Keeping a tidy home doesn’t have to take up all your time. With some planning and focus, you can maintain a clean house in as little as 30 minutes a day. Here’s how to spend less time cleaning with a simple daily routine:
Make Your Bed Every Morning
Making your bed first thing in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. It’s a quick task that makes your bedroom look neat and tidy.
- Spend 5 minutes each morning straightening out the sheets and blankets.
- Fluff and arrange the pillows neatly.
- Fold any extra blankets at the foot of the bed.
Do One Major Task Each Day
Focus on one more time-consuming cleaning task each day to prevent any area from getting out of control. Here are some ideas:
Monday: Bathrooms
- Deep clean the toilet, sink, mirror and shower.
- Wipe down counters and spot clean any surfaces.
- Sweep and mop the floor.
Tuesday: Kitchen
- Load and run the dishwasher.
- Handwash any extra dishes in the sink.
- Wipe down counters, appliances and backsplash.
- Sweep and mop the floors.
Wednesday: Living Spaces
- Vacuum carpets and rugs.
- Dust furniture, shelves and decor.
- Straighten clutter like books, papers and toys.
Thursday: Bedrooms
- Make all beds.
- Clean surfaces like dressers and nightstands.
- Put away clutter and tidy floors.
Friday: Laundry
- Do a full load of laundry washing and drying.
- Fold and put away clean clothes.
- Clean lint trap after each drying cycle.
Spend 15-20 focused minutes on these major tasks. Check them off your list to stay on top of bigger cleaning jobs.
Do A 10 Minute Tidy Each Evening
End each day by tidying up to maintain order. Follow this quick routine:
- Gather dishes and load dishwasher.
- Wipe down kitchen counters and dining table.
- Straighten pillows and blankets in living room.
- Pick up clutter like toys, paperwork, clothing etc.
- Take out trash and recycling.
Power through this tidy up in just 10 minutes to reset living spaces for the next day.
Stay On Top Of Trash And Clutter
Prevent messes by quickly clearing trash and clutter every day:
- Empty wastebaskets in high traffic areas like the bathroom, kitchen and home office.
- Put items back in their designated storage spots like coats, shoes and mail.
- Run the vacuum quickly to pick up loose dirt or crumbs.
Deal with these little cleaning tasks as they happen to stop disorder in its tracks.
Schedule A Monthly Deep Clean
Some cleaning tasks only need to be done once a month:
- Clean windows inside and out.
- Scrub kitchen and bathroom surfaces that need extra attention.
- Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures.
- Vacuum furniture like couches to remove deep-down dirt and hair.
Save these deeper cleaning jobs for one time per month to maintain freshness.
Outsource Big Projects
Consider hiring help for cleaning tasks that require heavy duty work:
- Professional carpet cleaning to steam clean carpets and upholstery.
- Window washers to thoroughly clean exterior windows and screens.
- House cleaners to do seasonal deep cleaning like cabinet interior scrubbing.
Outsourcing big projects allows you to skip labor intensive chores.
Schedule Cleaning Tasks On Your Calendar
The key to sticking to a routine is organization. Mark cleaning tasks on your calendar so they don’t slip through the cracks. Schedule:
- Daily cleans like making your bed and tidying up.
- Major tasks for their designated weekday like “Bathroom Cleaning”.
- Monthly deep cleans.
- Any outsourced cleaning appointments.
Follow this schedule to maintain cleanliness without becoming overwhelmed. A few minutes a day is all it takes!
