Monthly Cleaning Checklist: 8 Tasks To Complete

If you’re like us, then you have a weekly cleaning checklist you abide by to a T. But, what about a monthly cleaning checklist? Before you roll your eyes at the thought of cleaning more (oh the joys of being a homeowner), it’s true that there are certain areas of the house that only need the occasional wipe down and shouldn’t be overlooked.

We reached out to a cleaning expert for their insight on the areas of the home that we’re going to guess aren’t part of your weekly cleaning chores, but should be added to your monthly cleaning. Here are 8 things an expert says you should clean at least once a month.

Baseboards

Topping off our list of things you should be cleaning monthly are the lovely baseboards. “Baseboards are usually not in direct line of sight so it’s safe to say they aren’t the first thing you notice when you walk into a room,” Wilson says. “You don’t need to be scrubbing them every day, but a monthly wipe-down can work.”

If the though of bending down to swipe at the bottom line of white trim makes your back scream, Wilson has the perfect hack to use in every room. “Instead of going down on your knees to clean, wrap a damp microfiber cloth around the bristle end of a broom or a Swiffer and secure it with an elastic band. Another way is to use the Baseboard Buddy which has a contoured head perfect for any moldings.”

Lamp Shades

Have you started to notice a less-than-bright room at night that are illuminated by your lamps? It could be cause of dusty lampshades, which is another area of the house Wilson says you should clean monthly. “Dust can really mess with the light output, making a room feel dim and gloomy. But unlike high-touch surfaces, lamp shades aren’t subject to frequent contact or dirt. Plus, if you clean it daily, the fabric might get damaged because of too much exposure to cleaning products or excessive scrubbing.”

When it comes to actually cleaning off the lamp shades, Wilson says using the vacuum cleaner with brush attachment is a popular choice for cleaning this area, but to not push down too hard to create a hard suction. “If that’s not available, use a dry, soft cloth, a microfiber duster, or a feather duster. A lint roller can work, too, especially on fabric lampshades. If you want it to repel dust and static cling, use a dryer sheet. For pleated lamp shades, gently brush in the direction of the pleats to avoid damage. And once dry, fluff with your hands to restore shape and volume.”

Washing Machine

Even though your washing machine is a cleaning machine itself, Wilson says this is another area of the home that you need to wipe down monthly not necessarily inside, but in the nooks and crannies. “When you use your machine often, it actually does some self-cleaning thanks to the water and detergent flowing through it,” she says. “But as for the rubber seals, it’s best to wipe them down every after use. Now, to make deep cleaning easy, I highly recommend the cleaning tablets from Affresh. Either you have a top or front load washer, pop one, and run a normal cleaning cycle. The one from OxiClean works excellent, too, but remove any clothes first!”

Oven

While you’re cleaning out the rubber seals of your washing machine, don’t forget to clean the inside of your oven next. Ovens see a lot of messes from foods that spill onto the bottom or racks that can become burnt overtime the longer the messes sit and bake. Even though ovens nowadays come with a self-cleaning feature that you can definitely us, it’s best to go in with an oven cleaner once a month to clean off the mess the self-cleaning feature can’t remove.

Ceiling Fans

If you’re not cleaning your ceiling fans weekly or bi-weekly, then you need to be cleaning them at least once a month to remove the dust that collects upon the blades. If you’re like us, your ceiling fans stay on year-round, but it’s good to turn them off when you clean them to make the process easier.

Plus, it’s easy to clean the ceiling fans. All you need to do (after turning the fan off) is take a ceiling fan duster and wipe down the top of the blade and the sides to get rid of the collected dust. If you want to keep the dust from going all over the place, one handy hack is to use an old pillowcase in place of the duster.

Floors

While it’s safe to assume you’re sweeping or vacuuming your floors weekly, for any hardwoods in the home, including laminate or LVP, you should add mopping to the monthly chore list. This removes any stuck-on dirt or grime and keeps your floors sanitized, especially if you have pets in the house.

Refrigerator

Is your home smelly funky? One of the places you might want to check is your refrigerator. Other than foods you’re forgetting to clean out, it’s possible that some foods have spilled and left stains on your shelves or drawers that need to be cleaned. That’s why deep cleaning your fridge once a month is in your best interest to reduce funky smells and keep the area sanitized.

Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal and kitchen sink is another prime place to clean monthly since they can cause funky smells, too. But, your garbage disposal works hard to chop up foods into tiny bits that can leave food residue behind, which not only leaves foul odors, but less-than-sharp blades. So, clean your garbage disposal once a month to have a fully performing appliance in a fresh smelling sink.