A clean home is easier to keep than to rescue. Splitting tasks by how often they need doing means no single day is overwhelming, and nothing gets forgotten for months. Use this checklist as a starting point and adjust it to your home, household size and pets.
Daily tasks (10–20 minutes)
- Wash dishes or run and empty the dishwasher
- Wipe kitchen counters, the hob and the sink
- Quick tidy of the main living areas
- Make the beds
- Sweep or spot-vacuum high-traffic areas if needed
- Empty bins when full
Weekly tasks
Kitchen
- Wipe appliance fronts, cupboard handles and the microwave
- Clear out old food from the fridge and wipe shelves as needed
- Mop the floor
Bathrooms
- Clean the toilet, sink, bath and shower
- Wipe mirrors and taps
- Change towels and mop the floor
Bedrooms and living areas
- Change bed linen
- Dust surfaces, shelves and electronics
- Vacuum carpets and rugs; mop hard floors
Monthly tasks
- Clean inside the microwave and oven
- Wipe skirting boards, door frames and light switches
- Dust ceiling fans, light fittings and vents
- Clean the dishwasher filter and washing machine seal
- Vacuum upholstery and under cushions
- Wash shower curtains and bath mats
Every three to six months
- Wash windows inside and out
- Move furniture and clean underneath
- Vacuum and rotate the mattress; wash pillows and duvets
- Wash or vacuum curtains and blinds
- Deep-clean the fridge and freezer
- Clear gutters and outdoor drains, if you are responsible for them
Replacing curtains while you’re at it? The curtain size calculator works out the width and length you need.
How to build a routine that sticks
- Give each day a focus – for example, bathrooms on Monday, floors on Wednesday, bedding on Saturday.
- Clean top to bottom: dust first, floors last.
- Keep supplies where you use them, such as a set under each bathroom sink.
- Share the list with everyone in the house and agree who does what.
- Set a timer: 15 focused minutes achieves more than an hour of half-hearted cleaning.
Standard clean vs deep clean
If you hire help, know what you are asking for. A standard clean usually covers the weekly tasks above. A deep clean adds many of the monthly and seasonal jobs – inside appliances, skirting boards, grout and behind furniture – so it takes longer and costs more. Move-in or move-out cleans are deep cleans of an empty home.
| Task | Standard clean | Deep clean |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen and bathroom surfaces | Yes | Yes |
| Floors and dusting | Yes | Yes |
| Inside oven and fridge | Usually extra | Often included |
| Skirting boards and door frames | Quick wipe | Detailed |
| Behind and under furniture | No | Yes |
Inclusions vary between companies, so confirm the list when you book.
What does professional cleaning cost?
Prices depend on the size of your home, how many bathrooms you have, the type of clean, pets and how often you book. Regular weekly or fortnightly cleans are usually cheaper per visit than one-off deep cleans. Estimate a fair price for your home with the house cleaning cost calculator, and remember to budget for a tip if that is customary where you live.
Balancing cleaning with a busy family schedule? The childcare cost calculator can help you plan household costs together.
Frequently asked questions
Do quick tidying and kitchen wipe-downs daily, clean bathrooms and floors weekly, and tackle appliances, skirting boards and windows monthly or seasonally.
Bathrooms, floors, dusting, changing bed linen and clearing out the fridge.
A standard clean covers routine surfaces and floors; a deep clean adds detailed jobs such as inside appliances, skirting boards and behind furniture.
It depends on the size of the home and how often it is cleaned. A regular routine keeps each session much shorter than an occasional big clean.
