Creating a cleaning list will help you stay organised, whether for domestic or commercial reasons, this level of organisation will make life much easier.
Cleaning checklists will help you stay consistent from job to job/day to day. They also offer proof to your customers that you’ve done a thorough cleaning and every aspect of the cleaning requirement has been dealt with and checked off. Here’s how a 75 point professional cleaning checklist will benefit you and how to create one.
- Benefits of a Professional Cleaning Checklist
- You stay organized
- You offer full consistency
- Guaranteed customer satisfaction
- You improve accountability
- Professional Cleaning Checklist Preparation
- A Pre-Cleaning Checklist
- How to Create a Professional Cleaning Checklist
- Cleaning Your Own Home On A Time Limit
- Conclusion
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Benefits of a Professional Cleaning Checklist
You stay organized
You and your team can be more prepared, and can spend time only on relevant cleaning tasks that improve overall efficiency.
It also allows you to make note of everything that needs doing, at what level of urgency, and when it needs to be done by; awarding you expert transparency with clients, and making sure nothing is forgotten or missed.
You offer full consistency
When you or your employees have access to standardized to-do lists, high-quality service on every job and a reduced chance of errors is a given every time.
You look professional and reliable. Using a cleaning checklist and sharing it with customers puts them at ease that they’ve invested in the right company.
Guaranteed customer satisfaction
Consistent high-quality service keeps customers happy and turns them into repeat customers. They will also recommend you to friends and family.
You improve accountability
If a job isn’t done right, you can refer your team to your cleaning list to see what happened, as well as prove to customers that no stone has been left unturned if there is ever any dispute.
So, if you’re not using a professional cleaning list yet, and this has piqued your interest – read on!
Professional Cleaning Checklist Preparation
Before you perform your duties inside a client’s property it is wise to make sure they undergo some pre-cleaning activities to make sure the job is done with the best results.
These activities include:
- Removing and safely storing fragile items out of the way.
- Remove all clutter that isn’t décor; this includes children’s toys/pets toys, etc.
- Make sure there is good access to power points and hot water, etc.
- Make sure children and pets are out of the way.
Make a point to explain to the client that these decluttering activities will make for a better cleaning result, especially if your client is paying by the hour.
A Pre-Cleaning Checklist
Before you enter the premises, it is wise to create a pre-cleaning preparation checklist. This’ll ensure your cleaning work is as smooth as possible with no delays or errors.
Your pre-cleaning checklist can include tasks such as:
- Packing and restocking your cleaning supplies.
- Reviewing your client’s profile for special notes.
- Sending an appointment reminder to the client to confirm the date and time. A reminder of the quoted price is wise too.
Once this is done, now it is time to organize your cleaning supplies to make sure you have the right products and enough of everything to accurately carry out your tasks. Take the time to create a separate list of cleaning items and make sure all employees tick it off before leaving for a job.
This list can include items such as:
- Vacuum cleaner
- Broom and dustpan
- Bucket
- Extendable duster
- Rubber gloves
- Spray bottle
- All-purpose cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Wood cleaner
- Furniture polish
- Disinfectant for germ-prone areas
- Microfiber cloths
- Microfiber mop for wood floors
- Toilet brush
- Sponges
- Paper towels
- Garbage bags
How to Create a Professional Cleaning Checklist
Cleaning tasks room by room can include:
Bedroom:
- Make bed/change bedding
- Organize closet/close door
- Floor swept/mopped/vacuumed
- Mirror cleaned
- Shelves/window area dusted
- Windows cleaned
- Curtains removed and washed
- Wooden surfaces polished
- Any special requirements:
Bathroom:
- Remove all dirty towels and washcloths
- Dust all surfaces, including light fixtures and decor
- Clean and disinfect shower, bathtub, and sinks (inside and out)
- Clean and disinfect toilet bowl, seat, lid, tank, flush handle, and base
- Clean and shine all mirrors, chrome, and tile
- Remove hair from bathtub drain
- Wipe cabinet fronts, fixtures, and countertops
- Vacuum and mop floor
- Replace rugs
- Empty and replace wastebasket
Living Area/ Den
- Dust from top to bottom with microfiber cloth
- Remove lint from all furniture
- Vacuum upholstered furniture and floor
- Clean picture frames
- Clean window coverings
- Wipe down light fixtures, switches, and outlets
- Dust and clean TV
- Clean coffee tables and end tables
- Clean fireplace and mantel
You can create one for each room in the house, or you can go with a more generic cleaning list, such as:
- Dust all furniture, shelves and decor
- Dust window ledges and blinds
- Dust lamps, light fixtures, and ceiling fans
- Dust baseboards
- Wipe down doors and doorframes
- Clean out all corners for cobwebs
- Tidy shoe closets
- Vacuum all floors, carpets, rugs, and stairs
- Mop hard floors
- Clean glass surfaces
- Vacuum sofa and other upholstered furniture (remove cushions)
- Straighten pillows and linens
- Empty and replace wastebasket
This list can be especially handy for regular domestic and commercial jobs (such as office buildings, schools, etc.).
However, for jobs that require deep cleaning, such as end of tenancy cleans, you can create another list specifically for those jobs and include information such as:
- Clean and disinfect:
- the inside of the oven, stove grates, and hood fan
- inside of the refrigerator
- inside of the dishwasher
- the walls behind large appliances
- ceiling fans
- Polish metal hardware
- Clean grout and soap scum from shower tiles
- Change bedsheets
- Wash windows (inside only)
- Deep clean carpets
- Wash shower curtain
- Wash or shampoo rugs
- Clean gutters
- Clean doors, walls, and shelves
- Dust baseboards, window sills, and shelves
- Dust closets
- Wipe interior and exterior of cabinets and drawers
- Sweep, mop, or vacuum floors
- Remove cobwebs
- Replace burnt out light bulbs
- Dust light fixtures
- Clean shower, tub, sinks, and toilet
- Clean laundry machines
- Remove nails and hooks from walls, and fill in holes
- Spot clean walls
- Wash window sills and baseboards
- Remove carpet stains
- Wipe down and disinfect all countertops
If you’re working with a client on a semi-regular basis (such as monthly), you can create a monthly checklist that features tasks that don’t need to be looked at on a daily or weekly basis, such as:
- Wipe baseboards
- Wash windows
- Clean blinds
- Dust and clean grime from ceiling fan blades
- Dust and vacuum air vents
- Wipe chair rails
- Wash blankets
- Wash mattress pads
- Deep clean kitchen appliances
- Clean out pantry
- Scrub tile grout
- Clean light fixtures
- Spot treat carpet and upholstery
- Wipe down door frames
- Clean garage
- Clean laundry room and washing machines
- Wash rugs
- Clean out dryer vent
- Clean trash cans
You may find you receive cleaning requests from paid companies that cater to guests, such as hotels or AirBnB properties, in which case having a cleaning checklist that is specifically designed for those purposes can help your employees.
This checklist can include tasks such as:
- Wash and change bedsheets
- Wash towels and bathrobes
- Clean the kitchen
- Throw out leftover food
- Dust furniture and other surfaces
- Wipe down countertops
- Sweep and mop floors
- Vacuum carpets and rugs
- Vacuum all sofas and underneath furniture
- Clean toilets, showers, and bathtubs
- Disinfect door knobs, light switches, and remotes
- Take out trash and replace the garbage bag
It’s important with each job to create space to include any specially requested information or anything the cleaner needs to know. It is also wise to provide full transparency with clients about the cleaning products used in case there are any allergies or medical issues that need to be taken into consideration.
Creating separate checklists for separate job types provides more specific attention to detail and will help your employees perform their tasks to the best of their ability based on the type of cleaning job they’ve been assigned (domestic, hotel, end of tenancy, etc).
Cleaning Your Own Home On A Time Limit
Got guests coming over and not enough time to get the place looking spick n span? Here are the go-to tasks you can get done in the space of half an hour to make your home presentable.
- Vacuum living area and kitchen
- Remove/put away kids/pets toys
- Fluff sofa pillows
- Put dirty plates, cups, etc in the dishwasher – it can complete it’s circle later.
- Spray air freshener or light a scented candle
- Empty the kitchen bin
Conclusion
Organization is the key when it comes to effective, thorough professional cleaning. Creating specific lists for specific jobs will make sure all requirements are covered by your team and your clients are left happy with the results every time.
As a busy mom, Raz knows firsthand the challenges of balancing parenting and household management. Raz is constantly searching for ways to simplify her life and loves sharing her experiences and tips with others. Whether it's finding creative meal solutions for picky eaters or discovering the latest time-saving home organization hack, she is always on the lookout for ways to make life easier for her family and herself.
Last update on 2023-03-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API