A room-by-room house cleaning checklist, and what to add for Houston
Use this to compare cleaning services, to brief a new cleaner, or to do it yourself. Regular-clean tasks come first in each room, and deep-clean tasks after.
Work top to bottom and dry to wet: dust high surfaces before low ones, and do floors last so nothing falls on a clean floor. In each room below, the first list is what a regular visit should cover. The second list is the deep-clean work that should happen a few times a year.
Kitchen
Every visit
Counters and backsplash wiped; sink scrubbed and faucet polished; stovetop cleaned; microwave inside and out; fronts of the fridge, dishwasher and oven; cabinet fronts spot-cleaned around the handles; table and chairs; trash out; floor vacuumed and mopped.
Deep clean
Inside the oven and fridge; range hood and filter degreased; cabinet fronts fully washed; tops of cabinets and the fridge; backsplash grout; small appliances; inside the trash can; under and behind movable appliances.
Bathrooms
Every visit
Toilet inside and out, including the base and behind the seat hinges; tub and shower; glass; sink and vanity; mirror; towel bars and fixtures; floor mopped, with the baseboard behind the toilet wiped.
Deep clean
Grout and caulk lines scrubbed; hard-water scale on fixtures and glass; exhaust fan cover; cabinet fronts; light fixtures; shower curtain or door track. In humid Houston bathrooms, check the ceiling corners for mildew too.
Bedrooms
Every visit
Dusting reachable surfaces, nightstands, dressers and headboards; beds made (and linens changed if fresh ones are out); mirrors; floors vacuumed, including under the edges of the bed.
Deep clean
Ceiling fan blades; air vents; baseboards by hand; window sills and blinds; closet floors; under the bed where it can be reached; light switches and door handles.
Living areas and halls
Every visit
Dusting shelves, tables and electronics; cushions straightened; glass tables; stairs and railings; floors and rugs vacuumed; hard floors mopped.
Deep clean
Baseboards, door frames and doors; blinds and shutters; fans and light fixtures; under cushions; behind furniture that can be moved; window tracks; return-air grilles.
Houston additions
- Humidity: wipe shower walls and leave the fan running; check grout and caulk for mildew monthly.
- Pollen: in spring, wipe window sills, door thresholds and patio furniture weekly.
- AC returns: vacuum the grilles when you change the filter, which in Houston summers may be monthly.
- Ceiling fans: they run most of the year here and collect dust fast.
- Entry mats: shake or vacuum them every visit; mud season is long.
This is close to the checklist we start from. Every home gets its own version before the first visit.
Quick answers
How long should a house cleaning take?
For a three-bedroom, two-bath home on a regular plan, two cleaners usually need two to three hours. A deep clean takes four to six.
What is not included in a standard cleaning?
Usually the inside of the oven, fridge and cabinets, interior windows, walls, and heavy furniture moving. Those are deep-clean tasks or add-ons.
How often should baseboards be cleaned?
A quick wipe monthly in busy rooms and a proper hand clean during each deep clean.
What order should I clean a house in?
Top to bottom and dry to wet in each room, and floors last throughout the house.