Annual Cleaning Checklist

We’re all guilty of letting things slide now and then. When cleaning tasks start piling up, it’s time to make a house cleaning checklist. A good checklist can save you valuable time and effort when tackling those dusty baseboards, scrubbing down the freezer, and thoroughly cleaning your windows. While a long list may seem daunting, it can help guide your cleaning efforts and save time in the process. Plus, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as crossing tasks off your to-do list.

Get Started Here: Download our printable Cleaning Checklist PDF (291 kb).

Why Maintain a House Cleaning Schedule

If you find yourself overwhelmed by a house cleaning checklist, it’s likely because you’ve fallen behind on your cleaning routine. A home that’s cleaned regularly is easier to maintain than one that’s been neglected for months. A house cleaning schedule is a great way to ensure your family stays on top of household chores. A schedule can help you maintain a certain level of cleanliness and ensure that no task is forgotten.

Routine chores, such as dishes, must be taken care of daily. However, other big cleaning projects, like window washing, can be done every few months. Without a house cleaning checklist and schedule, you may overlook important cleaning duties around your home. This can lead to dust and dirt buildup, which causes air quality issues by increasing the number of allergens in your home. A regular cleaning schedule will help everyone in the house, including pets, breathe a little easier.

Tips for Getting Started

A few good house cleaning tips may be all the inspiration you need to get started. So, get started with our printable professional house cleaning checklist. It’s a great way to keep track of the chores you’ve accomplished and the ones that still need to be completed. It’s also incredibly satisfying to cross things off the list as you go. Next, do a walk-through of each room and develop a list of cleaning priorities. Starting with the most important tasks will ensure your efforts have the greatest impact. While our list is comprehensive, feel free to tailor it to your specific cleaning preferences and goals.

It’s a good idea to tackle your cleaning checklist based on your specific cleaning style. Whether you’re a nose-to-the-grindstone worker who wants to work hard for a few hours and get everything done at once or prefer to chip away at each item on your house cleaning checklist one at a time, spreading out your chores over several days or weeks, do what works best for you. Some people even like to set a timer and see how much they can get done during that period. Regardless of your cleaning preferences, staying focused on the tasks at hand is the key to success. Don’t let distractions pull you away from your cleaning goal - you’re on a mission!

However, you approach home cleaning, make it a routine that everyone in the home takes part in. Getting everyone in the habit of cleaning a little each day will make cleaning more manageable and reduce the time it takes to do a major clean each month.  It’s true what they say: once begun is half done. With this attitude, you’re ready to start cleaning.

What Do I Need to Clean My Home Thoroughly?

  • Disposable rags, scrub pads, or towels that you don’t mind throwing away.
  • Two buckets: one for the dirty water and another for clean water.
  • Your favorite degreaser, dish soap, and cleaning spray.
  • A pair of rubber gloves.
  • An abrasive scrub pad.
  • A spray bottle with 1:1 vinegar and water.
  • A scrub brush or an old toothbrush.

Thoroughly Cleaning the Entire Home

Dust and Vacuum: Hard-to-reach ledges, windows, light fixtures, and above cabinets. Break out the stepladder! Just be careful.

Faucets: Descale faucets/showerheads throughout the home with vinegar. Clean out aerators.

Vent Covers: Remove the HVAC vent covers and wash them in the sink with warm soapy water.

Windows: Vacuum windowsills and window tracks. Remove cobwebs and bugs from window screens.

Ceiling Fans: Wipe down ceiling fan blades.

Carpet: Spot clean stains on carpet and upholstery.

Doors: Wipe down doors and doorframes for fingerprints and smudges.

Garbage Cans: Wipe out and clean garbage cans, recycling bins, and wastebaskets.

Blinds: Give your blinds a thorough clean by spraying them with vinegar and scrubbing them down.

Couch/Chairs: Remove all cushions and vacuum the creases that pet hair and popcorn love to call home. Also, move the couch to clean underneath it and behind it.

Cabinets/Drawers: Empty cabinets and drawers one at a time, give them a vacuum, and wipe them with a clean wet rag or your favorite cleaning spray. Wipe down all cabinet faces as well.

How to Clean the Kitchen

Oven: Before you crank up the heat on your “self-cleaning” oven, let’s get out all the stuff that can be a fire hazard. After cleaning out the baked-on food, you can work on the wire racks.

Stovetop: If you have a gas or electric stove with stove top grates, remove the grates from the stovetop and soak them in hot soapy water. If you have an electric oven, you can remove/unplug the coils to make cleaning easier. Some cooktops have slide-out trays beneath the burners to catch food; don’t forget this! Scrub all surfaces and control knobs with a soapy sponge and a clean wet rag. Don’t forget the vent hood, vent fan, and the hood fan filter.

Microwave: Before you use elbow grease, loosen the food splatters on the interior with lemon and vinegar. Use glass cleaner for the microwave face and keypad. Don’t forget to remove the round glass dish inside the microwave. Soak it in some warm, soapy water to remove any residue. Take special care handling the glass dish, it can be slippery when wet. If you have a countertop microwave, move it to clean around and underneath it.

Toaster/Air Fryer: Remove the fire hazard (also known as breadcrumbs) from the bottom of your toaster. Remove and clean the trays and wipe down the exterior with warm water and vinegar. Follow these cleaning tips for How to Clean An Air Fryer

Refrigerator/Freezer: Read more about how to clean a refrigerator and freezer. Don’t forget the rubber gasket around the door seals; clean these with warm soapy water. Use this time to clean the fridge interior by throwing away expired items.

Sink: This seems like a no-brainer, but after all that cleaning, your kitchen sink is going to be filthy. Wipe it out with hot soapy water, paying attention to the crevices in the backsplash and around the faucet. A cleaner with bleach can help with stubborn stains and reduce any mildew.

Dishwasher: Use baking soda and vinegar to clean your dishwasher to remove soap residue and buildup that accumulates over time. Just run it empty with a cup of vinegar and ½ cup of baking soda. Don’t forget to clean the dishwasher filter, which is typically located at the bottom of the appliance. A half-turn should allow you to remove the filter, which you can rinse under warm water.

A Spotless Bathroom

Grout: White grout can really brighten the appearance of a bathroom. Tried and true grout cleaning tips can make this job easier.

Shower Curtain: Wash your linen shower curtain if it’s washing machine safe. You can either clean or replace the plastic curtain behind the linen one. Cleaning plastic curtains can be difficult, but they’re cheap enough to replace.

Toothbrush Holder: This can get pretty nasty when not cleaned daily. To avoid a bigger, tougher job, clean it regularly.

Toilet: After cleaning your toilet with a cleaner or vinegar, make sure to pay attention to the base and area behind the toilet as well.

About Our Practically Spotless Cleaning Services

If your house cleaning checklist is too much for you to handle with everything else you have going on, it might be time to enlist the help of the cleaning professionals! If you’re wondering how much house cleaning costs and what is included in our house cleaning service? Here is an explanation of how we determine cost and cleaning included in our services. 

Cleaning costs will vary depending on the size of the home and the service requested. Before starting a recurring cleaning job, a Molly Maid professional will come to your home and provide a free inspection and cost estimate. Our house cleaning service starts with an initial cleaning. This allows us to pay extra attention to oft-neglected corners of your home.

We’ll wipe down surfaces, including windowsills, faucets, countertops, chairs, dressers, sink basins, and appliances. Next, we’ll spend a little extra time in the bathroom, focusing our efforts on cleaning the shower, tub, toilet, and mirrors. Then we’ll move into dusting and vacuuming. After dusting picture frames, light fixtures, and baseboards, we’ll vacuum the furniture. We’ll finish our cleaning by vacuuming and mopping the floors.

Since each Molly Maid location is locally owned and operated, some locations will also change bedding if fresh linens are provided. Some locations also clean ovens and refrigerators when requested.

Cleaning Services We Don't Offer

While we offer many home cleaning services, there are some things we are not equipped to help with. These tasks often require special equipment, training, and experience. As you create your house cleaning checklist with Molly Maid in mind, here is a list of things we can’t help with:

  • Carpet cleaning/stain removal beyond vacuuming
  • Unclogging drains and pipes
  • Window washing
  • Porch and patio cleaning
  • Small appliance repair or cleaning
  • Fire and water damage restoration
  • Wood scratch or damage repair
  • Garbage can sanitization
  • Descaling of faucets
  • Cleaning vent covers
  • Defrosting and cleaning freezers
  • Dishwasher cleaning
  • Dish, pot, and pan washing
  • Shower curtain cleaning
  • Aerator cleaning
  • Degreasing stovetop hood
  • Picking up clutter
  • Cleaning tile grout

Professional House Cleaning Services

Our cleaning team works hard to deliver sparkling results. Once your home is in excellent condition, it’ll be easier to maintain the space moving forward. To learn more about our regular house cleaning services, contact your local Molly Maid, or request a FREE house cleaning estimate today.

Ready to schedule a service? Call us to speak with our friendly customer service representatives. Or Schedule a free estimate today!


This resource is provided to help DIYers clean their own homes. It is not intended to reflect the steps taken by Molly Maid’s professional cleaning teams. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. Services may vary by location.

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