Setting Up Cleaning Routines
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Setting Up Routines
Getting started
You won't find a magic solution to maintaining a clean, well-maintained and organized home. But if you create a routine that works for your lifestyle and cleanliness requirements, you can stay on top of cleaning. When you do, chores don't get out of hand. If you keep your residence reasonably decluttered, clean and neat, you'll avoid the necessity of marathon cleaning sessions.

Depending on your lifestyle, you may find it easier to perform the basic chores on a daily basis and relegate the big chores to a weekend morning or afternoon. If you enjoy free weekends, tackle one room or one big chore every day, in addition to daily chores, to allow time for leisure.

When your lifestyle is extremely busy with long work days and/or family obligations, it pays to plan your week and plot your course. Your week will go more smoothly if you start each Monday (or the first day of your work week) with a clean, neat home, clean clothes and other laundry, and a stocked pantry, refrigerator and freezer. Your weekends (or days off) will be more enjoyable if you don't have rooms to declutter, piled-up dishes, and mounds of laundry.

Your own care style
Determine your comfort level of neat and clean: Some things, such as a clean kitchen and bathroom, are nonnegotiable, but shelves or door frames that don't always pass the white glove test may be acceptable. Likewise, keeping public rooms—living and dining rooms—neat may be important to you, while you may be less vigilant about your bedroom or hobby space.

Check out our suggested daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly and seasonal chores. Establish your own routines. You may find it helpful to make your own filing system or notebook with a similarly organized chore list.

Cleaning Frequency
Daily
Perform these basic chores every day:

Make the beds.
Put away clothes and children's toys.
Wash dishes, spray and wipe off counters and cooktop or range.
Take out trash and recycling.
Clean cat litter boxes.
Wipe out bathroom sinks and spray shower doors.

If you work long days or have after-work pursuits—such as continuing education or children's activities—basic chores, meal preparation and some laundry may be all you manage in a day.

Weekly
Weekly chores include the laundry, ironing and dry-cleaning delivery and pickup. Also complete the following to stay on top of your housework:

Clean the kitchen and bathrooms.
Dust furniture and shelves.
Shake or vacuum area rugs.
Vacuum living areas.
Mop hard surface (not wood) floors.
Change bed linens.
Sweep front entry and steps.
Buy groceries.
Clean the kitchen first, and the bathroom(s) second, to get the hardest jobs out of the way first.

Every two weeks
Sweep the garage.
Shake out area rugs and doormats outdoors before vacuuming.
Vacuum furniture (underneath the cushions too).

Monthly
These are the chores to keep your home looking neat and clean. Block out time so they don't slip by.

Clean inside window surfaces; clean decorative mirrors.
Wash out kitchen trash container and surrounding area. (Stash three or four trash bags at the bottom of the container before putting in a fresh bag to make it convenient to replace a bag when the trash is taken out.)
Clean the stove; wipe the interior of the refrigerator.
Clean baseboards, dust miniblinds and vacuum curtains.
Dust, sweep and vacuum before washing surfaces to rid rooms of as much loose dirt and debris as possible.
Change or clean filters on heating and cooling systems.

Calendar of Kitchen Chores
Daily cleaning:
Spray and wipe countertops, range top and vent hood.
Sweep floor.
Scrub sink with a general-purpose cleaner; wipe dry.

Weekly cleaning:
Mop floor (more often if young children or pets are in household).
Clean exteriors of appliances.
Wipe refrigerator door.
Scour and polish sink.

Monthly cleaning:
Wipe off cabinet doors.
Clean oven and refrigerator; sanitize refrigerator drip pan.