Residential Cleaning Checklist by Room

Overview

A room-by-room checklist that crews can follow on a recurring residential cleaning. This is the canonical scope a crew should be able to complete without supervision; the host or homeowner has already agreed to it at quote time. Anything outside this scope is either an "add-on" (priced separately) or a "deep clean" line item (separately scheduled and priced). The point of a documented checklist is consistency - the customer's third visit is identical to their first.

How to use this reference

• Print or display in the crew's tablet at every visit
• Initialed by the lead cleaner at the end of each room
• Photographed and uploaded to the customer's file after the visit
• Add-on items the customer requested for THIS visit are noted at the bottom and billed separately

Kitchen

• Counters: clear, wiped, disinfected
• Stovetop: wiped, grates wiped, drip pans cleaned (NOT under the burners - that's a deep-clean item)
• Sink: scrubbed, faucet polished, drain trap visible from below clear of debris
• Backsplash: wiped clean
• Appliance exteriors: microwave, oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, small appliances all wiped (NOT interiors - those are deep-clean or annual)
• Cabinet faces: wiped (fingerprints concentrate near handles)
• Floor: vacuumed AND mopped
• Trash: emptied, liner replaced
• Dining table + chairs: wiped, chairs pushed in

Add-ons (priced separately):

• Refrigerator interior
• Oven interior
• Inside cabinet wipe-down
• Window washing

Living areas / family room

• Furniture: vacuumed (couch cushions, including under cushions for crumbs)
• Hard surfaces: dusted (TV, console, end tables, bookshelves)
• Decor: dusted
• TV screen: dry microfiber only (no spray)
• Floor: vacuumed (carpet) or swept + mopped (hard floor)
• Trash: emptied
• Pillows + throws: arranged

Add-ons:

• Inside bookshelves dust
• Light fixtures
• Window blinds

Bathrooms (each)

• Toilet: bowl scrubbed, exterior wiped, base + behind, seat both sides
• Shower / tub: walls scrubbed, fixtures polished, glass doors scrubbed if applicable
• Sink: scrubbed, faucet polished
• Counter: wiped, items returned to position
• Mirror: streak-free
• Floor: swept, mopped
• Trash: emptied
• Towels: folded or replaced if the homeowner provides fresh
• Hand soap: filled if low

Add-ons:

• Grout deep clean
• Soap scum removal (heavy buildup)
• Shower door descale
• Cabinet interior wipe

Bedrooms (each)

• Bed: made if linens are in place (NOT changed unless the homeowner left fresh linens out - changing is a deep-clean / turnover item)
• Nightstands: cleared, wiped, items returned
• Dressers: dusted, items returned
• Mirrors / glass: cleaned
• Floor: vacuumed (carpet) or swept + mopped
• Trash: emptied
• Surfaces under bed: not addressed in standard scope (deep-clean item)

Add-ons:

• Linen change
• Inside closet vacuum
• Under-bed cleaning
• Mattress flip / rotate

Office / desk areas

• Desk surface: cleared of paper (with homeowner permission), wiped, items returned
• Keyboard + monitor: wiped (dry microfiber)
• Floor: vacuumed or mopped
• Trash: emptied + replaced

The crew does NOT move or reorganize the homeowner's papers. Standard practice is to wipe around stacks and return them as found.

Hallways + stairs

• Floor: vacuumed (carpet) or swept + mopped
• Banisters: wiped
• Light switches + door knobs: wiped (touchpoint cleaning)
• Pictures + frames: dusted

Entry / mudroom

• Floor: swept + mopped
• Shoe area: organized (NOT cleaned shoes)
• Mat: shaken outside
• Door + frame: wiped

Laundry room (if accessible)

• Counter / folding area: wiped
• Washer + dryer exteriors: wiped
• Floor: swept + mopped
• Lint trap: emptied (NOT vent cleaning - that's a specialty service)

Note: many homeowners prefer the crew NOT enter the laundry room. Verify at quote time.

What we do NOT do on a standard residential clean

This is as important as what we do - set the expectation in writing at quote time:

• Inside oven, refrigerator, dishwasher
• Inside cabinets or drawers
• Wash dishes (load dishwasher only if appliance is present and unloaded)
• Make beds with new linens (turn-down only on the existing made bed)
• Pet care, child care, plant care
• Move heavy furniture (couch, bed, dresser)
• Climbed ladder work above 6 feet
• Outside windows above ground level
• Garage cleaning
• Attic / crawlspace
• Move or organize personal items beyond pushing them aside to clean under
• Cleaning of biological hazards (vomit, feces beyond toilet, blood)
• Mold remediation (separate licensed scope)
• Construction debris
• Excessive pet hair beyond standard vacuuming

If any of these come up during a visit, communicate with the homeowner before performing the work. Do not unilaterally expand the scope.

Quality verification

At the end of every clean:

1. Lead cleaner walks every room with this checklist in hand
2. Snap a photo of each completed room
3. Note any add-on work performed
4. Note any item discovered that needs the homeowner's attention (damage, leaks, supply running low)
5. Upload photos + notes to the customer's file
6. Verify thermostat is at the homeowner's preference (some prefer crew to leave HVAC at vacation setpoint between visits)
7. Lock the door behind you (or per the homeowner's instructions)

Time estimates

These are first-visit estimates. Recurring customers (same crew, weekly or biweekly visits) get 20-30 percent faster after the first 3 visits as the crew learns the home.

Cadence options to discuss with the customer at quote time

• Weekly: high-traffic households, families with kids, pet households
• Biweekly: the most common cadence for residential recurring
• Monthly: lower-occupancy homes, retired couples, single occupants
• Quarterly: maintenance-only between deep cleans
• One-time: move-in, move-out, post-renovation, pre-event

References

• ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS)
• ARCSI (Association of Residential Cleaning Services International) standards
• Manuall internal: Standard Residential Cleaning SOP, Deep Cleaning Service SOP, Move-Out Cleaning SOP