Clean a Messy House Checklist [Ultimate Checklist]

Clean A Messy House Checklist

Start at the beginning

Where is the beginning? We can start with one of two areas of the house and consider it to be the beginning and those two areas are your bedroom, where you start your day, or the entryway, where guests begin their visit of your home.

Starting from your bedroom, you can then move to the bathroom and continue to clean the rooms in the process of which you start your day.

If you decide to start from the entryway, imagine yourself as a guest and clean accordingly to how you would entertain them. From the entryway, you can then go to the living room or kitchen or whatever entertaining area you have in your home, then the guest bathrooms and so on. The private areas like your room and master bathroom will be some of the last to tidy up.  

Entryway

• Sweep, Swiffer and/or mop the floor
• Wipe walls with a disinfectant wipe or wet paper towel
• Wipe baseboards
• Clean door
• disinfect the knob or handle and any deadlocks, everyone touches those parts the most
• Clean doormat
• Organize shoes
• Clear coat rack or thin it out by taking away extra hats, scarves and jackets

Kitchen

• Clean stovetop
• make sure you clean properly according to the type you own
• Clean Oven
• Clean microwave
• If you have some stains on your microwave, you can steam clean it by microwaving a glass bowl with 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons vinegar and any essential oil you’d like for five minutes. When it’s five minutes are finished, let it sit and steam for 5 more minutes then wipe away everything with ease
• Clean dishwasher
• Clean refrigerator
• Wipe drawers and shelves in refrigerator and freezer
• Defrost freezer
• This is a good time to clean out the freezer and discard or use up anything that has been in there for a while.
• Discard old or expired food in pantry, fridge, and freezer
• Clear countertops and wipe down with disinfectant or all-purpose cleaner
• Degrease cabinet doors and backsplash
• Remove items from cabinets and thoroughly clean inside
• Removing all the contents from your cabinets can give you a chance to reorganize or even add some contact paper and spruce up the shelves.
• Dust top of high surfaces including fridge, microwave/range hood, cabinets
• Deodorize and degrease the kitchen drain
• Wash dish rags and hand towels
• Wipe walls
• Wipe baseboards
• Mop floors

Dining Room

• Dust china in china cabinet
• Launder and press table linens (treat heirloom linens with care)
• Dust and polish furniture
• Vacuum or spot clean chair cushions
• Wipe walls
• Wipe baseboards
• Clean and dust light fixture
• Dust blinds and curtain rods
• Clean window sills
• Wash windows
• Wash or vacuum curtains
• Mop or vacuum floor

Bathroom

• Discard expired personal care products and makeup, and bring old medications to a drop-off site
• Clean makeup brushes
• Clean vanity
• Wipe mirror
• Clean tub and shower
• Clean showerhead
• Replace shower curtain liner
• Scrub tile grout
• Clean toilet and toilet accessories such as the toilet brush and plunger
• Sweep floors
• Mop floors
• Wipe walls
• Wipe baseboards

Laundry Room

• Clean washing machine
• Clean dryer vent and lint trap
• Organize laundry supplies and wipe down any excess drip on the sides of detergent and softener bottles
• Wipe walls
• Wipe baseboards
• Mop floors

Bedrooms

• Wipe baseboards
• Dust/polish furniture
• Donate unused clothing
• Organize closets
• Wash bedding including sheets, pillows, duvets and bed skirts
• Vacuum carpets
• Flip mattress
• Dust blinds and curtain rods
• Clean window sills
• Wash windows
• Clean or vacuum curtains
• Mop or vacuum floor

Living Room

• Dust/polish furniture
• Wash slipcovers, blankets and pillows
• Vacuum sofa and chairs
• Dust blinds and curtain rods
• Clean window sills
• Wash windows
• Clean or vacuum curtains
• Clean ceiling fans
• Dust and clean lamp shades
• Dust electronics
• Dust and clean any decor or paintings
• Sanitize remote controls
• Mop or vacuum floors

Kids’ Playroom

• Sanitize plastic toys with soap and water
• Wash stuffed animals and soft toys
• Donate unused toys
• Organize toys and play areas
• Mop or vacuum floors

Accessories Through the House

• Test and replace smoke alarm batteries
• Replace air filters as needed
• Clean air vents
• Clean light fixtures
• Replace light bulbs as needed
• Sanitize door handles
• Sanitize light switches

Before trying to tackle the whole house in one day, stop and take a moment to remind yourself that may not be a possible case and it is okay! It’s ok if you have to take your time and go room by room to clear out the old energy and chaos. Be rational with how much you can do at a time because it is easy to overwhelm yourself with so much to clean that you get nothing (nothing noticeable at least) done. This ultimate clean a messy house checklist will help you clean the whole house without being overwhelmed.

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