House cleaning is a chore. Literally. It’s a drudge, and I defy all you Cinderellas or Snow Whites out there to convince me otherwise (although you’re welcome to try. Just leave a comment in the comments section).
Anyway, that leads to a dilemma, since I cannot deal with mess, much less dirt. For a long time, I dealt with this by either trying to ignore it until it became such a huge stressor that I spent a full day cleaning, or cleaning all the time. Neither of these is ideal. That’s why the idea of a cleaning plan attracted me. The article I saw had the same title as this one. I didn’t read it, and I can’t find it again (sorry), but the concept in the title was enough to change my cleaning habits.
Over the last few years, I’ve developed a cleaning schedule that works extremely well. I’ve lived in small apartments (#collegestudentlife) that whole time, and until recently, did not deal with small people and their destructive power. My cleaning methods have changed with the times, and these are the strategies and tips that I use to keep the house clean without driving myself (or my family) crazy.
Let’s start with the habits and attitudes:
And that brings me to the actual cleaning schedule I use. This assumes that you are cleaning as you go, and that you’ve reasonably organized your house so that things have a place to be cleaned to…
Daily: Wipe obvious dirt off all surfaces, sweep kitchen floor, do dishes as you go, pick up before bed
Every two weeks: Fully mop floors and scrub bathtub ( I usually pair these activities with Wednesday’s workload because it’s the shortest)
Once a month: Clean out the refrigerator/freezer (eeek! This doesn’t take that long if you do it often enough, I tend to put this on a Saturday.)
Monday: Sanitize kitchen counters ( I use Clorox or 409 and a paper towel), wipe down stove, Swiffer mop or spot clean floor
Tuesday: Clean mirrors and countertops in bathrooms, wipe down toilet (I use Clorox wands to get inside the toilet bowl), replenish toilet paper, wipe down shower/tub ( I actually have a squeegee in the tub so I can squeegee it after I shower. It takes a few seconds!), Swiffer mop/spot clean bathroom floor
Wednesday: Dust and vacuum. Do 1 load of laundry (wash, dry, fold)
Thursday: Sanitize kitchen counters, wipe down stove, Swiffer mop or spot clean floor
Friday: Clean mirrors and countertops in bathrooms, wipe down toilet, replenish toilet paper, wipe down shower/tub, Swiffer mop/spot clean bathroom floor
Saturday: Dust and vaccum. Do 1-2 loads of laundry
Sunday: Rest day! Enjoy your beautifully clean home!
Click on the image below for a printable version of the plan!
This keeps things pretty nice. I’m a clean freak, so about once every three months, I’ll do a deep clean of the house, where I move furniture and vacuum into corners, and get down on my hands and knees to scrub the kitchen floor. It actually doesn’t take that long to do, because if you keep up with the schedule above, your house never has the chance to get that dirty anyway.
So that’s my method, and it’s worked for us. What works for you? Is there anything you would add? Leave a comment and let me know!
Hi! Iām Diane, mom of two and wife to a pretty great guy. I love to cook and craft. Iām so excited to share my projects with you!
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6 Comments
K Kuchiya
House cleaning really is a chore. Thank you for the tips on quick cleaning plus the free printable.
Diane Homan
Thanks for stopping by! š
DILMAR
Very good these tips to clean the house in 15 minutes
DILMAR recently posted…Desentupidora Rj
Happy Hiller
This schedule is very helpful! Thank you!
Portella
Hey, thanks a lot! How do you clean the outside of your house windows?
Diane Homan
Either pressure washing, or Dawn dish soap, Winder, and a lot of elbow grease!