How Long Does It Take to Clean a House? A Room-by-Room Breakdown

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 80% of people spend two hours on an average day on household activities (including housework). If you work full-time, then taking care of the household can be tiring, and you may be wasting your energy.

You may be curious about how long it should take you to clean your home, as this allows you to get a gauge on things. Are you being efficient, or do you need to alter your cleaning schedule?

To answer these questions, you’ll need a professional’s help. So how long does it take to clean a house? Read on to find out.

How Long Does It Take to Clean a House?

This question is like asking, “How long is a piece of string?” The answer will depend on several factors, but you can expect it to take anywhere between 1.5 to 8 hours.

The main factors that impact the time include:

• The size of your house
• How regularly you clean
• The type of cleaning you’re doing (light, standard, or deep cleaning)

Let’s say you have a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house that’s 1,800 square feet. If you want to do light tidying up, then it shouldn’t take you over 3 hours, whereas a standard clean will take up to 5 hours, and a deep clean will take up to 8 hours.

In general, you’ll want to add 1 to 2 hours per extra bedroom and bathroom for larger homes. On the other hand, smaller homes and apartments may only take 1.5 to 3 hours total to clean.

Now, let’s go over how much time you should be taking to clean each room in the house.

Living Room

Typically, the living room is a high-traffic area, meaning that dust will accumulate quickly.

Light cleaning should take 15 to 25 minutes, and should include:

• Light dusting of furniture, TV stands, and shelves
• Quick vacuum or sweep
• Straightening of cushions and blankets
• Decluttering surfaces

Standard cleaning should take 25 to 35 minutes. Tasks include:

• Full dusting of all surfaces
• Thorough vacuuming or sweeping, plus light mopping if needed
• Spot cleaning smudges on walls, doors, and windows

Deep cleaning will take 45 to 60 minutes. You should:

• Move furniture to clean underneath
• Clean baseboards, windowsills, and ceiling fans
• Steam clean carpets or do detailed mopping
• Wash windows on the inside
• Clean light fixtures

Kitchen

The kitchen will usually take the longest to clean since there’s not only food residue, but also grease. Appliances will go through regular use too, and they’ll need some elbow grease.

Light cleaning here will take 20 to 30 minutes. Tasks include:

• Wiping countertops and stove surface
• Spot cleaning the sink and faucet
• Sweeping or quick mopping of the floor

Standard cleaning can take up to 50 minutes. You should:

• Clean countertops, the backsplash, and the sink thoroughly
• Wipe down cabinet fronts, microwave exterior, and appliances
• Clean the inside of the microwave and quickly scrub the stovetop
• Sweep and mop the floors properly

Deep cleaning should take you 1 to 1.5 hours. Tasks here are:

• Scrubbing the inside of the oven and cleaning the racks
• Cleaning the refrigerator interior and exterior
• Scrubbing grout, baseboards, and vent hoods
• Cleaning and sanitizing garbage bins
• Polishing stainless steel appliances

Bathroom

You should take your time in this area too. Not only is there soap scum and water stains, but also harmful bacteria, so you should take care when cleaning, even when just doing so lightly.

During a light 20 to 30-minute light clean, you should:

• Wipe mirrors, counters, and faucets
• Do a quick toilet scrub
• Do a quick clean of the tub or shower
• Sweep and mop the floor

A standard clean should take you 30 to 40 minutes. Tasks include:

• Thoroughly cleaning the toilet bowl and seat (including behind)
• Scrubbing the tub and/or shower walls and doors
• Disinfecting counters, light switches, and door handles
• Cleaning the floors thoroughly (including the edges)

Deep cleaning the bathroom should take up to 70 minutes. You should:

• Deep scrub the shower walls, grout, and any mildew
• Polish faucets and showerheads
• Clean behind and around the toilet thoroughly
• Clean cabinet interiors, drawers, and mirrors
• Clean the baseboards, doors, and vents

Bedroom

Bedrooms can be quicker to clean. But don’t forget to pay attention to the dust, bedding, and floors.

Light cleaning should take 15 to 20 minutes, and includes:

• Dusting nightstands, dressers, and surfaces
• Making the bed or changing the sheets
• Quick vacuuming or sweeping the floors

Standard cleaning takes 20 to 30 minutes. The tasks are:

• Dusting all surfaces, including under decor
• Changing bed linens, fluffing pillows
• Vacuuming floors and under the bed (if reachable)

Deep cleaning can take up to an hour. You should:

• Clean under and behind all furniture
• Organize the closet and wipe the closet shelves
• Clean the baseboards, windowsills, and ceiling corners for cobwebs
• Deep vacuum or steam the carpet

Other Areas

Other areas in the house tend to get neglected, such as the hallways, entryways, and stairs. However, they can collect a surprising amount of dust and dirt, so don’t forget about them!

Do a light clean of 10 to 15 minutes, where you quickly dust the railings, switches, and small shelves. You should also sweep and vacuum the hallways and stairs.

As for a standard clean, take up to 20 minutes to fully dust (including baseboards and frames). Also, do detailed vacuuming, including the stairs and corners.

When doing a deep clean, dedicate over half an hour to it. You should:

• Wash the walls, doors, and light switches
• Deep vacuum the stairs
• Clean the vents, door thresholds, and entryway rugs

Get Efficient House Cleaning by Hiring Experts

The answer to the question, “How long does it take to clean a house?” is “up to eight hours.” This can eat up a lot of time and energy, so wouldn’t you rather do other things?

If you hire a professional cleaning company, then you can. We’ll send a well-trained team to tidy up your house to your specifications, so you live in a clean and safe house, all without having to lift a finger.

Would you like to have professional house cleaning done? Then book an appointment with us now. We at Yorleny’s Cleaning Service have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If we fail to resolve your issue, then we’ll give you a full refund!