Step-By-Step Guide To Weekly House Cleaning

Owning a professional cleaning company has been a real blessing for me.  I know that sounds funny, but when I first started the business, I was seriously in debt, and it was the main reason I was able to pay off my debt so quickly. It never fails.  When I get a call for a quote, and I head over to the house, I always get asked the same question, “How long will it take to clean my house?”

When we get hired to clean, what folks often don’t understand or realize is we have a game plan as soon as we walk into your home. It takes a professional far less time to clean your home than it will you because we have one goal in mind:  to clean your home in the most efficient way possible.  We have a strategy that takes on cleaning in a systematic, organized way.

What might take you all day, takes us two hours.  People equate length of time with how “clean” the home is.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Professionals clean all day long.  You don’t. But if you want to clean like a professional in the shortest amount of time, this cleaning strategy will help you accomplish that goal.

Here’s a weekly house cleaning checklist to give you an idea of how to clean your home efficiently:

1.  Get In the Mood

Before you start going room to room, pause first to put on some great, lively music. Most of my staff work with a headset on because music makes everything better.

2.  Pick Up Clutter

Now pick up clutter, and as you go, feel free to second-guess your belongings. The less you have, the less you have to put away, clean, and dust: scrutinize books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, furniture, toys the kids have outgrown, old computers you’ve outgrown, old clothes and shoes in the closets…is it time to donate and recycle? We’ll tackle the art of de-cluttering next week.

3.  Ready, Set Dust

Dust (go left to right, top to bottom) with microfiber cloths. This will lower allergens and improve the air quality in your house. My favorite cleaning tool, the Swiffer duster is great for dusting too. For slatted blinds, use the string to close them one way and dust, then close them the other way and repeat…it’s useful and a lot more efficient than trying to do one slat at a time. Don’t forget to hit the tops of doors, fans, light fixtures, picture frames and yes, each of your knickknacks (keep them in display cases to reduce dusting work). For the face of framed photos, TV screens, and computer monitors, use glass cleaner on your cotton cloth or microfiber to avoid streaking.

Now and then, your wooden furniture will need a good waxing.  Depending on your family this can be done once a month.

4.  Ready, Set Vacuum

Make sure your bag/compartment isn’t already full, empty if needed.  Use the right settings and attachments. Hit the floors in the whole house, and upholstered furniture. You’ll be amazed at all those missing items (socks, your favorite pen) that you find under your couch cushions not to mention leftover snacks!

5.  Ready, Set Floors

Sweep/mop/(except kitchen). For mopping, start at the farthest corner of the room and move back toward the entrance. Rinse mop after completing each 4 x 4-foot area.  Better yet, use my favorite tool, the Swiffer Wet Jet or Swiffer Wet Pads.

6.  Kitchen

• Wipe down countertops and cabinets (start at the immediate right of the stove).
• Clean the face of appliances (refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher).
• Wipe down stove top.
• Clean inside of the microwave.
• Soak stove drip pans and knobs in sink.
• Clean inside and around sink.
• Sweep and mop floor (go light on cleaning product in the water to avoid build-up).

7.  Bathrooms

• Remove rugs/wastebasket (if you haven’t already when vacuuming earlier).
• Remove everything from tub/shower.
• Wet tub/shower walls with warm water.
• Apply shower/tub cleaner allow to sit.
• Spray/clean everything with all-purpose cleaner except toilet, vanity, shower/tub, mirror.
• Fill bucket with ¼ cup all-purpose cleaner and water to prep for floor cleaning or use the Swiffer system I recommend,
• Scrub tub/shower walls and door (use grout brush in-between tiles as needed).
• Clean shower rack/soap dishes.
• Rinse off walls of tub/shower and dry with cloth or let air dry
• Vanity: spray bathroom cleaner in sink, soap dish.
• Spray countertop with all-purpose cleaner.
• Scrub sink.
• Use grout brush along faucet and drain.
• Rinse the sink.
• Wipe the vanity countertop.
• Wipe down cabinet fronts.
• Clean mirror: spray glass cleaner on soft cloth and buff.
• Shine the faucets.
• Clean toilet inside with toilet bowl cleaner, disinfect outside of toilet.  Wipe dry.
• Wash the floor with solution in the bucket.
• Allow to dry.
• Replace rugs, bath mat and wastebasket.

8.  Bedrooms

If you’ve already removed clutter, dusted, and vacuumed the house, your bedrooms will be done. To finish up, simply:

• Return any furniture (chairs, diaper bins, etc.) that you put up to vacuum earlier.
• Make bed.
• Straighten.

9.  Windows

• Use a streak-free glass cleaner (don’t spray on too much) and wipe with a lint-free cloth were needed

This may seem like a lot to do, but when you read over this, it’s just a step by step process.  If you do these steps as outlined, and don’t get sidetracked, you too can get your house clean in far less time than what you’re currently taking.

And, if you do all these regular house cleaning tasks each week, your home won’t need to be ‘deep cleaned’ as often.