The ultimate house cleaning checklist for a simple and easy clean

We've all been there, the deep clean begins and you're not even sure where to start! It can be overwhelming – whether you're in a new house or have been cleaning for years, sometimes you just need a little help to get started.

If you, like us, have been addicted to cleaning tips and restocking Tik Tok, then you have come to the right place.

So, get ready to Marie Kondo your house because the team here at Closer have pulled together the ultimate house cleaning checklist to make your life easy – if we do say ourselves.

What products do you need to clean your house?

Well, we've all heard of the classics that are sure to be in every household – bleach, anti-bacterial spray, bicarbonate of soda etc...

The truth is, it will come down to what you need for your own home. Do you live in an apartment with limited space? You may want to keep your products to a minimum and make the most of all-around cleaners.

On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with splashing out and buying every product out there – there's a reason why they've been made! As long as you follow instructions and use everything responsibly, there doesn't have to be a limit.

Just make sure you're not mixing products in one space as it could be hazardous to your health. If anything, have products for different rooms or tasks but don't mix sprays, bleaches or liquids ever.

Ultimate House Deep Cleaning Checklist

So, let's get down to the dirt. To have a full deep-clean, you'll need to make sure you're getting into all of the nooks and crannies. As our tips above suggest, you should start with the tasks you can do over the whole house to work most efficiently, and then dive into each room.

Cleaning checklist: All over the house

• Organise: Tidy and put away mess, replace drawer and cupboard organisers, declutter

• Windows: Clean windows and window frames with window cleaner and grime remover

• Bins: Take out all rubbish and replace with new bin liners, use bin refreshers and scents for deep cleaning

• Door frames, handles and all light switches: Wipe down with antibacterial and microfibre cloth

• All surfaces: Wipe down with antibacterial cloth, including coasters, vases and underneath

• Sweep, dust, vacuum and mop: (do this last)

• Open windows: Air out your house whilst cleaning to get out dust and refresh

• Bathrooms, Kitchens, Living Rooms, Bedrooms: Do specific cleaning in these areas with specialised products (scroll down for our breakdown!)

Make sure to scroll down for our room-specific checklists and guides!

SHOP: Our top choices for house cleaning products

Ultimate kitchen cleaning checklist:

Erm, you cannot forget the kitchen - one of the rooms in your home you should be cleaning most frequently! Grab your antibac and oven cleaner because we're diving in deep...

Cleaning checklist: Kitchen

• Fridge and freezer: Organise, throw away old food, wipe down with antibacterial and grime remover

• Dishes: Clean and wash (by hand or in the dishwasher) dry and put away

• Stove, oven and microwaves: Clean, wipe down and de-grease, make sure to scrub

• Countertops and backsplash: Wipe down with anti-bacterial, polish

• Cabinet doors: Wipe down with antibacterial, remember the handles

• Cabinets: Remove and organise food, wipe down inside

• Sink: Bleach, wipe down and wash down drains, replace or wash any brushes

• Tea towels, cloths and mats: wash on a high-temperature in the washing machine

• Floor: Hoover, mop and use floor cleaner

• Bins: Take out regular, food and recycling bins, disinfect and replace

SHOP: Best kitchen cleaning products

Ultimate living areas cleaning checklist:

When we say 'living areas' we mean everything including dining room, living rooms, offices and kids’ rooms. All of those places with sofas, tables and more!

Cleaning checklist: Living areas

• Tidy and organise: Including surfaces, cupboards and coffee tables

• Wipe down: All surfaces including mantels, table tops and light switches with antibacterial, dust and polish

• Photo frames: Dust, wipe down, straighten – on both walls and shelves

• Shelves: Remove items, dust, wipe down and polish

• Sofas: Hoover down carefully, use fabric freshener and fabric cleaner if necessary

• Toys/bits and bobs: Pick up, organise and put away

• Wash: Blankets, pillowcases, tableware, curtains, etc.

• Carpets: Vacuum and use carpet cleaner where necessary

• Remote controls: Wipe down and sanitize

• Sweep/hoover: Pull out all sofas and furniture to get all the dust and dirt

SHOP: Best living area cleaning products

Ultimate bathroom cleaning checklist

Let's not lie, the bathroom sure can get a little ... ahem, grimy. So you're gonna need some elbow grease for this deep clean. DW though, here's our full 101 on what you should be doing.

Cleaning checklist: Bathroom

• Toilet: Bleach, replace toilet rim blocks or soaps, scrub with a toilet brush

• Bath and shower: Use grime removers, wash down and scrub (including showerheads and taps), wash shower curtains

• Sink: Use grime removers to scrub - especially around soapy and toothpaste areas, antibacterial, the taps and organise any sink areas

• Bathroom walls: Wipe down and de-grime

• Mirror: Wipe down with mirror cleaner

• De-clutter: Throw away any old bathroom products

• Air vents: Wipe down, disinfect and clean out

• Bath mats, rugs and towels: Put on a hot wash

• Vanity and mirrors: Clean and wipe down, use mirror cleaners

SHOP: The best bathroom cleaning products

Ultimate bedroom cleaning checklist

TBH, we've all been there. One day our bedroom's spick and span and the next it's all over the place. From cleaning your vanity to washing those bedsheets, your bedroom will be a haven in no time.

Cleaning checklist: Bedroom

• Bins: Take out trash, wipe down and replace bin liners

• Floor: Pick up any old clothes and rubbish

• Surfaces: Including bedside tables, drawers, doors and cupboards - wipe down with antibacterial, dust and polish

• Bedding: Wash and dry on a high temperature wash

• Duvet and pillows: Wash on high temperature or replace

• Mattress: Take off toppers, vacuum, spot clean with stain remover, use baking soda and fabric freshener, flip and repeat

• Under bed: Remove any items, hoover, organise and put back

• Wardrobe: Organise, tidy and remove out-of-season clothes (take to charity shops or put away for next season!)

• Lamps: Dust, wipe down, replace any old lightbulbs

• Doorknobs and light switches: Antibac and wipe down

• Mirrors: Wipe down and clean

• Hoover: To finish

SHOP: The best bedroom cleaning products

The best cleaning tips - as told by the experts

There's no point in cleaning if you don't know where to start! So, we spoke to Antoinette Daniel, Founder of Just Helpers professional cleaning agency, to tell us what top tips the experts use themselves.

Declutter

"Finding homes for things or getting rid of items that haven’t been used in a long while can feel particularly cathartic. Especially when embarking on a deep clean, it will make the overall result that much better.

"Consider Marie Kondo-ing, gifting items, donating to charity shops, and recycling. At this point, you may also wish to temporarily relocate family members and pets that may get in the way during your big deep clean."

Use a system

"We recommend working top to bottom and in a ‘circle’ from the door (apart from the kitchen and bathroom which should circle back to the sinks).

"End up with the floors, vacuuming in every nook and cranny moving furniture as you go. Don’t forget to use a crevice tool to allow you to get along the edges and into the corners.

"Once the whole house has been done, get the kettle on, sit back, relax and enjoy your handiwork!"

Tool up

"A good vacuum cleaner is essential. It needs to have enough battery power to let you continuously vacuum your entire house for up to two hours. Suction needs to be strong, with a sliding scale of suction for those more delicate fabrics and needs to be fielding a full arsenal of tools to enable you to easily get to crevices, cobwebs, and cushions covered with pet hairs.

"You’ll need some good cleaning cloths. Microfibre cloths have only really been on the market since the late nineties, so it’s understandable if your mum isn’t into them – but if she only knew the benefits, I’m sure she’d be all over them!

"Along with a stringy mop, a long-handled duster, preferably mock feather, you are good to go."

Just Helpers' fave cleaning picks:

More top cleaning picks for you:

The cleaning products that Mrs Hinch swears by

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Which cleaning influencers should I follow?

Here at Closer Online, we're defo a huge fan of Sophie Hinchliffe - aka Mrs Hinch - the cleaning guru who worked up a massive following from all her cleaning tips.

Stacey Solomon also took over a huge part of cleaning social media because of her 'Tap to Tidy' book release and wholesome family home. Who doesn't love Stacey?

We also love Lynsey Crombie, Gemma Bray, Becky Rapinchuk and even Molly Mae - yes we're going to include Molly in this. They're all constantly posting new cleaning info, top tips and products to stock up your cleaning cupboard.