A Practical Weekly Cleaning Plan to Help You Begin

Establishing a weekly cleaning routine that fits into a hectic lifestyle can be difficult. A straightforward and memorable schedule is essential to keep clutter at bay, and it can also streamline your daily tasks, helping to reduce feelings of being overwhelmed.

Take a look at this practical weekly cleaning plan. It will assist you in organizing your cleaning tasks, enabling you to tackle a small portion each day rather than overwhelming yourself by doing it all at once.

House Cleaning Plan for Monday

Transform it into Mop Monday, as your floors probably endured some wear and tear over the weekend. Kick off your weekly cleaning routine by grabbing your vacuum and mop.

If you’re short on time for a complete vacuuming or mopping session, focus on these frequently used areas in between your thorough cleanings:

• Foyer
• Stairs
• Living room or study area
• Mudroom
• Bedrooms
• Beneath the dining table
• Bathrooms

Tuesday’s Cleaning Routine for the Home

Put on your gloves and take your scrub brush. On Toilet Tuesday, the focus is on the bathrooms. The frequency of your toilet cleaning will vary based on usage, but cleaning them weekly is a great starting point.

• Clean the toilets thoroughly.
• Sanitize bathtubs and showers.
• Clean and sanitize the sinks and countertops in the bathroom.
• Apply disinfectant to plastic shower curtains using a spray.
• Replace the towels.
• Bring the bathmats outdoors and give them a thorough shake.
• Inspect your personal care items to determine what supplies are dwindling.

House Cleaning Plan for Wednesday

Wipe It Wednesday is all about eliminating dust, germs, and dirt. Utilize a disinfectant wipe to eliminate bacteria when needed. Don’t forget to clean your electronic devices. Here are some items to dust or wipe clean:

• Microwave
• Toaster
• Counters
• Tabletops
• TV
• Toys
• Mirrors
• Ceiling-mounted fans
• Doorknobs
• Fridge grips
• Stove
• Shelves in the refrigerator
• Windowsills
• Compact window shades
• Lighting installations
• Telephone
• Furniture
• Notebooks, desktop monitors, tablets, and smartphones.

Thursday’s Cleaning Routine for the Home

Today marks Throw It Out Thursday. Make it a weekly habit to prevent a overwhelming accumulation of belongings. Clear away clutter and organize your possessions, returning them to their proper places. It’s time to discard those outdated, unwanted, or expired items:

• Unwanted correspondence
• Magazines
• Catalogs
• Newspapers
• Food
• Garments featuring openings
• School or creative projects that you don’t intend to retain.

House Cleaning Plan for Friday

Friday is designated as laundry day. Make sure that all soiled clothes are in the hamper. Wash, fold, or hang up the laundry. Arrange clothes, footwear, and accessories in the closet and dresser.

• Immerse garments with stubborn stains.
• Ensure that the children’s sports uniforms are prepared for the games this weekend.
• Remove bedding from the beds and wash it.
• Freshly laundered blankets.
• Clean the towels.
• Neatly organize the freshly laundered clothes.
• Iron.
• Gently wash fragile items by hand.
• Store the freshly laundered clothes.
• Clean bed skirts and mattress protectors on a monthly basis.
• Prepare dry, items that require dry cleaning for departure.

Saturday Cleaning Routine for the Home

After a busy week, it’s time for a relaxing Saturday. Take a moment to set a timer for 20 minutes and focus on tidying up the spaces that require the most attention. Invite your housemates to join in, and you’ll accomplish more in a shorter period.

Today is an excellent opportunity to assess what’s inside your refrigerator. A lot of individuals prefer to do their grocery shopping during the weekend. Discard any leftovers and expired items (if you missed it on Throw It Out Thursday). Clean the shelves and bins using a disinfectant wipe. Additionally, collect any items that require dry cleaning and take them to the cleaners.

Sunday Cleaning Routine for the Home

Enjoy a well-deserved break this Self-Care Sunday! Today, you can put aside any housekeeping tasks. Your regular cleaning routine will resume tomorrow, so take this opportunity to relax and unwind.

Allocate Time for Everyday Essentials

By implementing a weekly cleaning routine, you can dedicate each day to a specific type of chore. However, what about the tasks that need to be done every day? These often don’t appear on a weekly agenda. A daily to-do list is efficient, with each task typically requiring only about five minutes to complete.

You only require about 15 minutes in the morning and another 15 minutes in the evening. You can choose to complete them in the morning as you begin your day or in the evening before you sleep. Make it a habit to include these activities in your daily schedule.

• Tidy up the bed.
• Irrigate vegetation.
• Inspect physical mail.
• Fill or empty the dishwasher.
• Clean the countertops and the kitchen sink.
• Dispose of the garbage on designated collection days.

Tip

When there are several individuals living in the same household, consider dividing these chores to ease the workload. Young kids can assist by watering the plants, loading and unloading the dishwasher, cleaning the countertops, and taking out the trash in various rooms. Additionally, encourage them to make their own beds.

Tasks for Monthly Cleaning

Certain monthly chores demand additional time and effort. These thorough cleaning activities simplify daily maintenance, enhance the appearance of home furnishings, and help avoid costly repairs throughout the house.

Inside the Culinary Space

• Inspect and clean the drip pans of the stovetop, the oven, the range hood, and the filter. Remove mineral buildup from small water-using appliances, like the kettle or coffee maker, to enhance the flavor of your drinks.
• Perform a deep clean of your dishwasher once a month to achieve improved performance and spotless dishes. Apply the same cleaning routine to your washing machine.
• Garbage bins and recycling containers can become quite dirty. It’s a good idea to thoroughly clean them using a disinfectant.

In the sleeping and bathing areas

• Spend some time tidying up your closets and drawers to ensure your clothes remain orderly and free of wrinkles. Remove any items that require repairs, need to be taken to the dry cleaner, or that you’re ready to part with.
• If you haven’t been cleaning under the bed and the furniture on a weekly basis, it’s the perfect moment to eliminate those dust bunnies.
• Sanitize and cleanse your beauty and grooming instruments.

Residential and Entrance Spaces

• Carefully vacuum upholstered furniture, ensuring to reach beneath the cushions. Wipe down and polish wooden surfaces, and treat leather to maintain its softness.
• Inspect the fan blades, corners, and light fixtures for any signs of spiderwebs, dust, and dead bugs. Make sure to shift furniture to thoroughly clean the areas underneath and behind it.
• Light switches and the surrounding walls tend to gather dirt and stains. Don’t forget to clean the door frames, window sills, and baseboards.
• Inspect the doormats located both indoors and outdoors at the entry points. Clean them thoroughly to avoid bringing dirt into the living areas.
• Air purifiers are highly effective, but to ensure optimal performance, it’s essential to regularly inspect, clean, or replace the air filter. Additionally, remember to pay attention to the HVAC filters and vents throughout your home.

Tasks to Keep in Mind for Each Season

These responsibilities involve seasonal or annual upkeep to ensure a tidy and well-organized living space:

• A couple of times each year, take the time to inspect your pantry and cabinets, removing any expired food and donating rarely used items such as dishes and small appliances.
• Each season, vacuum mattresses to eliminate dust and dust mites. Thoroughly clean bed pillows, bedding, and window coverings.
• Review your beauty and first aid items, and discard any that have expired. Ensure that any unused medications are disposed of safely.
• Inspect beneath the sink and near the fixtures to identify any minor leaks or drips, helping to avert more significant problems.
• Thoroughly clean carpets and spacious area rugs, and periodically rotate the area rugs to ensure uniform wear.
• Thoroughly clean the upholstery of the couch and chairs to eliminate any stains and unpleasant smells.
• Clean the windows both inside and outside, and ensure the window screens are free of dirt.
• It is essential to inspect and clean fireplaces and chimneys, particularly gas fireplaces, on an annual basis. Additionally, dry vents need to be examined for any accumulation of lint.

Extra Suggestions for Maintaining a Tidy Home

• Enhance productivity: As you establish a weekly cleaning schedule, you’ll find that your tasks require less time with each repetition.
• Prioritize your daily tasks: If your daily responsibilities are your main focus, begin by tackling those exclusively. Once you’ve integrated them into your schedule, consider adding a single day dedicated to weekly cleaning. Monday is a great day to kick this off.
• Make chores more enjoyable by designating a specific day of the week for each family member. Those with hectic schedules may prefer to tackle household tasks just once a week. The important thing is to align the chores with each person’s availability in a practical way.
• Managing children: Homes with young kids can be more demanding, as they tend to create chaos in their wake. Clean up as you move along. For older kids, encourage them to put away their toys or items they have used.
• Seek assistance: If managing the house is becoming overwhelming, consider reaching out for support or hiring someone to help. Older family members may be eager to lend a hand. If you prefer not to request their help with cleaning, you might ask them to take the little ones to the park, allowing you some time to tackle household tasks.
• Allow yourself some compassion: Avoid being too critical of yourself for not finishing household tasks. These tasks are not the top priority in your life, as you are frequently occupied with other responsibilities. There’s no need to feel remorseful. Reflect on everything you have achieved.
• Experiencing illness or fatigue: When you’re not feeling well or are feeling drained, take a break and prepare for a fresh start the following day. Consider completing the task on a gloomy day or when you have some spare time.

What is the typical duration for completing a weekly cleaning session?

Cleaning the countertops, dusting surfaces, vacuuming, and tidying up the bathrooms and laundry typically requires about three to five hours for a three-bedroom home. By dividing the cleaning tasks over six days, you can expect to dedicate roughly 30 to 50 minutes each day.

Which should you do first in a room: dust or vacuum?

When tidying up, it’s important to dust first before using the vacuum cleaner. This way, the dust particles that have been disturbed during dusting will settle to the ground, allowing the vacuum to effectively collect them.

What steps should you follow to create a cleaning schedule?

An effective cleaning schedule should align with the daily routines of you and your family. Create a practical list of tasks by assessing the time you have available. On days with fewer commitments, consider tackling more chores to avoid feeling overwhelmed on busier days. Remember, it’s best to avoid attempting to complete all tasks simultaneously.