A year ago I decided to create a cleaning checklist. It wasn’t that my house was a disaster. The problem was that I had no concept of time. When was the last time I mopped the kitchen? Surely, it was just 2 weeks ago. What? 2 months ago???
I created a cleaning checklist that lists all the tasks I needed to accomplish throughout the year all on one sheet. At a glance, I can easily see how long it has been I last did any of my cleaning tasks.
I don’t follow it 100%. There have been seasons when I didn’t follow it even 1%! (Can we all say “first trimester?!”) I’m still grateful to have it and it will be a wonderful resource after the baby is born. How can you help? Well, what would you like to do from this list? 😉
My cleaning checklist has 6 sections:
- Weekly
- Every 2 Weeks
- Monthly
- Every 3 Months
- Twice A Year
- Annually
How to use my checklist:
- Print the checklist front & back on 1 sheet of paper.
- Brainstorm the tasks that you want to include in each section & write them in.
- The weekly & every 2 weeks sections are repeated in order to cover the entire year. Be sure to repeat the same tasks in both sections (you’ll understand after you see it).
- Break down your jobs into do-able tasks. Personally, I like having a separate listing for mopping each room. Just because I do one of them, doesn’t mean I’ll do them all! Having things broken down helps me keep better track of my progress and is more motivating when I can cross off lots of things. Consider doing this for mopping, vacuuming, dusting, changing sheets, etc.
- After completing a task, mark it off. I like to write in the date I completed non-weekly tasks to keep me on track.
Here are some of the tasks I have on my list to help you with your brainstorming:
- sweep/vacuum floors
- clean bathrooms
- water plants
- scrub kitchen sink extra good
- clean kitchen counter tops extra good
- mop floors
- dust
- wipe down kitchen appliances
- change sheets
- scrub shower/tub
- wash changing table pads
- wash bath/kitchen/door mats
- clean baseboards
- clean out fridge really good
- wipe off window blinds
- vacuum furniture & lamp shades
- clean car
- wash windows
- change smoke alarms
- clean oven
- purge & organize closets
- wash mattress covers
- dust walls/radiators for cobwebs
- clean light fixtures that collect dust/bugs
- wash all woodwork moldings
- clean basement
- clean attic
Click here to download my Master Cleaning Checklist. I can’t wait to hear how it works for you!
*** This Checklist has been updated for 2016. ***
UPDATE: By request here is my personal cleaning checklist that you can use as a guide. I am not a cleaning expert or super picky about how clean my house is. There are probably things on this list that you’ll want to do more often than I do. This is also personalized for my own home and needs, so some of it might not make sense (like mopping the kitchen steps just once a year – it is a 2nd set of stairway that we never use). I hope this is helpful!
Want some free cleaning supplies?
Grove Collaborative wants to make your cleaning tasks more enjoyable by giving you a free Mrs. Meyer’s Everyday Luxury Kit this week! I hate cleaning, but this helps.
Here’s what’s in the kit:
– Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap
– Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap
– Mrs. Meyer’s soy candle
– Grove Collaborative walnut scrubber spongesThat’s a $30 value, free for you!
When you sign up for Grove Collaborative using this link and spend at least $20, you’ll get the everyday luxury set for free. If you’re already a Grove Collaborative customer, you’ll receive a free Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap. Something for everyone! Click here for more details. Offer ends May 1, 2016 6 PM PT.
All subscribers to Simply Rebekah can download a free Just Clean Something Challenge workbook!
Additional Cleaning Inspiration & Resources:
- Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate – This is my favorite all-purpose cleaner. It is safe enough for my children to use it, and this one bottle will last you for years.
- 9 Things I Learned From Cleaning Every Day for a Month – Read about all the things I learned from forcing myself to clean at least one thing every single day.
- Drowning In Clutter: Tried and True Decluttering Strategies – This is the best book on decluttering I’ve ever read. I highly recommend it. She gives practical tips along with dealing with the emotional aspects of getting rid things in your house.
- Free $10 Credit, Mrs. Meyer’s Hand Soap, & Shipping to Grove Collaborative – I buy the bulk of my cleaning supplies and bath products from Grove Collaborative (previously known as ePantry). My favorites to order are Method dish soap, Seventh Generation Stain Remover, Tom’s of Maine toothpaste, and Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap. Read more about how Grove Collaborative works here.
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Simply Rebekah!
Having this printout will truly help me in keeping our house a home!
Hi Rebekah– this is great! So funny, because just recently I brainstormed a list of tasks that I wanted to put into a checklist very much like this. I had not gotten around to actually creating the checklist so this is a big help! yay!
Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day… how funny that I told you my blog was about “pulling my hair out”! I suppose that is true…though the longer I’m a mom the less things bother me, so I feel like I have more hair these days!
I hope the checklist works well for you!
Was just wondering when the last time we mopped our floors was.. :/ Thanks for sharing this!
Your welcome! Even if I don’t clean as often as I should, at least I know the last time I did everything! 🙂
Great resource. Thanks. I have put all my cleaning chores on my Outlook calendar so it rolls over for years! It is proving to make life much easier.
That is a great idea, Jeannie. I’ve found that a cleaning list is extremely necessary for me. I hope you find mine helpful.
my schedule can be viewed at
for what it’s worth-jeannie: Keeping it Clean
I would love to see what’s on your list! I’m visiting from moneysavingmom so you may have it somewhere else. But I’m not so good at this cleaning thing but we’re about to buy our first house! So I’d like to know what I SHOULD be doing. :). Thanks!!
Megan, I’m not so good at cleaning either! That is the whole reason I made this checklist. 🙂 The things that are on my list are listed above in the post. If you would like to see how often I’ve decided that I should be doing each those thing I can send you my personal checklist in an email.
Oooh, could you email that to me too?? I can never figure out how often to to do things!
I asked my mom how often I should be doing things. 🙂 Moms always know best, don’t they?
I’ve updated this post with a copy of my personal checklist that you can download. I hope it helps!
Thanks for the link!
I’ve asked my mom, but she’s one of “those” people, who’s house is always spotless, so her schedule was a bit beyond me. Like clean all the bathrooms, and vacuum the whole house, TWICE A WEEK. Um, ain’t gonna happen. 🙂
Oh my! Those kinds of people should not read my checklist. Your mom would be appalled!
I would love it, too! (PS – I am also here from MoneySavingMom. Love your website!)
Thanks for visiting, Mandy. I look forward to “seeing you around” here more often!
I’ve updated this post with a copy of my personal checklist that you can download. I hope it helps!
I’ve updated this post with a copy of my personal checklist that you can download. I hope it helps!
Just wanted to say thanks! I needed this I have been trying to come up with something like this. And we spell our names the same way!
🙂 Do you find that you have to spell out your name for everyone? I sure do!
Yes!!! All the time.
I’d love to see your personal list too! I guess I feel like other people might have a better idea of how often to do things than me.
I’m definitely not a cleaning expert! You might laugh at how much time I let go between things in my house. haha! I’ve updated this post with a copy of my personal checklist that you can download. I hope it helps!
I’d love to see you personal list! Will you please email it to me?!
Thanks!
After getting several requests for a look at my checklist, I decided to include it in the post. The post is now updated with a copy of my personal checklist that you can download. I hope it helps!
I’d love a copy of your personal list, too!! 🙂
Tracy, I’ve updated the post. Now you can download a copy of my personal checklist to use as a guide when you fill out your own list. Have fun cleaning! (yeah right!!)
I am with Megan and Kathi. I would love to see your list too. I know I do not clean often enough!
Colleen, I have the checklist, but that doesn’t mean I clean often enough. haha! I’ve updated this post with a copy of my personal checklist that you can download. I hope it helps!
I would love a copy of your list too.
Jill, I’ve updated this post with a copy of my personal checklist that you can download. Good luck cleaning!
I love this! I have the worst time remembering the big tasks like dusting the fans or the blinds it seems like weeks turn into months and then dust starts falling on me from the ceiling. This is a great help! thanks,
AMEN! That is exactly why I created this. I hope it works well for you.
I would also like to see your personal list just to get an idea of some of the things you. Thanks!
Kristi, I’ve updated this post with a copy of my personal checklist that you can download. I hope it helps!
This is pretty great! I printed one out to help me too, I find that if there is no list I forget about it so this is a great reminder of what to do and when. Really like the rest of the site too, you had me laughing at the end of the peel a peach video when the sirens were going. They are always so loud and feels like they are right outside the door lol. I really like the frugal ideas too, I try to be as green as possible.
I’m glad to hear you don’t think I’m crazy. 🙂 At least not yet!!!
this is fantastic! one request…is there a way to get a format of the blank checklist so that i can type in my own chores instead of handwriting them? it opens in preview on my macbook and all i can do is print it, as is, blank. i’d like to type them like your personalized one b/c my handwriting is yucky. thanks!
I too was wondering if there is a way to type my list in your form. Thanks.
Was there any response on this? I’d love to get the original format so I too can type in rather than creating from scratch. Thanks so much!
Ask and thy shall receive! (Look for an email from me.)
I would love the original too so I can type in everything. Pretty Please! So helpful! Thank you!
I love these, thank you!! I would love to be able to edit this, do you have it in a file like Excel or something that can be edited? Just thought I’d ask. 🙂
I was just going to ask the same question about an Excel file….I can make up one on my own, but why re-invent the wheel if you already have it made up?
Thanks!
Ask and thy shall receive! (Look for an email from me.)
thank you!
Thank you!
I’d also love an editable file. I’ve been wanting to print this list for awhile but am nervous about handwriting everything in… I know I’d mess up and want to start over. Thank you for all the tips!
I would love an editable file as well! This seems to be quite popular 🙂 It is a great cleaning list template!
I love this! Can I have the editable file as well? Thanks in advance!
Hi, I love the master checklist and want to use it to teach my teenage daughter how to clean and keep it organized so your housecleaning doesn’t become so overwhelming. Do you have an editable copy that I could type the tasks in. I would certainly appreciate it.
Thanks again!
This looks great! Any chance of sending the editable spreadsheet my way, too? Thanks for putting such an awesome tool together!
Ashley, the file that I need to send you was lost on a dead laptop. 🙁
Thankfully, I think I have an extra copy around here somewhere. I just need to figure out where!
Thank you for this free printable! I’d been using a monthly calendar, but really like how this is one year on one page! Thanks!
I love this! Tried it out this weekend and I’ll be using it more often for sure. Were you ever able to find the editable file? I would love to be able to customize for our cleaning needs. Thanks!!
Jamie, I’m glad this was so helpful. I haven’t located the file, but I still might! I’ll send it to you if I find it.
Thanks for your checklist. Im a person that also to go to a room without finish the first, but If I don’t do this it seem to me that I don’t forward.
My apologies for the lenguaje. I write from Spain. Kiss.
I hope it is helpful!
Have you updated this for 2016 yet? Is it editable?
Hi, I just found this! Do you have an editable version for download?
Thanks!
Laura, I don’t have a version that you can edit through typing. However, the one that is available for download, you can handwrite on to edit it to fit your needs. Thanks!
Thank you so much. This is so nice and will be extremely useful to me. I have so many lists that I have made over the years, but never have taken the time to put them all together on one sheet. Probably because I can’t even find my textbook on how to use my Word programs. Seriously, I can use this for not just cleaning and household chores, but to keep up with the entire schedule for caring for the lawn and garden, and even if I ever decide to plant fruit trees and other edibles. Can’t find my old “vintage” copy of The Farmer’s Almanac that used to have the yearly schedule for what to do when. Have you ever seen one of those? They’re great, but very difficult to find now. When to clean the gutters, when to wash the rugs, when to fertilize the yard, really, every task and chore that one might think of. Your schedule will be great to fill in when I do find it. Thank you so much for your kind gesture of sharing your computer skills with those of us who don’t have them. Sincerely, Irma H.
Irma, I am so glad you found this checklist helpful! Thank you for sharing all of this with me. Happy Cleaning!