The Ultimate Summer Cleaning Checklist to Keep Your Home Sparkling

Summer is for rest, relaxation, and tidying up. Staying on top of essential summer cleaning chores will help you stay organized and tidy at home year-round, meaning you can fully enjoy that long-awaited vacation. 

Take advantage of the sunny weather and long days by paying special attention to your outdoor space and seasonal items, too. This summer cleaning checklist will help you work through it all and still have plenty of time for grilling, swimming, and basking in the warmth.

“If there’s ever a time to hire a professional home cleaning service, summer is it!” says Asya Biddle, Angi Expert Review Board member and manager of The Dust Busters janitorial company in Williamsport, PA. “The tasks listed below are easily performed, and most fall under a general cleaning. If hiring a company isn’t in your budget, the best plan for tackling home cleaning is to break it up into daily tasks."

Cleaning Supply List

Before you get to scrubbing, make sure you have everything in this list in your arsenal. These cleaning supplies will come in handy as you work through our house cleaning checklists.

• Rubber or latex gloves

• All-purpose cleaner

• Vacuum

• Dishwashing detergent

• Laundry detergent

• Duster

• Microfiber cloths

• Mop

• Warm water and bucket

• Sponges 

• Scrub brushes

• Baking soda

• White vinegar

Kitchen Summer Cleaning Tasks

Whether you’re a proud home cook or a takeout-only family, your kitchen probably still gets a lot of love. While a deep clean isn’t completely necessary during this busy season, you should accomplish a few basic cleaning tasks regularly to prevent your kitchen from looking worse for wear.

• Clean floors

• Sanitize surfaces

• Wash dishes often

• Deodorize garbage disposal

• Clean windows

• Wash trash can and recycling bins

• Clean out fridge

Living Room Summer Cleaning Tasks

When your family isn’t in the kitchen, they’re probably lounging in the living room. Keep it clean and organized by tidying up every night and tackling basic cleaning chores. Don’t be shy; enlist the help of everyone in your household to stay on top of these tasks. 

• Pick up trash daily

• Fold blankets and straighten pillows daily

• Deodorize carpets with baking soda

• Vacuum

• Dust

• Declutter

• Clean windows

Bedroom Summer Cleaning Tasks

Cleaning your bedroom gets rid of allergens, like dust, and makes the space feel more relaxing. You’ll sleep easier without piles of laundry and dusty blinds calling your name. Here are the bedroom cleaning tasks to complete this summer:

• Make bed daily

• Wash bedding weekly (at least)

• Clean windows and window coverings

• Dust surfaces

• Vacuum

• Deodorize carpets with baking soda

Bathroom Summer Cleaning Tasks

After a lively swimming sesh or stunning summer hike, not much is better than soothing your sore muscles and washing the dirt away with a shower (except maybe stopping for ice cream on the way home). 

Nevertheless, your bathroom is where you go to get clean, and you’ll never feel totally clean if your bathroom itself is dirty. These cleaning tasks will help you keep your bathroom sparkling this summer:

• Sweep and mop

• Disinfect surfaces

• Scrub shower, tub, and sink

• Clean mirrors

• Wash towels

• Clean toilet

• Wash shower curtain

• Wash bath mats

• Clean windows

Outdoor Space Summer Cleaning Tasks

The sun often sticks around well into the evening during the summer, which means you have more hours in the day to be productive. Take advantage of the extra daylight and warm temperatures by cleaning your outdoor space. You’re spending all of your free time lounging in the backyard anyway. Keeping it clean will only add to your enjoyment.

• Clean grill

• Mow lawn if needed

• Prune plants, weed, etc.

• Organize garage

• Clean windows

• Dust and clean patio furniture

• Clean deck

• Wash car

• Clean home exterior

Summer Deep Cleaning Tasks

The above lists include most of the basic cleaning tasks you should tackle this summer. However, there are a few extras you can take on if you’re on a roll or you’re planning to deep clean your home.

• Clean vents

• Wash all walls, baseboards

• Clean under appliances

• Shampoo carpets

• Organize closets

• Wash pet beds