In our neck of the woods, it is definitely starting to feel like Spring! We have been blessed with some really nice 60 degree weather lately. I don't know about you, but after being cooped up in the house all winter, I like to get my house in tip top shape and spring clean. Today, I am going to share my cleaning schedules with you. There are tasks I do daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and semi-annually. The semi-annual list is what I do for spring cleaning and fall cleaning (to get ready for the busy holiday season).
First, you need to gather your supplies for any cleaning job you are going to do. Following is a list of my go to items I use to keep my house in great shape. I try not to use a lot of chemical cleaners, and these are what work for me and my family, but feel free to use whatever you are comfortable with.
Tools of the Trade:
- All purpose cleaner - for me, that means diluted Simple Green (I buy the one gallon size bottle and it lasts FOREVER!)
- Vinegar - I use a 50:50 solution of vinegar to water to shine my windows and mirrors. I also splash some vinegar in my mop bucket when I mop the floors
- Microfiber cleaning cloths (these work wonders and actually inhibit bacteria. I even use them for dusting by just getting them damp and wiping down all the surfaces in my home)
- Dusting spray - I usually use Pledge orange oil. I don't do this every time I just, just when my wooden furniture needs some sprucing up.
- Vacuum with hose and dusting attachment
- Bucket
- Rubber gloves
Now that you have your arsenal of cleaning supplies rounded up, it is time to get cleaning. But, wait! Before you decide to clean any room in your home you need to pick up and declutter. This is an on-going process. In our house we do a nightly whole house pick up before the kids get in the bath. It is nice to have everything put away after the kids are in bed, so I can focus on other things. This also keeps the messes from getting out of control.
If you are feeling out of control with the clutter, try to tackle a small project every day. Just about anyone can find 15 minutes a day to clean and organize a drawer or cabinet. Save the bigger projects for when you have more time. This will vary for each person. For me, it usually means the weekend when my husband is home to help with the kids, but you have to find what works for you.
You also have to decide whether you are a room by room cleaner or a task oriented cleaner. What does this mean? Basically, do you want to have an entire room clean from top to bottom or would you rather tackle one job (like cleaning the ceiling fans) all at once since you already have all your supplies out? For me, I am a room by room kind of gal. I would rather have one room completely done before moving on to the next space. Figure out what works for you and go from there.
Now, I will share with you how I schedule my cleaning tasks. This is what works for me, and is not by any means the only way to do it! Since I have a home with almost zero carpet (we have three area rugs in the entire house and the rest is vinyl tile), I just don't have time to mop every week. It would take me forever. But, I am okay with that. I like to have the house swept daily, but I only mop once a month and spot clean in between. For you, you may like to add this to your weekly cleaning list.
Daily
- Make beds
- Laundry - at least 1 load
- Dishes
- Clear counters and wipe them down
- Sweep/vacuum
- Nightly clean up
- Declutter (at least 15 minutes)
Weekly
- Empty all trash cans/recycling
- Change sheets
- Dust
- Clean bathrooms
- Wipe down door handles and light switches
- Spot mop
- Clean glass and mirrors
- Clean out fridge of old food
Monthly
- Water plants (two times)
- File/shred papers (two times)
- Mop
- Clean dishwasher
- Clean vacuum filters
- Clean coffee pot
- Clean microwave
- Deep clean stove top
The items I do twice per month I usually try to do on the 1st and 15th of each month since that is the easiest way for me to remember)
Quarterly
- Shampoo rugs
- Shampoo couch
- Vacuum mattresses
- Change air filter in furnace/air conditioner
- Wash comforters/duvets
- Clean oven
- Fertilize indoor house plants
Semi-annual (Spring and Fall cleaning)
- Clean ceiling fans/light fixtures
- Dust cobwebs from ceilings and walls
- Clean blinds
- Wash or vacuum window treatments
- Clean behind refrigerator and stove
- Clean behind washer/dryer
- Clean under beds and behind furniture
- Touch up paint
- Clean out/reorganize sheds (we don't have a garage, but if we did this is when I would do it)
- Reorganize/declutter any spaces that need it
- Have a yard sale!
This is what works for me to keep my house in great shape. Any time I clean I like to work from top to bottom so I am not just spreading the dirt around. And as I said earlier, I work room by room.
For my weekly cleaning tasks, I usually try to clean two rooms per day. With being a stay at home mom of two little ones, this is what works for me. I no longer have the luxury of spending an entire morning cleaning the house. I do these tasks Monday through Friday, so on the weekend I have minimal cleaning to do, or I can focus on more major projects. Here is what my schedule looks like for the week:
- Monday - Living room, entryway, hallway and computer area (this sounds like four rooms, but really only ends up being about two spaces)
- Tuesday - Master bedroom and the office/hobby room
- Wednesday - Both kids rooms
- Thursday - Master bath and the kids bathroom
- Friday - Kitchen and laundry room
I hope this has helped you to be more organized about cleaning. Really if you can keep on top of it, it doesn't take much time at all to keep your house in great shape!
What tips do you have for keeping a sparkling home?
Labels: Spruce It Up Sunday
