After many months of trying to figure out how to keep my house clean and organized with a four year old and a baby that hardly takes any naps, I came up with a plan. This plan had allowed me to have a clean home without losing my mind: I created a cleaning schedule.
Before I had a cleaning schedule, cleaning the house became a monstrous and overwhelming task to do but now I am more capable of keeping the house tidy and clean without getting too stressed or losing sleep over it.
The following is the cleaning schedule that I developed and I am sharing it here hoping that it will benefit many of you. You can take this cleaning schedule and tweak it to fit your needs.
Bear in mind that I do miss some days sometimes because of a fussy baby, a sick child, an unplanned event etc.. and I usually try to either add it to my list for the next day or skip it all together until the following week.
Everyday cleaning:
Bedroom: Make bed, straighten closet
Kitchen: Wash dishes or load/unload dishwasher, wipe counter tops and island, clean off the kitchen table, and sweep the kitchen floor
Laundry: Wash, dry, fold and put away laundry
Family room: Straighten the family room and put away the toys
Weekly cleaning
Monday:
- Empty wastebaskets (garbage truck comes on Tuesday)
- Mop kitchen floor and foyer
Tuesday:
- Dust the whole house and clean off computer/TV screens
- Vacuum downstairs
Wednesday: (big cleaning day for me as my four year old is at school all day)
- Wash/change sheets and towels
- Clean bathrooms
- Vacuum upstairs
Thursday:
- Wipe down inside and outside of appliances including washer and dryer
- Once a month cleaning (see below)
- Menu planning (we get the store ads on Wednesday)
Friday:
- Vacuum downstairs
- Wipe glass doors
- Restock diapers, wipes, and toilet paper
Saturday:
- Pay bills
- Organize/toss papers/mail
Sunday:
- Clip and organize coupons
- Prepare weekly school time projects/worksheets/crafts for my four year old
- Update my TO DO list for the week
- Clean fridge, freezer, and oven
- Wipe inside and outside of windows and kitchen cabinets
- Disinfect doorknobs
- Spot treat carpet and upholstery
- Wash and disinfect wastebaskets
In future posts, I will list some more tips and tricks I use for keeping the house clean and organized STRESS FREE.
These are really helpful! Thank you - I'll be posting this list where I can see it every day.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I think I will copy it and make a few little changes. When it's separated into days like that it really makes it look more doable. And I need a nice simple organized chore list because with 5 little boys, including 2 month old twin, my house is really suffering!
ReplyDeleteKara,
ReplyDeleteI know exactly how you feel. I have a 6 month old who loves to be held most of the time so I had to figure out a way to get things done around the house. Given that you have 2 month old twins, I really recommend that you stick to the basics. Wash dishes, laundry, bathroom (every other week), toilets (every week), pick up toys at the end of the day, Vacuum and mop kitchen floor once or twice a week. Then slowly, when you find time, do the appliances, dusting, organizing etc... I will be posting some tips that I use to get the house clean in less time and stress free today or tomorrow.
I've been wanting to make a full cleaning list - thanks for the push! I found you over at orgjunkie's Link-tastic :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's a sure shot cleaning every side and part of your house.
ReplyDeleteYes Your cleaning weekly schedule is very helpful for me.Cleaning is very necessary for every people.
ReplyDeletehome cleaning Ottawa
If you want to arrange cleaning, you should use these tips:
ReplyDeleteCleaning as you dream.
By the way, I followed you up with GFC, it'd be great if you follow me back.
Very well said, in fact, organized cleaning task accomplishes anything and prevents procrastination.
ReplyDelete