choremen

How often to clean everything

Guests arriving? A quick cleaning checklist

Somebody is on their way. Pick how long you have, and do the rooms they will actually use, in this order: a bathroom they can use, somewhere to sit, one clear kitchen surface and the rubbish out of sight. A longer plan is the shorter one with more added.

The minutes are a budget, not a promise. They are a way to choose how far down the list to go, not a measure of how long anybody’s house takes — yours may take longer, or less. This is tidying for visitors, not a deep clean: the oven, the inside of the fridge and the grout can wait for another day.

Tick each job as it is done. The ticks are only on this page while it is open: they are not saved to an account or to this browser, and the link you send has none of them in it.

15-minute plan

The four things first: the bathroom, the seats, one bit of worktop and the rubbish. 9 jobs, in order.

A bathroom they can use

  • Brush the bowl and flush, then wipe the seat, both sides of the lid, the rim and the flush handle.

    The proper version: clean the bathroom.

  • Rinse out the basin and wipe the tap and the ledge around it.

    The proper version: clean the bathroom.

  • Hang a clean hand towel and leave a spare toilet roll where somebody can see it without asking.

    The proper version: wash towels.

Somewhere to sit

  • Clothes, bags, laundry and post off the sofa and the chairs. Put them in one place — a bedroom will do.

  • Cups, plates and cans to the kitchen, and everything else into one pile or a drawer.

One clear kitchen surface

  • Enough for a kettle, a few glasses and whatever somebody brings. Move everything off it, then wipe it.

    The proper version: kitchen bin and worktops.

  • Load the dishwasher, or stack what is dirty neatly in a washing-up bowl by the sink. Washing up can come later.

Rubbish put away

  • Walk the rooms with a bin bag: packaging, takeaway boxes, empties, receipts.

  • Tie it, take it out, and put a new liner in.

    The proper version: kitchen bin and worktops.

From choremen.fun/guests?minutes=15

Keep on top of it next time — start a free list

That starts a private list of the recurring jobs — the bins, the bathroom, the worktops — which says when each is next due, so there is less to catch up on the next time somebody rings. It starts empty: the ticks on this page do not come with it. Or work out a cleaning schedule for the place first, with no account.

30-minute plan

The same four, a bit further, and the hall so the door opens onto something. 19 jobs, in order.

A bathroom they can use

  • Brush the bowl and flush, then wipe the seat, both sides of the lid, the rim and the flush handle.

    The proper version: clean the bathroom.

  • Rinse out the basin and wipe the tap and the ledge around it.

    The proper version: clean the bathroom.

  • Hang a clean hand towel and leave a spare toilet roll where somebody can see it without asking.

    The proper version: wash towels.

  • Razors, open tubes and anything private into a cupboard or a drawer, so the shelf and the cistern are clear.

  • Wipe off the splashes at basin height. The rest of it can wait.

  • Hair out of the plughole, bottles stood up, and the curtain or screen pulled across.

    The proper version: wipe the shower screen.

Somewhere to sit

  • Clothes, bags, laundry and post off the sofa and the chairs. Put them in one place — a bedroom will do.

  • Cups, plates and cans to the kitchen, and everything else into one pile or a drawer.

  • Shake out the cushions, fold the throw, and turn round any cushion that has seen a takeaway.

  • Rings, crumbs and sticky patches, once it is clear.

One clear kitchen surface

  • Enough for a kettle, a few glasses and whatever somebody brings. Move everything off it, then wipe it.

    The proper version: kitchen bin and worktops.

  • Load the dishwasher, or stack what is dirty neatly in a washing-up bowl by the sink. Washing up can come later.

  • Clear the sink, so there is somewhere to fill a glass and rinse a cup.

  • Wipe the top of the hob and the sink and the tap. Anything baked on is a job for another day.

Rubbish put away

  • Walk the rooms with a bin bag: packaging, takeaway boxes, empties, receipts.

  • Tie it, take it out, and put a new liner in.

    The proper version: kitchen bin and worktops.

  • Take it to wherever it goes, so it is not stacked by the back door.

    The proper version: bins out.

The way in

  • Shoes, bags and post out of the way, so the door opens fully and somebody can take a coat off.

  • A free hook, or a chair or a bed to put them on.

From choremen.fun/guests?minutes=30

Keep on top of it next time — start a free list

That starts a private list of the recurring jobs — the bins, the bathroom, the worktops — which says when each is next due, so there is less to catch up on the next time somebody rings. It starts empty: the ticks on this page do not come with it. Or work out a cleaning schedule for the place first, with no account.

60-minute plan

Everything in the 30-minute plan, then the floors guests walk on and a last walk through. 28 jobs, in order.

A bathroom they can use

  • Brush the bowl and flush, then wipe the seat, both sides of the lid, the rim and the flush handle.

    The proper version: clean the bathroom.

  • Rinse out the basin and wipe the tap and the ledge around it.

    The proper version: clean the bathroom.

  • Hang a clean hand towel and leave a spare toilet roll where somebody can see it without asking.

    The proper version: wash towels.

  • Razors, open tubes and anything private into a cupboard or a drawer, so the shelf and the cistern are clear.

  • Wipe off the splashes at basin height. The rest of it can wait.

  • Hair out of the plughole, bottles stood up, and the curtain or screen pulled across.

    The proper version: wipe the shower screen.

  • Pick up whatever is on it, then hoover or wipe round the base of the toilet.

    The proper version: clean the bathroom.

Somewhere to sit

  • Clothes, bags, laundry and post off the sofa and the chairs. Put them in one place — a bedroom will do.

  • Cups, plates and cans to the kitchen, and everything else into one pile or a drawer.

  • Shake out the cushions, fold the throw, and turn round any cushion that has seen a takeaway.

  • Rings, crumbs and sticky patches, once it is clear.

  • Round the sofa and the chairs, and the bit of floor between them and the door.

    The proper version: hoover through.

  • The side table, the shelf by the sofa and the top of the TV unit — the surfaces somebody sitting down will actually look at.

One clear kitchen surface

  • Enough for a kettle, a few glasses and whatever somebody brings. Move everything off it, then wipe it.

    The proper version: kitchen bin and worktops.

  • Load the dishwasher, or stack what is dirty neatly in a washing-up bowl by the sink. Washing up can come later.

  • Clear the sink, so there is somewhere to fill a glass and rinse a cup.

  • Wipe the top of the hob and the sink and the tap. Anything baked on is a job for another day.

  • Put away what lives in a cupboard, then wipe what is left clear.

    The proper version: kitchen bin and worktops.

  • Clear one shelf for whatever is coming, and bin anything past its date while the door is open.

  • Sweep or hoover the crumbs, and wipe up anything sticky.

Rubbish put away

  • Walk the rooms with a bin bag: packaging, takeaway boxes, empties, receipts.

  • Tie it, take it out, and put a new liner in.

    The proper version: kitchen bin and worktops.

  • Take it to wherever it goes, so it is not stacked by the back door.

    The proper version: bins out.

  • Empty them into the main bin and put new liners in.

The way in

  • Shoes, bags and post out of the way, so the door opens fully and somebody can take a coat off.

  • A free hook, or a chair or a bed to put them on.

  • The mat and the bit of floor just inside the door.

    The proper version: hoover through.

  • From the front door to the sofa to the bathroom. Whatever catches your eye on the way is the last thing to do.

From choremen.fun/guests?minutes=60

Keep on top of it next time — start a free list

That starts a private list of the recurring jobs — the bins, the bathroom, the worktops — which says when each is next due, so there is less to catch up on the next time somebody rings. It starts empty: the ticks on this page do not come with it. Or work out a cleaning schedule for the place first, with no account.

Not today

These make a house clean rather than ready, and none of them will be finished before the doorbell. Each has a guide to how often it wants doing.