Which room should you start cleaning first?

First tidy up and start the jobs that need time (toilet, limescale-covered surfaces); then begin with the rooms that get dirtiest, such as the kitchen and bathroom, and move on to the other rooms. In every room work from top to bottom and leave the floor until last.

How long does cleaning a house take?

It depends on the size of the home, how dirty it is and the scope of the work. Daily jobs are quick; spreading a deep clean that includes cupboard interiors, curtains and carpets over several days makes it easier.

Which products are used for house cleaning?

The basics are surface cleaner, glass cleaner, bathroom and WC cleaner, limescale remover, dishwashing liquid and degreaser for greasy surfaces; special products for wood and carpets are added. The full list is in our home cleaning supplies list guide.

Guide · House cleaning plan · October 19, 2026

How to Clean a House

Cleaning a house in the right order is quicker, and the places you have cleaned do not get dirty again. The basic rule is to work from top to bottom and from the inside towards the door, leaving the floor until last. This guide explains where to start a deep clean, the steps for each room, cleaning an empty or new home and a regular cleaning checklist, with links to our detailed guides for each room.

Where to start cleaning a house

Tidy up: put away clutter, empty the bins and put the laundry in the machine.
Get your products ready: gather the right product for each surface and separate cloths in a bucket (household cleaning supplies list).
Start the jobs that need time first: apply the product to the toilet and limescale-covered surfaces; while it works for the time on the label, move on to another room.
Work from top to bottom: first ceiling corners, cabinet tops and shelves, then tables and worktops, and the floor last.
Do dry jobs before wet ones: do not start mopping until dusting and vacuuming are finished.
Keep your vacuum clean: for container, filter and hose care, see how to clean a vacuum cleaner.
Robot vacuum: for sensor, brush and mop care, see how to clean a robot vacuum.

Cleaning room by room

Kitchen

The worktop, hob, cabinet doors, sink and floor are cleaned in that order; on greasy surfaces the product is chosen to suit the surface. For detailed steps see how to clean a kitchen, and for the fridge how to clean a fridge.

Bathroom and toilet

While the product works in the toilet, the mirror, shower enclosure, tiles, washbasin and bathtub are cleaned; the toilet and floor come last. Details: how to clean a bathroom and how to clean a toilet.

Living room and bedroom

Dust, vacuum the sofas and carpets, and wipe wooden furniture with a slightly damp cloth; windows and mirrors are polished last. Related guides: how to clean a sofa, how to clean a mattress, wood surface cleaner.

Windows, doors and walls

Windows are cleaned in the shade with a lint-free cloth; doors and walls with washable paint are cleaned with little moisture. Details: how to use glass cleaner, how to clean doors, how to clean walls.

Floor

The floor is mopped last, after vacuuming, with a product suited to its type: little moisture on parquet and laminate, a neutral cleaner on ceramic and marble. Details: what to mop floors with, how to clean parquet floors.

How to deep clean a house

In a deep clean, besides the daily jobs, the insides and tops of cupboards, curtains, carpets, window and door frames, cooker hood filters and the inside of the fridge are also cleaned. Rather than trying to fit it all into one day, go room by room and finish each room before moving on. For curtains see how to wash curtains, for carpets how to use carpet shampoo, and for the cooker hood how to clean a cooker hood.

How to clean an empty or new home

Cleaning is easier with no furniture: clean the insides of cupboards, the shelves and all surfaces before moving in.
First the cupboards, bathroom and kitchen, then windows and doors, and the floor last.
For limescale in the bathroom and kitchen, choose the product to suit the surface: how to use limescale remover.
For dust and residue after renovation or painting: post-construction cleaning.
For preparing for guests before Eid: how to do Eid cleaning.
For radiators at the start of the heating season: how to clean radiators.
For summer houses at the start and end of the season: how to clean a summer house.
When you have finished, air the house well and make sure the floor is dry.

Daily, weekly and monthly house cleaning

Every day: dishes, the kitchen worktop and sink, bins, and the washbasin and toilet when needed.
Once a week: dusting, vacuuming and mopping, the whole bathroom and toilet, bed linen and mirrors.
Once a month: windows, the inside of the fridge, cabinet tops, doors and handles, sofa and mattress care.
Seasonal (spring cleaning): for curtains, carpets, winter textiles and cupboard insides, see how to spring clean.
Room by room: for the bedroom, see how to clean a bedroom.
Room by room: for the living room and sitting room, see how to clean a living room.
Frequency depends on the size of the home, how many people live there and whether you have pets.

For safe cleaning

Do not mix different cleaning products, especially bleach with acidic products (can cleaning products be mixed).
Wear gloves and safety goggles and ventilate the room when working with limescale remover and bleach.
Keep products in their original, labelled packaging and out of children's reach.
Follow the instructions on the label for the amount to use.

For cleaning companies and home cleaners

For companies offering home cleaning services and home cleaners, we produce surface, glass, bathroom and WC cleaners as well as dishwashing liquid and bleach under the TETİK and START brands in packs from 1 kg to 30 kg; decanting from large drums into labelled bottles lowers costs. For the product list, see our Supplies for a cleaning company guide; for bulk purchases you can request a quote.

Prepared by: Tetikoğlu Kimya — cleaning chemicals manufacturer since 1997. When using products, always follow the instructions and warnings on the pack.