• Remove cobwebs, dust baseboards
  • Dust ceiling fans
  • Clean window sills and wipe down doors
  • Dust all furniture including bottoms and sides
  • Clean all glass surfaces including smudges on windows
  • Clean and disinfect bathrooms (dust light bulbs and wipe down cabinets)
  • Sweep, Vacuum, Mop all floors
  • Clean kitchen (including inside microwave, top of refrigerator)
  • Wipe down kitchen cabinet facings
  • Polish all glass surfaces and stainless steel in kitchen

For initial cleanings, include all the above plus the following:

  • Wet wash all baseboards and doors
  • Clean all light fixtures
  • Clean all wall hangings
  • Clean all knickknacks
  • Clean vents
  • Remove books from book shelves and clean

Dusting

Important: I recommend you use Pledge. I’ve tried a bunch of different products and it always gives me the best results. But make sure you spray Pledge on your cloth, not on the furniture. Micro fiber cleaning cloths also work very well for dusting as well as for mirrors and glass.

Move Items

It’s important to take the time to move items prior to dusting. This is actually more efficient than picking up each item and dusting under it. If you’re worried about how things looked before you moved them and want to make sure everything goes back exactly the same, you can always take a picture on your cell phone or camera before you start.

Window Ledges

When dusting window ledges, raise all blinds or curtains to access all ledges.

Ceiling Fans

Once you get your ceiling fan clean, it’s a cinch to do it every time. I’ve seen many ceiling fans that can be easily reached by a footstool or chair that are literally dripping with dust.

Baseboards

We always do baseboards. Most services never touch them but they are one of the key elements to making your house look clean. Even if you clean everything else, dirty baseboards will stick out. If you haven’t got to your baseboards in a while and they are really dirty, then clean them with a damp mop and/or vacuum them.

Door Jams & Light Switch Plates

A damp cloth with a little cleaning product on it will look after these easy to miss areas.

Patio Doors

Patio doors, and entry doors are a must. Watch for nose prints where animals live.

Basics

These other areas are all part of what I consider to be basic dusting that you can do if your time is limited and you’re just trying to tidy up a bit and get your place looking fresh quickly.

Basics that should not be missed include: bed frames including the side rail, the side of cabinets and armoires, door panels, banisters and spindles, chair legs and bases, curtain rods, pictures and their frames, stairwell ledges, dining room table legs and bases.

If your house has a lot of vacuuming, you should lift the cushions on
your couches and dust crumbs and debris onto the rug or floor. This saves time when vacuuming and avoids having to pull out the vacuum again later when you notice this.

 

KITCHEN
BATHROOMS
  • Remove rugs/wastebaskets (if you haven’t already when vacuuming earlier).
  • Remove everything from tub/shower.
  • Place bath mat in tub/shower.
  • Wet tub/shower walls with warm water.
  • Apply tile and grout 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.
  • Stand on bath mat and scrub tub/shower walls and door (use grout brush in-between tiles as needed).
  • Apply tile and grout cleaner to tub/shower floor and scrub.
  • Clean shower rack/soap dishes.
  • Clean shower track.
  • Rinse off walls of tub/shower and dry with cloth.
  • Vanity: spray tile and grout cleaner in sink, soap dish.
  • Spray countertop with all-purpose cleaner.
  • Scrub sink.
  • Use grout brush along faucet and drain.
  • Rinse the sink and your rag.
  • Wipe the vanity countertop.
  • Wipe down cabinet fronts.
  • Clean mirror: spray glass cleaner on soft cloth and buff.
  • Shine the faucets.
  • Wash the floor with solution in the bucket and allow to dry.
  • Replace rugs, bath mat and wastebaskets.
  • More bathroom cleaning tips.
BEDROOMS

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

  • Return any furniture (chairs, diaper bins, etc.) that you put up to vacuum earlier.
  • Make bed.
  • Straighten.
  • Special projects: Organize your sock drawer? Fold laundry and put in dresser? Put a mint on your pillow?
  • More bedroom cleaning tips.
WINDOWS
  • Use a streak-free glass cleaner (don’t spray on too much) and wipe with newspapers.
  • Clean large and hard-to-reach windows with a professional-quality squeegee.
  • Clean window screens by removing from frame and scrubbing with all-purpose cleaner mixed with warm water. Scrub each screen with a bristle brush, rinse with outdoor hose and insert back into window to dry.
  • More window cleaning tips.
  • Contact our sister company, Window Genie, for a professional window cleaning, inside and out!

You’re done! Congratulations. If you need help with getting all this done and  would like to explore a custom cleaning schedule that meets your needs, contact me for a customized cleaning quote.

Tell Somebody!
Share!