If there is one thing I really fail at, it is keeping my house clean… on a regular basis. Sure, I can really motor when someone is coming over, but I find it really hard to be on a house cleaning schedule. I have always found that when I create a schedule, it feels too cumbersome and so I abandon the whole thing before I really give it a chance.
So, how are you supposed to come up with a house cleaning schedule that you can stick to, but one that doesn’t take up all of your time? It’s actually not as difficult as it first seems.
I finally came up with a house cleaning schedule that doesn’t make me feel crazy AND actually gets my entire house clean. I don’t have time to be worrying about the cleanliness of my home and I really don’t want to pay someone to come in and do it for me.
This post is part of the series “31 Days to Household Happiness”. If you would like to join in on the rest of the series, you can CLICK HERE.
How I made my house cleaning schedule manageable:
The first thing I did to make my house cleaning schedule manageable, was to break my tasks down into how often they need to be done. Obviously, areas like the kitchen and bathroom are going to need more attention than the guest bedroom that never gets used. This might vary for some, but I would say that it’s pretty accurate for most households.
I have chosen 7 tasks that need to be done weekly. That way, I can easily add them on to my daily tasks and by the end of the week, they are done!
I also sprinkle in the monthly tasks as I can. These are things that won’t make or break things in the grand scheme of life, but sure are nice to stay on top of.
Here is an example of my house cleaning schedule:
Daily Tasks
Do dirty dishes
Clean kitchen
Wipe down table
Take out the trash
Pick up the floor (help from kids)
Vacuum ( we have pets )
Do a few loads of laundry
*Add one weekly task
Weekly Tasks
Clean bathrooms (toilets, sinks, shower/tub)
Mop the floor
Clean out the fridge
Clean the litter box
Wash sheets
Wash rugs
Dust house
Monthly Tasks
Wash windows
Wash floor boards
Dust ceiling fans
Clean cupboards
Clean fridge and dishwasher front
Replace a.c. filters
Related Posts You Might Enjoy:
Get Organized: 5 Simple Steps to Organizing Your Home
How We Downsized Twice in One Year and Survived!
How We Sold Our House in One Day
How to decide how often to clean your areas:
Your house cleaning schedule might look very similar to mine, or maybe not. It really just depends on your lifestyle. Some people don’t cook in their kitchen, so they may not need to do dishes every single day.
Because I stay home with our kids, our kitchen is the messiest place in the whole house, so it needs attention in a serious way.
If you don’t feel like your sheets need to be changed every single week, that’s okay too. You have to decide on your tasks based on what you think.
What to do if you can’t keep up with your house cleaning schedule:
I often find myself overwhelmed and not knowing what to do next. If I can’t keep up with my schedule, then I reassess what really needs to be done.
Guess what? The earth won’t stop turning if my house isn’t dusted. I love a clean house as much as the next person, but I won’t trade my sanity to stay on a schedule, just because I have made one.
When I see that my schedule is overloaded, I remove something and make peace with the idea that it won’t get done. Usually, this does not mean the daily tasks aren’t done. I always strive to have a clean kitchen and eating area for my kids. It’s just one of those things that’s important to me.
Another thing I look at when my schedule isn’t working, is how much help I am getting from the rest of the family. My kids are still young and my husband works a lot, so it isn’t always feesible for us to spend an entire Saturday afternoon cleaning house.
I do, however, make a fun game of “How Many Things Can We Pick Up?” and I set the timer for five minutes to see how clean we can get the floor. Even small amounts of time make a difference, when there is a joint effort in cleaning.
Remember, your house cleaning schedule is a work in progress. Things can be shifted and eventually, it will all get done.
Final thoughts on a house cleaning schedule.
A house cleaning schedule is a great way to keep track of everything that needs to be done in your household. It isn’t something that is meant to steal joy, but rather give you some peace that you can break up your tasks and it doesn’t have to be done all at once.
Make sure that you devise a plan that will work with your schedule and one that allows you enough time to also find the balance. A clean house is great, but so is enjoying life.
