Our brooder is about 4' x 4' x 4' with 10 one-week old chicks.
I put down a puppy pad type thing ( get them cheaper in the health section in
Walmart with the incontinence supplies) absorbant side up, then a layer of paper towel, and a light layer of bedding on top of that. The food container is in a pie pan (to catch all that is thrown from the feeder) and the water is on a small block (so bedding doesn't go in the water). The heat lamp (sleeping area) is on the opposite corner of the box from the food and water.
We check the food/ water / brooder temperature several times each day. If there is any major water spillage or other messes...clean up right away. Otherwise we change out the bedding (simply pick up the ends of the paper towels, roll it up, throw away) once per day. While the bedding is being changed we also wash the feeder and waterer with hot soapy water and re-fill. With the little ones we don't fill the feeder jar all the way, just put enough in the tray for a day or two.
And when we are moving the chicks back and forth from the brooder for cleaning, it's a great time to check for pasty butts or any other little things going on with them. Although I have to say, this is the first time we have raised chicks for a very long time, and it's been like having an aquarium in the house. We're all finding ourselves just pulling up a chair and watching them for hours sometimes! So not much is going unnoticed. We already know who the bullies are, who is prissy about preening, who gets the best spot at the feeder, etc!!!
Unless you have a lot of birds in a very small brooder, cleaning once per day is probably sufficient. Just be sure you have a handy supply of the bedding of your choice, and keep the waterer and feeder extra clean. We also keep a bottle of hand sanitizer next to the brooder. Anyone who touches chicks must sanitize before and after touching. Much easier to keep handy by the brooder than soap and water.
