Cleaning an entire house or apartment in one go can feel like a daunting task (because it is), which makes a cleaning schedule key. While it takes a little bit of planning on the front end, developing a cleaning routine helps when it’s time to get things done “because you don’t need to spend time and mental energy thinking about the tasks that you need to do — they’re already there,” notes Alex Varela, general manager of Dallas Maids.
Here, Varela and other industry pros share their thoughts on cleaning schedules, and what tasks to do when, when designing one.
Why it’s helpful to have a cleaning schedule
Having a set cleaning schedule makes tackling a home as a whole easier, explains Steve Evans, owner of Memphis Maids, who also notes the following benefits:
- It’s more efficient. “You spend less time planning and more time cleaning,” he says. “It’s easier to split tasks among your family members or roommates this way.”
- Fewer tasks fall through the cracks. “You don’t forget about the tasks that you’re supposed to do,” Evans explains. “It’s easy to remember the weekly tasks, but not so much the ones you have to do once a year, for example.”
- Not all cleaning tasks need the same frequency. With a cleaning schedule, you make sure the entire house is more or less tidy, instead of over-cleaning some areas and overlooking other areas.
- Easier communication if you’re hiring a cleaner. If you’re hiring a cleaner to help with some or all of these tasks, planning out and going over a cleaning schedule is the perfect way to align with your cleaning tech.
Daily cleaning schedule
According to Varela, Evans and Delah Gomasi, managing director and CEO of MaidForYou, here’s what your cleaning routine should look like on a daily basis:
- Sweep or vacuum crumbs off floors.
- Wipe kitchen countertops.
- Wipe dining table and tidy up living room (blankets, throw blankets, coffee table).
- Do the dishes.
- Wipe stovetop.
- Take out organic garbage (food, etc).
- Make bed.
- Tidy bedside table.
- Fold and store clothes.
- Wipe condensation from shower with a squeegee.
- Put away children’s toys.
Weekly cleaning schedule
When it comes to your weekly routine, here’s what Varela, Evans and Gomasi suggest:
- Clean toilet with toilet cleaner or washing soda to remove limescale.
- Clean behind toilet.
- Clean bathroom sink and mirror.
- Spray white vinegar on shower walls and floor to remove limescale.
- Wash bath and hand towels.
- Reorganize fridge and get rid of leftovers/expired food.
- Vacuum bedroom floors (more often if you have pets).
- Wash bedding.
- Sweep and mop floors.
- Remove dust buildup on surfaces, particularly in bedroom.
- Wipe down window sills.
“If you live in a home that utilizes an outdoor patio or porch area, wash these floors as part of your weekly cleaning routine,” notes Gomasi.
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Monthly cleaning routine
Your monthly cleaning schedule, per Varela, Evans and Gomasi:
- Mop floors.
- Wipe microwave and oven.
- Dust all surfaces in living room, like TV Stand, bookshelves, side stands, etc.
- Clean dishwasher by running a cycle with one cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe mug or container on the top rack.
- Deep clean shower walls and floor with shower gel or with a combination of dish soap and baking soda.
- Clean refrigerator drawers and shelves.
- Refresh/reorganize closet drawers and shelves.
Other labor-intensive tasks Gomasi often tackles for clients monthly:
- Clean interior/exterior windows.
- Remove scuff marks from walls.
- Deep clean oven.
- Clean baseboards.
Annual cleaning routine
Here’s what the experts recommend tackling yearly:
- Clean gutters.
- Clean kitchen and bathroom drains.
- Clean behind refrigerator.
- Deep clean range hood (twice a year).
- Wipe out kitchen cabinets and drawers.
- Deep clean appliances.
- Dust blinds and light fixtures.
- Clean HVAC vents.
- Deep clean carpets (you can rent an industrial carpet cleaner).
- Wipe down fireplace (option to hire a professional to clean chimney).
- Clean exterior of air conditioning units.
- Wash or dry clean curtains.
- Deep clean deck or patio.
- Hose driveway with pressure washer.
The bottom line
Having a cleaning schedule is paramount to having a clean and orderly home, according to Gomasi. “We can easily tell when we walk into a client’s home those that have a regular cleaning schedule and those that don’t. “Homes that have a cleaning schedule are generally tidier, the fixtures in their home, even if not brand new, will always appear less worn down through everyday use and their homes are easier for us to clean, not because their cleaner but because their spaces are often not as cluttered as those homes that typically only do a very big clean once or twice a year.”
