June 21, 2024
Lisa Moskovian

How Long Should Cleaning Your House Take? A Room-By-Room Timing Guide

Contents

1 How Long Should Cleaning Your House Take? A Room-By-Room Timing Guide

Do you ever wonder, ‘how long should cleaning your house take?’

Or…

Do you ever feel like it takes WAY too long to clean your home?

You’re not alone—this is a common feeling amongst homeowners, especially since most of us would rather be relaxing or hanging out with friends and family.

As a professional house cleaner with experience in Ancaster, Hamilton, and Burlington, I’ve learned the ins and outs of efficient cleaning, including understanding how long cleaning your house should take.

This guide will provide you with practical tips to streamline your cleaning routine and help you decide when it might be worth hiring a professional. Let’s get started on making your home sparkle in no time!

Understanding House Cleaning Times

Factors Affecting Cleaning Time

When it comes to cleaning your house, several factors can influence how long the cleaning process takes. Here are the main ones to consider:

Size/Square Footage: The larger the house, the longer it will take to clean. A small condo cleaning might take an hour or two, while a multi-story home can take several hours or even a whole day. There are cases when a smaller space can take longer than a larger space depending on the condition.

Furniture: The amount and type of furniture can significantly affect cleaning time. More furniture means more surfaces to dust and more obstacles to navigate while vacuuming or mopping.
Usage: High-traffic areas like the kitchen, bathrooms, and living room usually require more frequent and intensive cleaning compared to less-used spaces like guest bedrooms or storage areas.
Number of bathrooms: Bathrooms are considered a high-traffic area and also require deep sanitization. It is also important to consider if the home has glass showers as those will take additional time to clean.

Average Cleaning Times

Understanding these factors, let’s look at the average cleaning times for self-cleaning versus hiring a professional team:

Size of Home	Self-Cleaning	Professional Team Cleaning
1-bedroom apartment:	2-2.5 hours	1 hour
2-bedroom house:	3-4 hours	1.5-2 hours
3-bedroom house:	3-5 hours	2-3 hours
4+ bedroom house:	4-6+ hours	3-4+ hours

Professional cleaners typically work in teams with a set system, which allows them to clean more efficiently and thoroughly in a shorter amount of time. This can be particularly beneficial for larger homes or for those with busy schedules.

Whether you choose to clean yourself or hire a professional, knowing these average times can help you plan and manage your cleaning tasks more effectively.

Room by Room Cleaning Timing Guide

Room Type	Square Footage	Homeowner Cleaning Time	Professional Team Cleaning Time
Kitchen	Small (up to 100 sq. ft.)	1.5-2 hours	15 – 30 minutes
	Medium (100-200 sq. ft.)	2-2.5 hours	20-35 minutes
	Large (200+ sq. ft.)	3-4 hours	30 minutes-1 hour
Bathroom	Half Bath	10 – 15 minutes	5 – 7 minutes
	Full Bathroom	45 minutes – 1 hour	20 – 30 minutes
	Master Bathroom	1 – 2 hours	30 minutes-45 minutes
Bedroom	Small (up to 150 sq. ft.)	15 – 20 minutes	5 – 10 minutes
	Medium (150-300 sq. ft.)	20-30 minutes	10 – 15 minutes
	Large (300+ sq. ft.)	30 minutes – 1 hour	15 – 20 minutes
Living Room	Small (up to 200 sq. ft.)	15 – 20 minutes	5 – 10 minutes
	Medium (200-400 sq. ft.)	20 – 30 minutes	10 – 15 minutes
	Large (400+ sq. ft.)	30 -45 minutes	15 – 20 minutes
Whole House	Small (up to 1,000 sq. ft.)	4-6 hours	1 – 2 hours
	Medium (1,000-2,000 sq. ft.)	6-8 hours	1.5 – 2.25 hours
	Large (2,000+ sq. ft.)	8-12+ hours	2.25 – 3+ hours

*The cleaning time estimates provided are rough averages and can vary based on specific conditions and individual needs. For an accurate estimate tailored to your home, please request a quote from a professional cleaning service.

How Long Should Cleaning Your Living Room Take?

The amount of time needed to clean your living room can vary significantly based on several factors.

On average, you should expect to spend about 10-20 minutes cleaning your living room. Here’s a breakdown of what influences the cleaning time and how you can efficiently manage it:

Type of Flooring: Different flooring types require different cleaning techniques and times. For instance, hardwood floors might need a quick sweep and mop, while carpeted areas could require a few extra minutes of vacuuming, especially if you’re dealing with pet hair or deep-set dirt.
Furniture Layout: The arrangement and amount of furniture in your living room play a crucial role in cleaning time. Minimalist styles with fewer furnishings can be cleaned faster than rooms filled with multiple pieces of furniture, decorations, and electronics, which may need individual dusting and careful attention.
Current Condition: The general upkeep of the living room affects how long cleaning will take. A well-maintained room that’s tidied regularly will require less time than a living room that hasn’t been cleaned in weeks or has heavy dust and clutter.
Cleaning Tasks Involved: Consider what specific tasks your living room cleaning entails. This may include dusting surfaces and electronics, vacuuming and mopping floors, fluffing pillows, and tidying magazines or other items. Each task adds to the total time but is essential for a thorough clean.

Efficiency Tips:

Preparation: Before you start cleaning, gather all your cleaning supplies. This prevents unnecessary interruptions looking for tools and products.
Top to Bottom Cleaning: Always start cleaning from the highest points like shelves and work your way down to the floors. This method ensures that any dust or debris that falls is cleaned up in the later stages of vacuuming or sweeping.
Regular Maintenance: Keeping up with small cleaning tasks throughout the week can significantly reduce the time needed for a more comprehensive clean.

By understanding these factors and applying these tips, you can efficiently clean your living room within the 10-20 minute range, ensuring it’s always guest-ready without taking too much time out of your day.

How Long Should Cleaning Your Kitchen Take?

Cleaning the kitchen is often one of the more demanding tasks in home upkeep due to its frequent use and the variety of surfaces and appliances it contains.

Understanding the intensity of cleaning required and the specific areas to focus on can help you manage your time effectively.

Here’s a detailed breakdown:

Key Areas Requiring Attention

Appliances: Regularly wipe down exterior surfaces of the stove, microwave, and refrigerator. Deep cleaning includes the interiors, which is more intensive.
Countertops: Clean daily to prevent the buildup of crumbs and stains. Use appropriate cleaning products for different materials like granite or marble.
Sink and Faucets: Regular disinfecting and scrubbing are necessary to keep this high-use area germ-free.
Floors: Due to high foot traffic, kitchen floors may need frequent sweeping and mopping.

Cleaning Intensity Breakdown

Cleaning Type	Tasks Included	Estimated Time
Light Cleaning	Wiping down countertops, spot-cleaning appliances, sweeping floors.	15-30 minutes
Regular Cleaning	Includes all tasks in Light Cleaning plus wiping down all appliance exteriors, scrubbing the sink, mopping the floor.	30-60 minutes
Deep Cleaning	Includes Regular Cleaning tasks plus cleaning inside appliances, scrubbing backsplash tiles, wiping cabinet fronts, and addressing hard-to-reach areas.	1-2 hours

Add-Ons

Fridge Cleaning: This involves emptying, disinfecting, and organizing the fridge, adding about 30-45 minutes to your cleaning routine.
Oven Cleaning: Depending on the level of grime, oven cleaning can take an additional 30 minutes to 1 hour.

By focusing on these key areas and adjusting the intensity of your cleaning efforts as needed, you can efficiently maintain a spotless kitchen.

How Long Should Cleaning Your Bathroom Take?

Cleaning the bathroom presents unique challenges due to constant exposure to moisture, which can lead to issues like mold, mildew, and water stains.

Understanding these problems and the required efforts can help you effectively manage your cleaning time.

Here’s an overview of the key challenges and time estimates for cleaning bathrooms:

Key Challenges in Bathroom Cleaning

Mold and Mildew: The humid environment of bathrooms makes them hotspots for mold and mildew. Effective removal often requires specialized cleaning products and thorough scrubbing of tile grout and caulking.
Water Stains: Hard water can leave stubborn stains on faucets, showerheads, and glass doors. Addressing these stains typically involves the use of vinegar or specialized cleaners, coupled with substantial scrubbing.
Soap Scum: Regular accumulation of soap scum in showers and tubs demands consistent attention to prevent buildup and maintain cleanliness.
Toilets and Sinks: These fixtures require diligent cleaning and disinfecting to ensure optimal hygiene and to prevent unpleasant odours.

Time Estimates for Bathroom Cleaning

Bathroom Type	Cleaning Scope	Solo Cleaning Time	Team Cleaning Time
Half Bath	Light Cleaning	10-15 minutes	5-7 minutes
	Deep Cleaning	10-20 minutes	7-15 minutes
Full Bathroom	Light Cleaning	15-25 minutes	10-15 minutes
	Deep Cleaning	30-60 minutes	20-30 minutes

Multiple Bathrooms

Total Cleaning Time: Homes with multiple bathrooms will see an increase in total cleaning time. For instance, cleaning three full bathrooms solo might take approximately 1.5-3 hours, while a professional cleaning team could complete the task in about 1-1.5 hours.

By recognizing these cleaning challenges and estimating the time required for both solo and team efforts, you can better organize your bathroom cleaning schedule. This knowledge also aids in deciding whether to seek professional cleaning services to keep your bathrooms in pristine condition.

How Long Should Cleaning Your Bedrooms Take?

Cleaning bedrooms involves a range of tasks, and the time required can vary greatly based on several factors.

Whether you’re tidying up personally or employing professional services, understanding these variables will help you manage your cleaning schedule effectively.

Here’s a detailed guide to the factors that influence cleaning time and the expected durations for various bedroom sizes.

Factors Influencing Cleaning Time

Size: The size of the bedroom is a primary determinant of cleaning time. Smaller rooms can be quicker to clean, whereas larger master bedrooms, especially those with an en-suite bathroom, require more time.
Furniture: The amount of furniture in a room affects cleaning duration. More furniture not only means more surfaces to dust but also more items to move around when vacuuming or mopping. Conversely, bedrooms with minimal furniture can be cleaned faster.
Clutter: A cluttered bedroom takes longer to clean as organizing and tidying clothes, books, and personal items can significantly extend the cleaning process.

Time Estimates for Bedroom Cleaning

Bedroom Size	Cleaning Type	Personal Cleaning Time	Professional Cleaning Time
Small	Light Cleaning	10-15 minutes	5-7 minutes
	Deep Cleaning	10-20 minutes	7-15 minutes
Medium	Light Cleaning	10-15 minutes	5-10 minutes
	Deep Cleaning	15-25 minutes	10-20 minutes
Large	Light Cleaning	15-20 minutes	10-15 minutes
	Deep Cleaning	25-40 minutes	15-25 minutes

Cleaning Process Tips

To optimize bedroom cleaning:

Regular Maintenance: Keeping a regular cleaning schedule helps reduce the time needed for both light and deep cleaning sessions.
Declutter Regularly: Minimize clutter by regularly organizing and storing items. This not only speeds up cleaning but also maintains a more serene bedroom environment.
Systematic Approach: Clean systematically from one side of the room to the other and from top to bottom to ensure efficiency and avoid redoing areas.

Understanding these factors and time estimates can help you better plan your bedroom cleaning tasks, whether doing it yourself or scheduling professional services.

Efficient planning leads to effective cleaning, ensuring your bedrooms are always welcoming and restful environments.

Deep Cleaning: How Much Time Should You Allocate?

Deep cleaning goes beyond regular cleaning by addressing the hidden dirt and grime that accumulates over time.

This extensive cleaning involves a thorough cleanse of every corner and crevice of your home, going far beyond the surface-level tasks typical of regular maintenance. Here’s what deep cleaning involves and how much time you should expect to allocate based on different room types, surfaces, and square footage.

What Deep Cleaning Involves

Kitchen: Thorough cleaning inside and outside all appliances, including the fridge and oven; scrubbing the backsplash and grout; deep-cleaning countertops and cabinets; sanitizing all surfaces.
Bathrooms: Intensively scrubbing tile grout; cleaning inside the toilet tank and behind the toilet; deep-cleaning showerheads and faucets; eliminating mold and mildew from all surfaces.
Bedrooms: Cleaning under and behind furniture; washing windows and window tracks; deep-cleaning carpets or floors.
Living Areas: Dusting all surfaces; cleaning behind and under furniture; washing windows and blinds; deep-cleaning carpets or floors.
General: Attending to baseboards, doors, light fixtures, ceiling fans, vents, window tracks, windows, and other often-overlooked areas.

Detailed Timing Guide Based on Room Types and Square Footage

Room Type	Size	Estimated Time
Kitchen	Small	1-2 hours
	Medium	2-3 hours
	Large	3-4 hours
Bathroom	Half Bath	15-20 minutes
	Full Bathroom	1-1.5 hours
	Master Bathroom	1.5-2 hours
Bedroom	Small	20-30 minutes
	Medium	30-40 minutes
	Large	40 minutes – 1 hour
Living Areas	Small Living Room	20-30 minutes
	Medium Living Room	30-40 minutes
	Large Living Room	40 minutes – 1 hour
Whole House	Small (up to 1,000 sq. ft.)	4-6 hours
	Medium (1,000-2,000 sq. ft.)	6-8 hours
	Large (2,000+ sq. ft.)	8-12+ hours

Deep cleaning is a rigorous and intensive process that significantly enhances the cleanliness and hygiene of your home.

By understanding the time commitments involved for each room type and overall square footage, you can more effectively plan your cleaning schedule or determine if engaging a professional cleaning service is the optimal solution for your needs.

Tips to Reduce Your House Cleaning Time

Cleaning your home efficiently doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With the right strategies, tools, and maintenance habits, you can significantly cut down on your cleaning time. Here are some professional tips to help you speed up the cleaning process:

1. Create a Cleaning Schedule

Daily Tasks: Tackle small, daily tasks like making the bed, wiping down countertops, and doing the dishes. This prevents clutter and dirt from accumulating.
Weekly Tasks: Assign specific days for tasks like vacuuming, mopping, and dusting different areas of your home.
Monthly Tasks: Plan deeper cleaning tasks, such as cleaning windows, washing curtains, and scrubbing grout, for once a month.

2. Use the Right Tools

Microfiber Cloths: These are great for dusting and wiping surfaces because they trap dirt and dust rather than spreading it around.
Vacuum Cleaner with Attachments: A vacuum with various attachments can quickly clean floors, upholstery, and hard-to-reach places.
All-Purpose Cleaner: A good all-purpose cleaner can simplify the process, allowing you to use one product for multiple surfaces.
Extendable Duster: An extendable duster helps you clean ceiling fans, light fixtures, and other high areas without a ladder.

3. Declutter Regularly

Minimalism: Keep surfaces clear by minimizing the number of items you have on countertops, tables, and shelves.
Storage Solutions: Use baskets, bins, and organizers to keep items neatly stored away and easy to find.

4. Clean as You Go

Kitchen: Wipe down surfaces and clean spills immediately while cooking to prevent buildup.
Bathroom: Squeegee the shower walls after each use to prevent soap scum and mildew.
Living Areas: Tidy up daily by fluffing pillows, folding blankets, and putting away stray items.

5. Focus on High-Traffic Areas

Entryway: Keep the entryway clean by regularly sweeping and placing a mat to trap dirt from shoes.
Living Room: Quickly tidy up the living room daily, as it’s often the most used space.
Bathroom: Give the bathroom a quick wipe-down every few days to maintain cleanliness.

6. Use Time-Saving Techniques

Top-to-Bottom Cleaning: Clean from the top down, starting with dusting ceiling fans and light fixtures, then moving to surfaces and finishing with the floors. This prevents dirt from falling on already cleaned areas.
Two-Handed Cleaning: Use both hands to clean efficiently—dust with one hand and wipe with the other.
Multi-Tasking: Let cleaning products sit and work while you move on to another task. For example, soak the shower with a cleaner and then clean the sink while the cleaner works.

7. Maintain Between Deep Cleans

Daily Maintenance: Spend a few minutes each day on maintenance tasks like wiping down surfaces, putting items away, and doing a quick vacuum.
Quick Touch-Ups: Do quick touch-ups in high-traffic areas between your scheduled deep cleans to keep them looking fresh.

By implementing these tips and using the right tools, you can significantly reduce your house cleaning time and maintain a cleaner home with less effort.

Also read: A simple green cleaner – 5 Benefits of green cleaning products

In Conclusion

Understanding the time it takes to effectively clean your home is essential for efficient planning, whether you opt to handle the task yourself or enlist the help of professionals.

By having a clear grasp of how long typical cleaning tasks should take, you can better organize your schedule and ensure that every corner of your home is cleaned meticulously.

Consider Professional Cleaning Services

Professional cleaning services bring a host of advantages, notably saving you time and delivering a level of thoroughness that might be difficult to achieve independently. Equipped with extensive experience in Ancaster, Hamilton, and Burlington, professional cleaners are adept at meeting the specific cleaning demands of homes in these regions.

Whether you choose to undertake the cleaning yourself or engage professional services, the ultimate goal is to establish a cleaning routine that aligns with your lifestyle, helping you maintain a pristine and inviting living environment. After all, the best cleaning strategy is one that fits seamlessly into your life and allows you to enjoy a home you truly cherish.

The Cleaners That Care!

How Long Should Cleaning Your House Take? A Room-By-Room Timing Guide