share your booking link, and see if it fits.

Rather see it first? Book a demo call and we’ll walk you through it.