In What Order Should You Clean a House? 

Keeping a clean and tidy home can feel like an endless battle against dirt, clutter, and grime. But having an organized approach makes it much more manageable. Cleaning your house room-by-room using a systematic top-down, wet-to-dry method saves time and frustration. Read on to learn how to efficiently tackle every area of your home.

The Top-Down, Wet-to-Dry Cleaning Method

Start with the Bathrooms – The Germiest Rooms

Bathrooms tend to be the germiest rooms in a clean house. Tackling them first with disinfecting cleaners is key.

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Toilet brush
• All-purpose bathroom cleaner
• Disinfecting wipesclean
• Glass cleaner
• Grout brush

When Cleaning the Toilet:

• Flush to remove debris
• Use a toilet brush and bathroom cleaner to scrub bowl
• Clean outer surfaces with disinfecting wipes
• Don’t forget to disinfect the toilet seat, handle, and around the base

For Sinks and Counters:

• Use an abrasive cleanser and scrub pads for ceramic sinks
• Disinfect faucets and wipe down mirrors
• Clear counter surfaces before cleaning with bathroom spray or wipes

On Shower and Tub Areas:

• Start by ‘raining’ an all-purpose cleaner from top to bottom
• Let it soak before scrubbing with a sponge or brush
• Use a grout brush and bathroom cleaner for tile grout
• Squeegee glass doors after spraying cleaner
• Wipe down walls with bathroom cleaner or disinfecting wipes

For Floors:

• Sweep or vacuum to remove hair and debris
• Use a bathroom cleaner and mop for vinyl or tile floors
• Clean small carpeted areas with carpet stain remover

For Maintenance Cleaning:

• Quickly disinfect sinks, counters, and toilets
• Spot mop floors
• Use cleaning wipes on mirrors and surfaces

For Deep Cleaning:

• Scrub tile grout and caulk with a brush
• Clean inside cabinets and drawers
• Dust light fixtures
• Wash shower curtains and bath mats

Scrub the Kitchen – Tackle Grease and Grime

Kitchens require extra attention to cut through grease and food mess. Work from the top down for the most efficient clean.

Cleaning Supplies You’ll Need:

• All-purpose kitchen cleaner
• Disinfecting wipes
• Glass cleaner
• Dish soap
• Small scrub brushes

For Appliances and Kitchen Surfaces:

• Remove all items from counters before cleaning
• Apply kitchen cleaner to counters and let sit before wiping
• Use a degreasing spray and scrub pads on appliances
• Clean the microwave with a microwave-safe cleaner
• Disinfect exterior surfaces of appliances
• Use glass cleaner on outside of windows

Inside Fridges, Pantries, and Cabinets:

• Toss expired food items
• Remove shelves and drawers and wash with dish soap
• Clean glass shelves with glass cleaner
• Vacuum crumbs out of pantry
• Wipe down cabinet fronts and clean interiors

Ovens and Stovetops:

• Use oven cleaner according to product instructions
• Scrape off any caked on food or grease
• Clean burner grates and surfaces with a degreaser
• Wipe down exterior surfaces
• Clean knobs, dials, and handles with disinfecting wipes

Floors and Other Areas:

• Sweep crumbs with a broom or vacuum
• Mop flooring with an all-purpose cleaner
• Use stainless steel cleaner on sinks
• Load dishes into the dishwasher and run a cycle
• Take out garbage and recycling

For Daily Cleaning:

• Do dishes or run the dishwasher
• Wipe down counters and appliances
• Spot mop floors
• Take out trash and recycling

For Deep Cleaning:

• Clean inside drawers and cabinets
• Wash cabinet fronts
• Clean walls, light fixtures, vents
• Shampoo or steam clean carpeted areas

Bedrooms: Creating a Clean Sanctuary

Bedrooms accumulate dust and clutter quickly. Regular cleaning is important for a restful sleep environment.

Cleaning Tools You’ll Need:

• Duster
• Vacuum
• Mattress cleaner
• Floor cleaner
• Laundry supplies

Where to Start:

• Strip bed linens and start a load of laundry
• Dust ceiling fans, lamp shades, blinds, and electronics
• Use mattress cleaner on mattresses
• Fluff and rotate mattresses if needed
• Vacuum under the bed and all flooring surfaces

For Furniture:

• Use duster on surfaces and a vacuum brush attachment in crevices
• Tackle dressers, nightstands, desks, and shelving
• Clean mirrors, TV screens, and lamp bases
• Vacuum and spot treat upholstered furniture

On Flooring:

• Vacuum carpets using overlapping strokes
• Use carpet cleaner for high-traffic areas or stains
• Sweep then mop hard floors
• Use floor cleaner for engineered wood floors

For Daily Cleaning:

• Make the bed with fresh linens
• Do a quick dusting and pick up clutter
• Spot vacuum high traffic areas

For Deep Cleaning:

• Vacuum edges, corners, and under furniture
• Dust blinds, wash windows and screens
• Shampoo carpets
• Clean under bed and organize closets

Living Rooms and Common Areas

Living rooms, family rooms, and common areas tend to be gathering places in homes. Stay on top of dusting and decluttering for fresh, welcoming spaces.

Cleaning Supplies to Have on Hand:

• Duster
• Vacuum
• Glass cleaner
• Wood cleaner
• Upholstery cleaner

Where to Start:

• Dust light fixtures, ceiling fans, wall decor
• Vacuum upholstered furniture and drapes
• Use glass cleaner on mirrors, windows, and screens
• Clear surfaces and organize clutter

For Furniture:

• Vacuum slipcovers and wash removable covers
• Use duster on tabletops, shelves, and TV screens
• Spot clean upholstery and rugs

On Flooring:

• Vacuum carpets and area rugs
• Sweep then mop tile, vinyl, and wood floors
• Use steam mop on sealed floors
• Clean high traffic areas with carpet cleaner

For Daily Cleaning:

• Surface dust furnishings
• Fold throws and arrange pillows
• Spot vacuum high traffic areas

For Deep Cleaning:

• Vacuum under furniture and edges of room
• Wash windows, sills, and blinds
• Shampoo carpets and rugs
• Clean baseboards and vents

Additional Strategies for a Spotless Home

Complement your room-by-room cleaning with these tips:

Declutter and Organize First

• Do a quick declutter session before cleaning each room. Designate areas like counter tops and tables just for cleaning products. Clutter slows down the process!

Use the Top-Down Method

• Dust upper areas like fans, lighting, and shelving first. Dust and debris will cascade down as you clean.

Wet Areas First

• Bathrooms and kitchens benefit from cleaning solutions soaking in. The grimiest rooms are best tackled first.

Finish with Floors

• Vacuum and mop floors last to avoid traipsing dirt around after you’ve cleaned. Work top to bottom.

Customize to Your Home

• Tweak the order based on your floor plan and traffic patterns. Set priorities based on your family’s needs.

Keeping a Clean House Long-Term

Maintaining cleanliness is easier with simple daily, weekly, and seasonal cleaning rituals.

Daily Quick Cleaning

• Do dishes and take out trash
• Make beds and tidy bathrooms
• Spend 10 minutes per room picking up clutter
• Spot vacuum and spot mop as needed

Weekly Deep Cleans

• Target a different room to thoroughly clean each week
• Vacuum, mop, and thoroughly disinfect these focus areas
• Launder linens, towels, and blankets

Seasonal Cleaning

• Coordinate larger cleaning projects by season
• Deep clean carpets in spring and fall
• Wash windows and screens monthly
• Clean out gutters in fall, check smoke detectors with time change

Invest in Quality Cleaning Tools

• Good supplies make cleaning easier and faster
• Keep multiple vacuums for different floors
• Buy commercial grade mops, dusters, and scrub brushes

Create a Schedule

• Plot out daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks
• Sync cleaning with your calendar
• Set reminders to stay on top of routine maintenance

The Takeaway: A Clean House is a Happy Home

Approaching cleaning room-by-room and using the top-down, wet-to-dry method eliminates frustration. Customize the order and tools to best suit your home. Stay motivated by keeping cleaning supplies organized and setting reminders. Your home will be sparkling clean in no time!

FAQs

Why should I clean my house room-by-room?

Cleaning room-by-room allows you to thoroughly clean each space without feeling overwhelmed. You can customize tools and cleaning solutions based on the area. It also lets you systematically work top-down and wet-to-dry for greater efficiency.

What order should I clean the rooms in?

Most experts recommend tackling bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms first since these areas tend to be the dirtiest. Then move on to common rooms like living rooms and dens. Finish up with entryways, halls, and floors last to avoid tracking dirt through clean rooms.

How much time does it take to clean a whole house this way?

If doing a thorough deep clean of a 2-3 bedroom home, expect to spend 5-7 hours total. Breaking it up over multiple sessions is common. Daily tidying takes about 30 minutes per room.

What supplies do I need for each room?

Have all-purpose cleaners on hand as well as scrub brushes, dusting tools, vacuums, and microfiber cloths tailored to each space. Stock up on cleaning solutions for specific areas like bathroom disinfectant, glass cleaner, carpet shampoo, etc.

How can I stay motivated with regular cleanings?

Schedule specific days and times to tackle certain rooms. Set phone reminders to stay on track. Do daily maintenance like making beds, tidying, and vacuuming small areas which keeps cleaning from piling up. Listen to music or podcasts as you clean!

What are top tips for cleaning faster?

Always declutter first. Work top to bottom. Let cleaning solutions soak while you tidy. Take breaks to avoid burnout. Use quality cleaning tools. Clean small areas daily and do weekly deep cleans. Enlist help from family members.

Should I hire a professional cleaning service?

Professional cleaners are great for deep cleans of carpets, ducts, and specialty areas. But for regular maintenance, DIY room-by-room cleaning is cost effective. Combine pro services 1-2 times per year with your own ongoing cleaning.

How can I stay on top of cleaning as a busy parent?

Involve kids in age-appropriate tasks like dusting and making beds. Set a family rule that dishes must be done before bed. Prioritize clutter-free zones in high traffic areas. Focus on daily tidying rather than perfection. Trade off deep cleaning tasks with your partner.

Why does my house get dirty again so quickly?

Regular cleaning is a never-ending cycle! Staying on top of small daily tasks keeps dirt from building up. Quickly wiping, tidying, and vacuuming common areas makes a big difference. Deep clean kitchens and bathrooms weekly since these rooms accumulate grime fastest.