A Realistic Cleaning Schedule That Actually Works
Are you a busy mom who feels like she’s constantly running around trying to pick up the house? It can sometimes be overwhelming to stay on top of all the cleaning tasks that need to be done in order for your home to stay tidy and organized. But don’t worry – I’ve got your back!
I’m sharing top tips and strategies for creating a realistic cleaning schedule that will help keep both you and your house stress-free!
I’ll provide easy-to-follow steps so even if you feel like it’s impossible to fit an extra task into your day, I promise that it won’t have to be so hard after all.
So grab your mop, put on some upbeat music, and let’s get started!
Related post: Easy Cleaning Schedule For Working Moms
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A Simple Cleaning Schedule That You Can Stick To
One of the best ways to keep your home clean and organized is to establish a cleaning schedule. This can be helpful for a variety of people, from busy moms who need a little help staying on top of things, to people who struggle with chronic disorganization.
How many hours a week should you clean your house? This answer will vary depending on your personality and what your want your outcome to be. As a general rule of thumb, most people spend an average of 3-5 hours a week on house cleaning.
A good cleaning schedule will help you stay on top of all the cleaning tasks that need to be done, and it can also help you organize your time so that you’re not spending all day cleaning.
There are a lot of different ways to create a cleaning schedule, but one of the best is to break it down into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. This way, you can focus on the tasks that need to be done today, this week, and this month, and you don’t have to worry about forgetting anything.
Weekly Cleaning Schedule
I’ve attempted a few cleaning schedules over the years and most of them have worked fairly well. But as my life got busier, I knew I needed a more realistic cleaning schedule.
This schedule is designed to keep daily chores simple, while creating a visual that will hold you accountable. Each day is broken down into morning, afternoon, and evening chores with a box for you to check off the completed task. I chose to do Monday-Friday, as our weekends are often different than the work week.
I then have a daily chore listed for each weekday, so that all areas of your home are targeted. The weekend chores can be listed in any order and completed whenever time permits.
MORNING CHORES
Make bed – Making my bed always makes me feel better in the morning. I think it gives a settling feeling and then a calm feeling when you get back in it at night.
Unload dishwasher – I usually do this while the kids are eating breakfast. It allows things to dry if needed and gives a clean slate to start putting dishes in the dishwasher at the start of the day.
Check daily schedule – I always check my to-do list while drinking my coffee. Do I need to add or change anything? Do I have enough time to get everything done? This preps my mind for a productive day.
Quick tidy up – Take 5-10 minutes to tidy things up for the day. Clean up breakfast, put dirty clothes in the laundry, wipe down the counters, and you’ll have a clean space to start a new day.
AFTERNOON CHORES
Daily chore – Each weekday I focus on a daily chore, so that cleaning doesn’t seem overwhelming. I highly suggest this tactic to avoid stress and burn out.
Laundry – Everyone has a different system for laundry. I choose to do laundry every couple days. I like to stay on top of it, instead of having large piles. Do what works for you!
Dinner prep – A quick dinner prep is so helpful, especially if you have kids activities or small children. Look at your meal plans and decide what you can do that will make it easier when preparing dinner in the evening. Can you cut up vegetables? Do you need to defrost anything? Try to simplify things.
Walk dog – Don’t forget about your pets! Make sure they are getting enough exercise and that you are cleaning up those poop piles you don’t want to step in.
EVENING CHORES
Clean kitchen – A clean kitchen makes all the difference for me when I wake up in the morning. I’m able to think more clearly and get the kids ready for school with ease. Loading the dishwasher, wiping down counters, simple tasks that will surely help.
Family tidy up – This is a great way to knock things out quickly. Put on a fun song and tidy up as a family.
Vacuum – I’m not gonna lie, I vacuum all the time and don’t mind it, lol. But doing a quick vacuum at the end of the day gives a clean look and keeps those bugs away!
Next day prep – If you have busy mornings, doing a little prep at night will help. You can pack lunches, set out clothes, sign forms- whatever makes things less stressful for the next day.
DAILY CHORES
(M) Wash sheets – Gather all the sheets at once to make this chore nice and easy. Who doesn’t love fresh sheets to start the week?!
(T) Kitchen – I usually do a quick kitchen clean up every day, but once a week I like to do more of a deep clean around counters and appliances. Maybe organize the fridge or pantry if it’s particularly messy.
(W) Dust & Deep vacuum – I also vacuum every day, but planning one day a week for those tougher spots to get to will help out. I also like to dust on this day.
(R) Mop floors – Kids, dogs, and every day life can get messy. Mopping the floors with an easy Norwex mop is an easy task I can do one day a week.
(F) Bathrooms – This is a deep clean of the toilets, counters, showers, etc. Get rid of any mold and mildew.
WEEKEND CHORES
Office – The office can quickly get off track with kids crafts, school papers, blog projects, you name it. I like to know where things are, so keeping tabs on the office is essential for staying organized.
Laundry room – This is not a difficult chore, but a room that shouldn’t be neglected. A quick clean around the laundry room like organizing shelves, taking inventory of supplies, and wiping behind appliances can really help.
Clean out car – I love a clean car! I have two little kids, so things can accumulate quickly if I don’t stay on top of it. Making sure everyone is carrying things out of the car when they head inside is essential.
Organize toys – When the toys are organized, I find that the kids play better. They know where things are and they can easily find things to do.
Meal plans & inventory – I make meal plans every week to help ensure we are eating healthy and not wasting money on takeout constantly. I also like to take inventory of anything we might need around the house. This prevents multiple trips to the store during the week, saving me time.
Monthly Cleaning Schedule
The monthly cleaning schedule is for tasks that involve more deep cleaning. Splitting up these chores by month will keep things simple and less stressful.
I’ve placed each task where it makes most sense for me, given the season and our yearly schedules. For example, I only plan to clean the gazebo in warm weather months because that’s when we use it. I also don’t put much in December because we are always busy with the holidays and traveling during that time.
You can also use this chart to add reminders. I added our HVAC checkups, as well as, reminders to check our smoke detectors and give ourselves a refresh on CPR and pool safety.
How To Create A Realistic Cleaning Schedule
One of the most important things you can do to keep your home clean and organized is to establish a good cleaning schedule and stick to it. By creating a routine and following it diligently, you’ll be able to keep your home in good shape with minimal effort.
Here are a few tips for implementing a good cleaning schedule:
1. Set aside specific days or times each week for cleaning tasks.
This will help you stay on track and avoid getting sidetracked. My free weekly chore chart will help you organize all tasks that need to get done. You can also buy your own planner to keep things organized.
2. Get the family involved.
Make sure everyone in the household is aware of the cleaning schedule and is responsible for completing their assigned tasks. This will help ensure that everything gets done efficiently and effectively.
Children of all ages are able to help with chores. If you are having trouble assigning age-appropriate chores, check out my Giant List of Chores for Kids.
3. Be patient and don’t expect perfection.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your home won’t be perfectly clean overnight either! Just focus on making progress gradually over time, and eventually you’ll create good habits and achieve your goals.
Keep Your House Clean On A Regular Basis
There are many simple cleaning habits that can help keep your house clean on a regular basis.
One of the simplest is to make sure you always put away your belongings when you are done using them. This includes things like putting your clothes away after you take them off, putting your dishes in the dishwasher or sink after you finish eating, and putting your toys away when you are done playing with them.
Another great way to keep your house clean is to make a habit of cleaning it up as you go. This means taking a few minutes after each activity to clean up any messes that have been made.
For example, after you cook dinner, take a few minutes to wipe down the countertops and stovetop. After you bathe your child, take a few minutes to clean up the bathroom. This will help keep your house from getting too cluttered and messy.
You also need to make sure you aren’t doing any unnecessary cleaning. This means you want to make sure you are doing chores at the right time- and this will vary person to person.
For me, it might look like waiting to vacuum until after my kids eat because I know they’ll create more crumbs. I also choose not to fold my kids clothes up nicely. Why? Because I will hang up most of the shirts, and because they will create messy drawers in a matter of hours.
How Do I Keep My House Clean When Unexpected Things Happen?
The first thing to do is take a deep breath and relax. Give yourself a little grace.
Trying to clean your entire house in a hurry is only going to stress you out and make the job harder. Instead, focus on one task at a time and try to knock it out as quickly as possible. If you have to put off some of the cleaning until later, that’s okay – just make sure you get back to it as soon as you can.
Another thing to keep in mind is that not everything has to be done perfectly. It’s more important to focus on getting the big things taken care of so that your home doesn’t become too cluttered or dirty. Decide the most important tasks and go from there.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Friends and family members are usually happy to pitch in when they can, and there are also plenty of professional cleaners who can take care of the job for you. So if things start getting too hectic, don’t hesitate to reach out for some assistance.
Keeping The House Clean With A Busy Work Schedule
There are a lot of benefits to keeping a clean and tidy house, even if you have a busy work schedule. For one, it just feels good to come home to a place that’s neat and organized. Secondly, it can actually help you focus and be more productive when you’re working from home. And finally, it just makes life a lot easier when everything is in its place.
That said, it can be tough to find the time to keep on top of things when you’re busy. But with a little bit of organization and planning, it’s definitely doable. Here are some tips for keeping your house clean when you’re short on time:
- Create a designated “drop zone” for incoming items.
- When you walk in the door, take off your coat and put your keys and purse in a designated spot. This will help keep clutter from building up over time.
- Tackle one room at a time.
- Don’t try to clean the whole house in one go – that’s just going to be overwhelming and counterproductive. Start with one room and work your way through it until it’s completely clean. Then move on to the next room.
- Make use of shortcuts and cleaning products.
- There are certain shortcuts and products that can make cleaning faster and easier. For example, using a Swiffer WetJet instead of a mop to clean the floors, or investing in a robotic vacuum that can get the job done while you’re at work.
All of these can help you stay on top of your cleaning schedule.
Exhausted With Babies & Young Kids
If you have babies and young kids, it can be especially exhausting to keep the house clean. You need a realistic cleaning schedule that will work for you. Here are some more tips for busy moms with small children:
1. Divide and conquer.
It’s much easier if everyone pitches in – so delegate cleaning tasks among family members. Have each person take responsibility for different areas of the house, and have them stick to their assigned tasks.
2. Simultaneously clean and play with your kids.
It’s possible to both clean and entertain your children at the same time – it just takes some creativity! For example, you can turn cleaning into a game by giving them a sponge and having them help wipe down the countertops, or let them use a mini dustpan and brush to help sweep up crumbs.
3. Set aside specific times for cleaning.
Choose a time when you’re all together (like after dinner) and make it a habit to spend 15 minutes picking up around the house every day. This will help keep the house clean without taking up too much of your time.
4. Take advantage of nap times.
If you have a few minutes while your baby is napping, use that time to do some quick cleaning tasks like wiping down surfaces or sorting through mail and paperwork. That way, when they wake up, you can focus on them instead of having to worry about cleaning.
Neat Freak vs. Laid Back
When it comes to creating a realistic cleaning schedule, it’s important to take into account your lifestyle and personal preferences. Some people are naturally neat freaks and want their home to always look at its best, while others prefer to be more laid back.
For neat freaks who want their home constantly spotless and organized, the frequency of their cleaning schedule should depend on how often visitors come over. If you have guests regularly visiting your home or stay in a high-traffic area with multiple people coming in and out, consider maintaining a daily or weekly routine that covers all areas of the house – bathrooms, living areas, bedrooms etc.
A neat freak may also find it helpful to use lists outside of traditional schedules like “Things To Do Before Guests Come Over” list if they don’t adhere to a regular routine.
On the other hand, those who are more relaxed about messiness might not need such an intense cleaning plan but should still pay attention to some standards in order keep things looking decent within reason. Instead of attending every corner monthly or weekly for deep cleanings one can focus on certain items once per season like windows and curtains which accumulate dust faster than other surfaces due to being outdoorsy items.
Bathrooms are especially prone for mold accumulation so this space should be attended at least twice per month even for people with relaxed schedules – scrubbing shower walls down as well as washing bath mats or rugs are essential steps here too.
Whether you’re an avid cleaner or someone who doesn’t mind messes, defining a unique cleaning schedule that fits your daily needs is crucial when trying set practical expectations around housekeeping habits.
Creating a realistic cleaning schedule doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With these tips and strategies, you can easily break down the tasks into manageable chunks of time that fit into your day-to-day life and help keep your home clean and organized. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can make progress and create a stress-free living space that both you and your family can enjoy.
If you are looking for more unique ideas- check out my post on 15 Easy Chore Chart Ideas That Work For The Whole Family. You are sure to find something that works!
Related posts:
Easy Cleaning Schedule For Working Moms
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