House Cleaning Checklist (Standard, Deep, Move-Out)

A house cleaning checklist is a written list of every task included in a clean, split by room and by type of clean. Most cleaning businesses use three: a standard clean for regular visits, a deep clean that adds the slow, detailed jobs, and a move-in or move-out clean that adds the inside of everything. Below are all three, ready to copy, plus how to use them so clients know exactly what they're paying for.

If you've ever had a client ask why you didn't clean the inside of the oven, you already know why this matters. The checklist isn't for you. You know how to clean. It's for the conversation before and after the job.

Key takeaways

• Use three checklists: standard, deep, and move-in or move-out. Each one builds on the one before it.

• Write down what's not included and price those extras separately, so they never get added for free.

• Share the checklist with your quote and send a short summary after the clean.

• For regular clients, rotate one deep-clean task into each visit so the home never falls behind.

Why every cleaning business needs a written checklist

A checklist does three jobs at once. It sets the client's expectations before you arrive, it keeps every visit the same even on a tiring day, and it lets a helper do the job your way without you standing over them.

It also protects your prices. When a deep clean is written down as "everything in a standard clean, plus baseboards, fans, vents and grout", it's easy to explain why it costs more. Without the list, it just sounds like a bigger number.

Say Maria cleans for a family every two weeks. One day the client mentions the windows look dusty. With a checklist, Maria can point to the list, explain that window tracks are part of a deep clean, and offer to add one next visit. That's an upsell, not an argument.

Standard house cleaning checklist

This is the list for regular weekly, every-two-weeks or monthly visits. It covers the rooms people notice most.

Kitchen

• Wipe counters and backsplash

• Clean the outside of appliances

• Clean the stovetop

• Clean and shine the sink

• Spot clean cabinet fronts

• Empty trash and add a new liner

• Sweep and mop the floor

Bathrooms

• Clean and disinfect the toilet

• Scrub the shower and tub

• Clean the sink and counter

• Shine mirrors and fixtures

• Empty trash

• Sweep and mop the floor

Bedrooms and living areas

• Dust reachable surfaces

• Make beds (change sheets if they're left out)

• Vacuum carpets and rugs

• Sweep and mop hard floors

• Empty trash

• Straighten pillows and throws

Deep cleaning checklist

A deep clean includes everything in the standard list, plus the detailed jobs that build up over time. Many cleaners book a deep clean for a new client's first visit, then switch to standard visits after that, because the first visit takes longest.

• Wipe baseboards

• Clean door frames, light switches and handles

• Dust ceiling fans and vents

• Clean window sills and tracks

• Clean inside the microwave

• Clean behind and under movable furniture

• Fully wipe cabinet fronts

• Scrub the grout in the shower

Move-in and move-out cleaning checklist

A move-out clean includes everything in the deep clean, plus the inside of everything, because the home is empty and the next person will open every door and drawer.

• Inside all cabinets and drawers

• Inside the oven

• Inside the fridge and freezer

• Inside closets and on shelves

• Inside windows (the ones you can reach safely)

• Spot clean walls

• Sweep the garage (if it's included)

Rotating tasks for regular clients

Regular clients don't need a full deep clean every visit, but some jobs build up if you never touch them. A simple fix is to rotate one extra task into each standard visit, so over a month or two the whole deep list gets done without a big, expensive clean.

• Visit 1: wipe baseboards in the main rooms

• Visit 2: dust ceiling fans and vents

• Visit 3: clean window sills and tracks

• Visit 4: wipe door frames, light switches and handles

Decide whether this is part of your regular price or a small add-on, and say so on the checklist. Either way, clients notice the extra care, and it makes the move to a full deep clean easier to suggest when a home needs one.

Cleaning supplies checklist

Forgetting one item can cost you a trip back to the car or a job done halfway. Keep a short supplies list in your caddy and check it before you leave home. A typical kit for house cleaning includes:

• All-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner and a bathroom cleaner or disinfectant

• Microfiber cloths in two colors (one for bathrooms, one for everything else)

• Scrub brushes, a toilet brush and a grout brush

• Sponges and a scraper for stuck-on spots

• Vacuum with attachments, a mop and a bucket

• Duster with an extension pole for fans and vents

• Trash bags and spare vacuum bags or filters

• Gloves, and anything else you need for your own safety

Always read the label before using a product on a new surface, and never mix cleaning products. Some combinations, like bleach and ammonia, release dangerous fumes. If a client has allergies or scent preferences, ask before the first clean. It's one of the questions on a good new-client intake form.

Decide what's not included, and say it

The most useful line on any checklist is the one that says what isn't included. Common add-ons that cleaners price separately include the inside of the fridge or oven on a standard clean, inside windows, laundry, dishes, and organizing closets. Pick yours, put a price next to each, and list them under the checklist.

When the extras are written down, clients ask for them instead of assuming them. You can try different add-on prices in our free house cleaning price calculator, which adds them on top of your base price.

How to use the checklist with clients

Send it with your quote

When you send a price, attach the checklist for that type of clean. The client sees what they're getting, and you avoid the "I thought that was included" message later. If you're not sure what to say in the quote itself, our post on the text message templates for cleaning businesses has a ready-to-send version.

Tick it as you go

Keep a copy on your phone or on paper and tick each task. It sounds slow, but it's quicker than walking back through a house wondering if you wiped the microwave.

Send a short summary after the clean

When you're done, send the client a quick message listing what you did. Our free Proof of Clean tool does this for you: tick the tasks, add the price, and copy a clear finished-job message for WhatsApp, text or email.

Attach it to your service agreement

If you use a simple service agreement, point to the checklist for what's included instead of listing every task in the agreement itself. That keeps the agreement short and the checklist easy to update.

Price each checklist differently

Each list takes a different amount of time, so each needs its own price. A common approach is to set a standard price, then multiply it for bigger jobs, for example 1.5 times for a deep clean and 1.8 times for a move-out clean. Those are examples, not rules. Your prices depend on your area, your costs and how fast you work. Our guide on how to price a cleaning job walks through the whole method.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a standard and a deep clean?

A standard clean covers the surfaces and floors people notice day to day. A deep clean adds detailed work like baseboards, fans, vents, window tracks and grout, so it takes longer and usually costs more.

What does a move-out clean include?

Everything in a deep clean, plus the inside of cabinets, drawers, closets, the oven and the fridge, and spot cleaning walls. The goal is a home that's ready for the next person.

Should I give clients my cleaning checklist?

Yes. Sharing it before the first clean sets clear expectations, makes your prices easier to understand, and gives you something to point to if a client asks about a task that isn't included.

What supplies do I need to start a cleaning business?

A basic kit covers most homes: all-purpose, glass and bathroom cleaners, microfiber cloths, brushes, a vacuum, a mop and bucket, a duster with an extension pole, trash bags and gloves. Add specialty products as you take on jobs that need them.

How often should a home get a deep clean?

There's no fixed rule. Many cleaners do a deep clean on the first visit, then standard visits after that, with an extra deep clean when a home needs it, for example before the holidays.

Get these checklists ready to print

All three checklists, plus a new-client intake form, a simple service agreement template and 20 ready-to-send client texts, come in the Client Texts & Forms file inside The AI Office Manager. Change the words in brackets, print or share them, and you're set.