Weekly Cleaning Checklist: 15 Spots to Clean

What You Actually Should Be Cleaning in Your Home Every Week

Clean the Exterior

Make sure the front porch and steps look good, as they're the first things people notice. Use a broom to remove dirt and spider webs. Also, get rid of the spider webs from the door frame and light fixtures.

If you have a doormat, give it a good shake and rinse with a garden hose. Do you live in an apartment? You can obviously skip this step.

Scrub the Front Door

●     Prepare a mixture of hot water and a few drops of dish soap.

●     Wet a washcloth with the solution and use it to wipe both sides of the door.

●     Further, pay more attention to the handle area, which tends to get dirtier due to frequent contact.

●     If the door has glass, use a mixture of vinegar and water to remove smudges left by dog noses and kids' hands.

Bathroom Mat and Towel

Bath mats bring a cozy, spa-like feel to your bathroom, yet the moisture they absorb can lead to mold and mildew growth. To prevent this, wash your bath mats weekly in cold water to:

●     Maintain their color

●     Eliminate potential mold

Alternatively, you can extend the time between washes by draping the mat over a towel bar to let it air-dry thoroughly after your shower.

Bath towels can be used for a full week before needing a wash, but proper airing is crucial. Hang them up to encourage airflow, allowing them to fully dry between uses. When you do wash them, choose a hot temperature setting of 140°F or higher to effectively eliminate fungus, mildew, and bacteria.

Besides, professional cleaning services for apartments always take care of these things while being cautious not to damage your items.

Children’s Toys

Further, the frequency of cleaning depends on how often the kids interact with their favorite toys. If a toy is handled frequently or used by a sick child, it's best to clean it daily. For playthings that see less frequent use, a weekly cleaning is sufficient.

To swiftly clean most toys, use:

●     A solution of mild dish soap and water

●     A disinfectant wipe

For soft toys, like teddy bears, you can safely wash them in the washing machine using the delicate cycle and cold water to prevent any damage.

Cleaning Baseboards

Baseboards often gather dirt throughout the day due to foot traffic, pets, and furniture. Despite not looking dirty at first glance, they require regular cleaning, just like your floors. Similar to what standard cleaning service providers would do, using a damp cloth is an effective way to clean them.

Eliminate Kitchen Odors

Say goodbye to stubborn smells from last Monday’s fish or lingering microwave popcorn scent!

Here's a simple trick:

●     Mix three tablespoons of vinegar with a cup of water in a saucepan. The vinegar will help neutralize airborne odors.

●     Bring it to a boil on the stove for a few minutes.

●     Once done, pour the heated mixture down the garbage disposal to tackle any lingering smells there as well.

Your Coffeemaker

Also, a quick rinse of your coffee pot isn't enough to keep it clean. For traditional coffeemakers, use warm water and soap for daily cleaning. But remember, your coffeemaker needs more thorough attention, too. Now and then, run a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar through it, followed by several water cycles only. This routine helps:

●     Prevent fungi

●     Detoxify the machine

●     Get rid of any unwanted odors

Refresh Your Rug

Carpets and rugs can retain unbearable smells from pets, smoking, and cooking. To quickly eliminate these odors, sprinkle baking soda on them – baking soda is a natural odor eliminator. After letting it sit for 15 minutes, vacuum up both the baking soda and the unpleasant fragrances.

Clean Under Appliances

While cleaning your coffeemaker, remember to also wipe under it and all other kitchen appliances. Further, refrigerators and stoves, in particular, gather dust and food particles underneath. Despite this being common knowledge, these areas often get overlooked.

Remove Cobwebs from Ceiling Corners

Also, use a duster with an extendable handle or a vacuum attachment to clean the corners of the ceilings in your rooms. Having cobwebs up there doesn't give a good impression of your housekeeping, so it's worth taking care of.

Are you just moving into your new house or apartment? This should be one of the first things on your cleaning checklist.

Cleaning Bed Frames and Under Beds

Maintaining a dust-free and allergen-reduced sleep environment involves more than just changing your sheets. Additionally, one must give attention to your headboard by wiping or vacuuming to remove dust and pet hair. Then, take out items stored under your bed, wiping surfaces as you retrieve them.

Leave No Smells in Your Trash Can

Emptying your trash doesn't always eliminate lingering odors from the garbage bag. Residual food and used bathroom items can leave unpleasant smells in your trash can. To maintain a clean can:

●     Regularly scrub it

●     Rinse it with water or a hose

●     Periodically spray it with disinfectant

Further, the cleaning services for houses or apartments you hire should be doing it anyway.

Ceiling Fans and Light Fixtures

After dusting your bookshelves and tabletops, don't forget fans and light fixtures. Since dust can settle on the floor as you clean, be sure to vacuum the area beneath once you're done.

Cleaning Door Frames

Besides, dust often accumulates in less noticeable, higher areas like door frames. During your thorough cleaning routine, use a feather duster to remove the dust.

High-Touch Items

In our homes, objects like keyboards, cell phones, remotes, light switches, and doorknobs get a lot of contact and can attract germs. To counter this, guarantee cleanliness by using a disinfectant wipe to clean these high-touch items at least once a week.

Check Out Our Cleaning Checklist To See What To Let Slide

Sofa Cleaning: Every Two Weeks

Your sofa can gather crumbs from late-night snacks, pet hair, and everyday dust and dirt. While some cleaning experts recommend vacuuming upholstered furniture weekly, you can extend it to every two weeks if there's not much debris visible.

Bedding Care: Every Two Weeks

Additionally, regularly washing your bedding is crucial to get rid of sweat, oils, dead skin cells, and allergens that gather over time. This practice supports good hygiene and prevents the buildup of dust mites and bacteria. Yes, it’s advised to launder your sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and duvet covers weekly for a clean and healthy sleep space. But you can also opt for washing these household essentials once every two weeks without any issues.

Takeaway

So, there it is! This is most of the stuff you need to cover in your weekly cleaning. And don’t worry, you can do it all on your own. In case you think you want additional help, DLL Cleaning Services is always ready to knock on your door and take care of everything.