Ideas for Creating a Schedule to Keep Your Home Clean

Very few people enjoy cleaning, yet a home must be cleaned to keep it sanitary and comfortable. Ideally, it is nice if a professional cleaning service can be used to keep a home clean. However, in most cases, a home must be kept clean by its occupants. Depending on the size of the home and the number of people using the home will determine how often certain tasks must be performed. Additionally, if children and or pets are living in the home, there will be more cleaning to be done more often. Creating a cleaning schedule is helpful to keep a home sanitary and livable and not have a huge amount of cleaning to do at one time. Cleaning a little bit each day with the occasional all-day deep clean usually works best. Here are some suggestions to help you create a cleaning schedule suited to your needs:

·        Make a list of all the rooms in your home. Divide these rooms by six. It is a good idea to take one day off from cleaning to just enjoy your home.

·        Build a schedule around the six days of cleaning. Depending on the room (s) to be cleaned, such as bathroom, kitchen, living room, bedroom, will determine what chores will need to be done on the day of their scheduled cleaning. For example, a bathroom will need to have all surfaces wiped down. The toilet will need a thorough cleaning both inside and out. Tubs, shower stalls, sinks, and chrome hardware will need cleaning and any soap scum removed. Drying with a soft cloth will bring out the shine. Windowsills and towel bars, as well as pictures and nick-nacks, need to be wiped with a damp cloth. Mirrors and windows need to be cleaned and polished. The floor should be swept and cleaned with the proper cleaner for the type of floor. Wastebaskets should be emptied, and items such as toilet paper and tissue holders replenished. While this sounds like a lot, if it is done regularly, one day a week, the job will go quickly.

·        Decide who will clean on what days. All household members should help. Even children can be given certain jobs consistent with their age ability.

·        It is a good idea to make a large-print copy of the schedule and post it where all can see it. Sometimes a checklist in each room to be cleaned is a helpful reminder of what needs doing. As a chore is accomplished, it can be checked off. This is especially helpful for children.

 

Creating a cleaning schedule will, once it becomes a habit, make your home much more enjoyable and healthier.  And a final note: be sure to have cleaning supplies, cleaning products, and the proper cleaning equipment easily available and ready for immediate use. Sometimes it is helpful to have what is needed for each room stored in or close to that room. As the old saying goes, when thinking about creating a cleaning schedule, “try it, you’ll like it.”