Setting up a routine can be hard, especially for cleaning your home. I’ve broken down some of your home’s common spaces and how often you should clean the important areas in them.
How Often Should You Really Clean Common Areas in Your Home?
When you’re trying to keep the house organized, it can be challenging to stay on top of everything, especially when you’re trying to balance work and kids, too. When you’re leading a busy life, it’s crucial to drop chores that aren’t really important; while it’s nice to have an organized pantry, you don’t need to be doing it every day. Here’s a quick guide to help you keep your home clean without spending all your time on it.
How Often to Clean Areas in Your Kitchen
Daily: You’ll want to tackle the dishes every day. Wipe down the countertops and the stove. Keep the sink clean and empty to prevent buildup and odors.
Weekly: Overall, you should give your kitchen a thorough cleaning once a week: mop the floors, scrub the countertops, and clean out the sink. Wipe down the cabinet doors, the outside of your refrigerator, your faucets, and your microwave. In the morning the day you’re going grocery shopping, clean out your fridge, and wipe down your shelves.
Monthly: Once a month, wipe out each of your cabinets; as you put everything back, check on expiration dates. That gives you the chance to throw out anything past its date. Also, clean out your dish drying rack and wash your windows.
Every three months: Clean your oven and trash can and organize your pantry. Deep cleaning your oven and trash can help eliminate unpleasant odors and improve kitchen hygiene. Organizing the pantry every few months ensures you have a clear view of your supplies and prevents food waste.
How Often to Clean In Your Living Room
Daily: It’s a good idea to pick up any clutter daily. Pick up toys, carry dishes into the kitchen, take dirty clothes into the laundry room, and sweep or vacuum high-traffic areas.
Weekly: Every week, you should plan to vacuum all the floors, dust all surfaces, and work on clearing pet hair from couches and chairs. Clear the clutter out of entertainment centers, off tables and bookshelves, and make sure that movies and games are back in their cases.
Monthly: Once a month, wash windows, and move couches and chairs to vacuum underneath and clear out the hidden treasure from toddlers or pets. Straighten cords behind television stands and desks and ensure any trash is cleared out from those areas.
Every three months: Wash curtains and furniture covers and clear cobwebs from walls and ceilings. If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, you may need to wash your walls. Regularly cleaning these areas will keep your living room looking fresh and inviting.
Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Cleaning In Your Bathrooms
Daily: You should clean out the sink and spray down the toilet with a disinfecting cleaner every day. If you live in an area with high humidity, you may want to wipe down the tub and surfaces to make sure everything dries out well.
Weekly: Every week, clean the whole darn bathroom. Yep, it’s a job no one wants. This one should be alternated. Include the shower, bathtub, toilet, and mirrors in your weekly routine to keep them sparkling.
Monthly: Once a month, wash your shower curtain. It may not look dirty, but I promise, it needs to be washed and dried outside. Don’t forget to clean the grout and tile surfaces to prevent mold and mildew buildup.
Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Cleaning in Your Bedrooms
Daily: Every day, make the bed and pick up dirty clothes. This habit instantly makes your bedroom cleaner and less chaotic. Keeping your sleeping spaces clean and orderly makes it much easier to relax. I can’t tell you how nice it is to walk into my clean bedroom and be able to just climb into bed and lay there and not have to worry about anything. If you do the basics in your room, you can have that space.
Weekly: You should be getting your dirty laundry out of there, changing your sheets, dusting surfaces, and vacuuming your floors. If your pets sleep in your room, you may want to wash the blankets every week. Also, remove anything from your room that shouldn’t be there. In my house, my bedroom somehow becomes the place to put all the things. Laundry baskets, the scale, and Matchbox cars all end up there, and I’m not sure why. I make sure they end up in their rightful home every Saturday.
Monthly: Wash blankets if you’re not doing it weekly. Also, wash your windows and your curtains. Vacuum under your bed, and dressers and other furniture if you have visible space underneath them. Straighten all of your cords and make sure that there’s no surprise trash between the furniture and the walls.
Keeping your home clean and organized is not the most fun way you’re going to spend your time, but it can be a bit easier if you focus your effort in a way that makes sense!
