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Keeping your home clean can feel like a never-ending task. If you are like most of us, you hate spending a whole day cleaning. The bad news is a home that is lived in will never look like a photo from the Pottery Barn catalog. The good news is the tips and task lists below will help you seriously cut down on necessary cleaning time. Instead of wasting a day scrubbing away indoors, you can go out and enjoy your weekend and still come home to a house that shines.
Stay on top of your cleaning by creating a daily household chore list. Staying on top of little things throughout the week will cut total cleaning time down substantially.
Tidy up – Making beds, returning items to their homes, hanging up work clothes, jackets and bags, wiping down counters when you are finished and doing the dishes as you dirty them prevents a weekend disaster zone.
Clear the clutter – Sorting through the mail, school papers, receipts, coupons and specials offers and filing them away as you receive them controls the major paper pile ups that can happen by the end of the week.
Immediate wipe down – cleaning up spills right after they happen, whether on floors, bathroom counters or mirrors and stoves will save you elbow grease and time later on. This also goes for cleaning as you go while cooking, and wiping down lids and bottoms of jars before putting them back into the fridge or freezer.
Since you have kept up on your daily list, your weekly cleaning will now seem like a breeze. This list will help you complete your weekly tasks.
Vacuum and mop – Weekly vacuuming will cut down on the actual weekly dusting that you have to do! This includes your carpets, furniture, rugs, stairs and floors. Mop all other areas with tile, linoleum or hardwood flooring.
Dusting – Dust from top to bottom, using a micro fiber cloth to help trap dust particles. Dust your furniture, windowsills, knick-knacks and items hanging on your wall.
Deep cleaning –Wipe down cabinets, counters and sinks, microwave and fronts of your appliances. Go through the fridge and throw out anything old or expired. Wipe down any missed spills. Take out the trash, shake the rugs, and change linens in all rooms. Clean bathroom counters, toilets, mirrors, tub or shower.
Laundry – It is really up to you whether you like to throw in a load every day or do it all at once. Wash all linens from beds and bathrooms and replace, make sure you fold or hang and put away as you go. While doing your laundry, it is a great time to straighten up and clean the laundry room as well.
Keep up on the following tasks once a month for the cleanest home in neighborhood.
Again with the dusting – This time reach a little higher. Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, and get rid of cobwebs. Get down low and dust your baseboards and behind the furniture as well. Include doors, molding and hidden corners, and don’t forget those vents.
Windows and walls – Wash the insides of your windows and windowsills. Curtains and drapes may need to be washed and blinds wiped down. Wipe down walls to clean of scuff marks, dust, splatters and crayon marks if applicable.
Spot clean upholstery and carpets – While you are spot cleaning the upholstery, don’t forget to do the same on your furniture.
Deep clean your appliances – Your basic fridge, freezer, microwave and yes this means your oven too! Inside and out and don’t forget the burners!
Grout it out – Clean grout in your bathrooms and tile floors.
More laundry – While you are doing the curtains and drapes do your blankets, duvet covers, mattress pads and shams.
For more organizing or cleaning tips visit RealSimple or for printable lists check out WomansDay.
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