Apartment cleaning is almost never fun, but using a cleaning checklist like this one can at least make it easy. You can post the checklist on a dry-erase board, laminate a paper copy to use over and over again, use a digital list, or print out a new one each week. The important thing is to have an easy reference to walk you step by step through what needs to be cleaned, wiped, vacuumed, or scrubbed. So whether you’re renting an apartment in Salt Lake City, UT, or Portland, OR, prepare to get your apartment cleaning down to a science!
There are certain chores that you’ll want to do daily to keep control of dirt and germs such as:
Kitchen
- Wash all the dishes.
- Wipe up kitchen surfaces – stove, counters, and sinks.
- Sweep and clean trouble spots on the floor.
Pro tip: Begin with a clutter-free surface. Remove unused appliances and organize your countertops. – Billy Burger, Owner of Spotlessly Clean
Pro tip: If you are faced with a sink full of dishes and a dirty microwave, fill the sink with warm water and let the dishes soak in detergent so the dirt breaks down. While that’s happening, fill a bowl with water and vinegar and microwave it for a few minutes to break down the gunk inside the microwave. With both of those happening at the same time you can now wipe down the counters and have three things being cleaned at the same time. – John Vicino, owner of Greenville House Cleaning
Read more: How to Clean Kitchen Appliances
Bathroom
- Wipe up counters and clean the sink. (Disposable cleaning wipes make this fast!)
- Use another wipe on the toilet seat and base. Give the bowl a quick scrub with the toilet brush.
- Use a Swiffer on the floor to collect hair.
- Squeegee your shower right after use and/or use a shower spray to keep mildew and soap scum at bay.
Pro Tip: Place a few cotton balls soaked in essential oils (like lemon or eucalyptus) in hard-to-reach corners to keep your bathroom smelling fresh. They can also be placed in closets, linen drawers, or kitchen cabinets for an all-natural air freshener. – John Riding, Owner of Evergreen Cleaning Company
Read more: How to Clean: Bathroom Hacks without Chemicals
Bedroom
- Make your bed.
- Put away clothes.
- Keep your nightstand and other dresser surfaces uncluttered.
Pro tip: Strip the bed and wash bedding, including sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers, on a weekly basis. – Victor from We Clean Your House
Pro tip: There’s more to cleaning than meets the eye. That’s because dusting and vacuuming can stir up invisible allergens. The solution? You can reduce the problem by vacuuming and dusting, but for particles too small to see, run a high-quality air purifier that can trap ultrafine particles to clean the air. This is especially important in the bedroom and living areas where you spend the most time. – Sarah Vaivoda from Brio
Living room
- Clean the clutter off the sofa, and fluff pillows.
- Sweep up crumbs and dust bunnies with a hand-held vacuum.
- Organize your coffee table and entertainment center surfaces by putting away books, DVDs, etc.
Pro tip: Invest in a good quality vacuum cleaner with attachments for versatile cleaning. – Steve Duquette from Octomaids
More help with cleaning your apartment:
Cheap Green Cleaning: The Only 5 Products You Need
Get Your Space Cleaned Up in a Hurry
Declutter Your Apartment: What’s OK to Throw Away
How to Clean Your Apartment Efficiently and Quickly
Green Tips for Natural Kitchen Cleaning
Weekly chores — Don’t forget to:
Pro tip: Grab your microfiber cloth weekly and make those dust bunnies shudder with fear! Also, don’t forget to disinfect high-touch areas like doorknobs and light switches. – Andriy Neborak from Luxury Cleaning NY
Pro tip: Vinegar and baking soda will clean just about everything in your home and do an excellent job! Vinegar and baking soda are gentle, natural, environmentally friendly, less smelly, and less costly. A mix of one part water, two parts vinegar and a few drops of dish soap makes a powerful cleaning solution. – Laura from The Simple Daisy
Monthly chores — it’s time to:
- Wipe down woodwork, baseboards, walls and tiles in kitchen, bathrooms and other high-traffic areas.
- Clean windows throughout your home.
- Dust window treatments.
- Clean inside appliances (don’t forget to empty out the toaster crumbs).
- Do a deep dusting — behind furniture, in ceiling corners, on ceiling fans and vents. Also, vacuum upholstered furniture.
- Spot clean carpet.
That’s not so hard, right? With your handy cleaning checklist, your household chores will feel more manageable and you’ll enjoy the satisfaction of a systematic approach to cleaning. You can adjust this list to your liking, of course, but it offers good guidelines on keeping a clean apartment. This list is a good starting point for daily, weekly, and monthly chores.
Pro tip: Begin with a clutter-free surface. Remove unused appliances and organize your countertops. – Billy Burger, Owner of Spotlessly Clean