Why does cleaning your house regularly feel like the most dreaded thing to do? Well, for starters, the reason why so many people are turned off by home cleaning is owed to the fact that they allow it to reach a state where you require a lot more time and energy to get your house looking neat and clean again. That, and the fact that cleaning isn’t the most fun activity to do! Nevertheless, keeping a clean home is important for your physical and mental wellbeing, and hence, a cleaning routine is a must to achieve this.
So, how do you come up with a house cleaning routine that will fit into your schedule, not tire you out, and keep your home clean and tidy so that it’s easier to stick to? We have all the answers right here!
Categorize Cleaning Tasks: Daily, Weekly, and Monthly
It’s natural to feel overwhelmed by a messy or dirty home and it’s even more normal to feel like there’s too much to do and not enough time or energy to do it. The best way to get passed this feeling is by understanding that you don’t have to do everything at once! What this means is that your cleaning routine can be categorized into daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks so that they do not burden you. Realistically speaking, when you know that you have lesser to do, the more motivated you will be to get it done.
Now, let’s take a look at some common house cleaning tasks that you need to do on a daily, bi-weekly, weekly, and monthly basis.
Daily
- De-clutter as many rooms as you can; this includes putting things away or back in place so that they aren’t cluttering up surfaces
- Dust the furniture using a quick and effective tool such as the Swiffer Duster (this can also be done on alternate days if you don’t live in a dusty area)
- Vacuum/sweep and mop the kitchen floor
- Wipe down kitchen counters, the sink, and stovetop (if used)
- Vacuum/sweep at least 1 or 2 other rooms
- Spot clean stains with a mop and cleaning spray after vacuuming or sweeping
- Wipe down bathroom fittings, the sink, and other surfaces using a clean scrubber and all-purpose cleaner
- Spot clean the bathroom floor
Bi-Weekly
- Clean the toilet bowl + exteriors
- Wash the bathroom floor + shower area or bathtub
- Wipe cabinet tops and exteriors
- Wipe down appliance exteriors
- Dust window panes + window frames, inside and outside
Weekly
- Wash windows
- Clean mirrors
- Clean ceiling fans
- Wipe wall-mounted fixtures such as light sconces and clocks
- Vacuum/sweep and mop the floor thoroughly in every room
Monthly
- Deep clean microwave and oven
- Move furniture around in 1 or 2 rooms and vacuum thoroughly to remove dust bunnies
- Deep clean one room by cleaning out drawers, cabinets, and cupboards, and decluttering with the intention of getting rid of things you don’t need anymore
- Clean out refrigerator
- Clean and organize your closet and dresser
- Clean vents and air filters in your air conditioning units
The most important thing to remember is that a realistic cleaning routine is tailored to one’s unique needs. The categories above can be tweaked in order to meet your home’s cleaning requirements while fitting into your schedule.
Moreover, you should know that sticking to your cleaning routine does not mean that you can’t skip 1 or 2 tasks (if not all) on days when you are taking on bigger cleaning challenges such as deep cleaning appliances or an entire room. In fact, if you are consistent with your daily and bi-weekly cleaning routine, it gives you the privilege of taking more rest days because your house will be a lot cleaner and tidier than before!
Cleaning Routines and Schedules Go Hand in Hand!
You can’t have a cleaning routine without having a schedule. How else are you going to remember what you have to do each day or stay on track? If you’ve never made up a cleaning schedule to help you stick to your routine, it’s time to did!
Again, this schedule is YOURS, and can only be customized to fit into your day-to-day routine. It does, however, help to fix certain times in the day to do particular cleaning tasks; for example, you can divide your daily cleaning tasks into a morning and evening routine so that you do not spend too much time and energy on them in one go.
You will also need to figure out which days you want to dedicate to cleaning different rooms that are not part of your daily or weekly cleaning routine. For example, if you vacuum and spot clean the floor in your living room and dining room on Monday, you can mark the bedrooms for Tuesday.
The thing about cleaning routines is that no one tells you to be realistic when creating and sticking to one. Well, you’ve heard it here first and we can vouch for this tried and tested approach to keeping a clean and neat home with a cleaning routine!
