Free Printable Speed Cleaning Checklist

What can you do when your friends call you saying they’re coming over in a few hours and your house is a mess? I call this cleaning motivation! But let’s be organized so you can get things done fast. So grab my free printable speed cleaning checklist and let’s get your house looking presentable in record time!

If you’re thinking ‘My house is a disaster! There’s no way I can clean it in a few hours!’, I’m here to change your mind.

This scenario is very familiar to me: the phone rings. I get a surprise visit announcement but when I look around, I’m surrounded by piles of laundry, a sink full of dirty dishes, and random items scattered across the floor. After a few of these anxiety-inducing experiences, I thought there had to be a better way to deal with such a situation.

Let’s be honest, nobody has time for a deep clean every time someone decides to pop in. That’s why this speed cleaning checklist is a lifesaver. It’s all about working smarter, not harder.

✨ Speed Cleaning Checklist

I organized the checklist by room + an Everywhere section to tackle those whole-house tasks in bulk. We’re aiming for productivity here!

Let’s take a look at the chores:

Kitchen Speed Cleaning

The place where we cook and often eat is the one most prone to getting dirty. All of the tasks below should be 5-10 minutes each. And depending on the state of your kitchen, you might not even need to do all of them.

• Pick up and put away items
• Gather dirty dishes and put them in the
• sink/dishwasher
• Manually wash dishes as needed
• Disinfect and wipe all counters
• Wipe the exterior of all appliances
• Wipe down stovetop
• Dry and put away hand washed dishes
• Empty & clean trash can

Bathroom Speed Cleaning

Your guests will surely need to use the bathroom at some point, so let’s make it sparkly in no time!

Quick tip: If you have lots of hygiene products scattered, try to gather/organize them a bit. Focus most on making visible surfaces shine. That gives the overall impression of cleanliness.

• Clean & disinfect toilet bowl
• Wipe down toilet seat & surrounding floor
• Wipe down sink, countertop & bathtub/shower
• Wipe down cabinets

Living Room Speed Cleaning

Since this is where we gather with our visitors, the living room definitely needs a bit of TLC. Clutter, dust, and crumbs are the main problems that need to be solved and luckily, this is doable pretty fast.

• Pick up & put away items
• Dust all surfaces
• Clean & organize desk area
• Wipe down furniture, tables & chairs

Bedroom/Guest Room Speed Cleaning

If your guests don’t stay overnight, you might get away with leaving these areas unattended. Otherwise, go through this quick cleaning routine, and don’t forget to open the windows to let some clean air in.

• Pick up & put away items
• Make the bed
• Dust all surfaces

Whole House Chores

There are a few cleaning chores I like to keep at the end because they need to be done pretty much everywhere (or at least in the places my guests will see).

Wiping mirrors and glass surfaces is such an example. It goes a lot faster if you do it for the whole house. Just grab your cleaning cloth and your glass cleaner and wipe them one by one.

For floor cleaning, consider how much time you have available. If you’re in a hurry, focus on vacuuming just the high-traffic areas, and instead of mopping everywhere, spot clean to finish faster.

• Wipe mirrors & glass surfaces
• Vacuum carpets, rugs & other areas as needed
• Quickly mop or spot clean floors

📝 How to Use This Speed Cleaning Checklist

This checklist is all about efficiency, so let’s talk strategy! The key is to work quickly and focus on the most visible areas. Here’s how to make the most of it:

Time Yourself

✅Each Room – I’ve included suggested time intervals for each room (see the checklist!). But you know your home best, so feel free to adjust these. Set a timer for each task and try to stick to it. This will keep you moving and prevent you from getting bogged down in one area.

✅Whole House Tasks – Don’t forget to time those whole-house chores too! Vacuuming and mopping can take a while, so assess how much time you have and prioritize accordingly.

Speed Cleaning Tips

✅Declutter First – Before you start cleaning, do a quick sweep through each room and put away any clutter. This will make the actual cleaning much faster.

✅Top to Bottom – Always clean from top to bottom. This way, any dust or debris that falls will land on surfaces you haven’t cleaned yet.

✅Multitask – While you’re waiting for the toilet bowl cleaner to work its magic, wipe down the sink and countertop.

✅The Right Tools – Keep your cleaning supplies organized and within easy reach. A cleaning caddy or bucket can be a lifesaver!

✅Most Importantly – Don’t stress about perfection! The goal is to create a clean and welcoming space for your guests, not to achieve spotless perfection. Remember, your friends are coming to see you, not your dust bunnies. 😉

📌Note: When you have more time for a thorough cleaning, be sure to check out my free printable deep cleaning checklist for a complete top-to-bottom cleaning routine.

🖨️ Grab It Now

Now that you’re ready to conquer those cleaning emergencies with confidence it’s time to download your free printable speed cleaning checklist!

👉Click the ‘Grab It Now‘ button after you enter your name and email in the box below. You’ll get the download link to the PDF via email.

👉Use a PDF reader app like the free Adobe Reader to open and print the file.

📌Printing Tips:

• For best results, print on regular letter-size paper (8.5 x 11 inches).
• I recommend printing in color, but black and white works too!
• Consider laminating your checklist for extra durability. This way, you can use it again and again. Plus, it’s super satisfying to check off those boxes with a dry-erase marker!

🧼 More Free Printable Cleaning Checklists

The free printable speed cleaning checklist is my best friend when I need to make my home look nice in the fastest possible time. However, all of us need to do regular house cleaning and there are better routines for that.

Well, I have some more free house cleaning checklists that can help you have a neat and welcoming home. And, because we’re all unique and so are our homes, these templates also include editable versions so you can create a truly personalized cleaning schedule you can actually stick to!

⭐Daily Cleaning Checklist – Daily house maintenance might require the highest level of consistency but also guarantees your home will be clean and organized at all times. And you won’t have to experience several days of cleaning like it can happen when you don’t do any maintenance.

⭐Weekly Cleaning Checklist – Most of us have more free time on the weekends, so this weekly routine will allow you to do most of the cleaning during that time. Having a set cleaning schedule will make you a lot more productive, trust me!

⭐Monthly Cleaning Checklist – Not all cleaning chores have to be done often, and this monthly cleaning checklist lets you do a more thorough job and take care of some often ignored tasks.

⭐Kids’ Cleaning Checklist – Wouldn’t it be great to have your little ones help with the cleaning? Try this checklist! Encouraging your kids to clean will make them more responsible, and perhaps less messy. After all, when you have to clean after yourself, you’re less inclined to leave stuff everywhere.