Sample output · default answers
House Cleaning Checklist — full sample
This is the actual structure our generator produces from the default answers. When you buy, you fill in the form and your version reflects your household — rooms, timeline, province, and everything else.
Daily (10–20 min)
- Make beds
- Wipe kitchen counters
- Rinse sink and run garbage disposal
- Wipe stovetop and splashes
- Sweep or vacuum kitchen floor
- Take out kitchen garbage if full
- Wipe bathroom counters and sinks
- Squeegee shower glass after use
- Do one load of laundry
- Clear entryway shoes and mail
- Quick tidy of common areas (10 min)
Weekly
- Deep-clean bathroom #1: toilet bowl, seat, sides, tank & flusher, tub or shower, sink, mirror, floor
- Deep-clean bathroom #2: toilet bowl, seat, sides, tank & flusher, tub or shower, sink, mirror, floor
- Change bed linens in bedroom #1
- Change bed linens in bedroom #2
- Change bed linens in bedroom #3
- Vacuum living/family room #1, including under cushions
- Vacuum and/or mop all floors
- Wipe down major appliances — fingerprints on the fridge, smudges on the dishwasher
- Clean spatters and grease on the kitchen backsplash and inside the microwave
- Scrub and disinfect the kitchen sink
- Wipe down cabinet fronts and pulls
- Wipe down and sanitize counters in the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room
- Wipe mirrors
- Launder bath towels, hand towels, and bath mats
- Toss any expired food from the fridge and pantry
- Sanitize high-touch points: door handles, light switches, faucets, remote controls, keyboards
Monthly
- Dust all surfaces — side tables, TV/console, bookshelves, picture frames
- Spritz and wipe the inside of every window with glass cleaner
- Dust and wipe baseboards throughout the home
- Wipe the top of door trim and door casing — the spot almost everyone forgets
- Dust blinds slat by slat, or vacuum with a brush attachment
- Vacuum curtains
- Wipe down dining and kitchen tables and chairs, including legs and undersides
- Rinse your vacuum's filter
- Dust ceiling fans and vents
- Scrub the stovetop, including burner grates
- Wipe out and disinfect the kitchen wastebasket
- De-stink the dishwasher: run a cycle with a bowl of distilled white vinegar on the top rack, then clean the filter, door rack, and gasket
- Dust and clean the top of the fridge if it's exposed
- Clean the inside of the garbage can, including the lid
- Vacuum upholstered furniture, including under the cushions
- Deep-clean the washing machine drum and gasket; leave the door open between loads to prevent mildew
- Clean the lint trap and behind the dryer
- Drain maintenance: flush the washer and dishwasher drains with a septic-safe treatment (like Septo or a baking-soda-and-vinegar rinse) to prevent slow drains and odours
- Change your furnace/HVAC filter — especially right after a big cleaning session, since cleaning kicks dust into the air that gets pulled straight through it
Every 3–6 months
- Deep-clean blinds — microfiber cloth, vacuum attachment, or a specialty cleaner
- Clean and condition leather and wood furniture
- Deep-clean carpets and area rugs
- Polish stainless steel appliances
- Clean and descale the coffee maker
- Launder throw pillow covers and fluff the inserts
- Strip every bed down to the mattress and wash all bedsheets, pillowcases, and mattress protectors in hot water
Every 6–12 months
- Deep-clean the oven, range hood, and toaster oven
- Empty and wipe down cabinet and pantry shelves
- Vacuum or dust the refrigerator condenser coil
- Vacuum mattresses with the upholstery attachment; spot-treat as needed
- Consider professional duct cleaning and sanitization — especially if it's never been done, or if anyone in the home has allergies
- Deep-clean and disinfect every door handle in the house, not just the high-traffic ones
Seasonal
- Spring — disconnect the dryer and vacuum lint from the vent and hose
- Spring — wash the outside of every window (or hire out the second storey)
- Summer — deep-clean the grill: tank off, tubes and burner detached and degreased
- Summer — sweep and power-wash the deck, patio, and driveway; scrub mildew off siding
- Summer — clean outdoor furniture and cushions with a soft-bristle brush
- Fall — book an HVAC checkup before the weather turns, and change the filter
- Fall — clear yard debris and sticks before snow
- Fall — reset the garage: dust, sweep, vacuum, and reorganize
- Fall — clear expired items out of the medicine cabinet before cold & flu season
- Winter — remove fireplace ash regularly; book a yearly chimney sweep
- Winter — shake out and wipe down boot trays and shoe racks
- Winter — have area rugs professionally cleaned unless they're machine-washable
- Winter — pull out large appliances and furniture to clean underneath and behind
Commonly forgotten spots
- Top of door trim and door casing — dust builds up invisibly here
- Curtains and blinds — vacuum or launder them on a schedule; they trap as much dust as carpet
- Cobweb corners where walls meet the ceiling, especially in the basement, closets, and garage
- Old bug or pest traps — check and replace them, don't just leave them forever
- Door handles and light switches — high-touch, easy to overlook
- Drain maintenance for the washer and dishwasher — a septic-safe treatment prevents slow drains and odours
- Duct cleaning and sanitization — not a monthly job, but worth doing every few years, especially with allergies in the house
- One last toilet check right before guests arrive — kids don't always flush
Cleaning vs. maintenance — know the difference
- This checklist covers cleaning: dirt, dust, grime, and tidiness.
- Furnace filters, gutters, weatherstripping, smoke alarm testing, and appliance servicing are maintenance, not cleaning — see the Canadian Home Maintenance Binder for the full season-by-season maintenance system alongside this cleaning routine.