You need a cleaning schedule because
- Having a 9-5 job is exhausting already
- Kids need your time
- You have too many errands to run
- TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF MATTERS
- Having no cleaning schedule is a horror!
- Cleaning takes too much time.
Yep, that is true! Even our cleaners at Effly have a cleaning schedule of their own because it's more efficient that way.
What should your cleaning schedule have?
1. Area to Clean
A cleaning schedule contains a checklist of the areas of your home that need to be cleaned in a week. It's up to you to be specific in listing the small tasks.
For example, you can write "clean the bathroom" on Mondays if you prefer a general checklist. But if you want to be specific, you can list tasks like "disinfecting bathroom sink" or "scrub bathroom floors" and then categorize them under the bathroom category.
2. Frequency of Cleaning
Some areas of your home need to be cleaned daily, like your living room floor, while some don't. Your fridge, for example, can be emptied for rotten food once or twice a week.
You can indicate the frequency required for each cleaning task in your cleaning schedule. Doing so can help you distribute the heavy chores on different days since, most of the time, the chores that are done bi-weekly or weekly are the ones that require a little bit more of your time and effort.
Here's a schedule that you may want to follow:
Daily
- Make your bed
- Wipe bathroom counters and floor
- Empty/load the dishwasher
- Take out the trash
- Vacuum/ mop the floor
- Wipe kitchen surfaces and sink
Weekly
- Dust windows and hard surfaces
- Wipe/clean appliances
- Disinfect kitchen counter
- Scrub kitchen sink
- Clean and disinfect the bathroom
- Replace linens and towels
- Throw away expired food
Monthly
- Clean upholstery
- Clean fans/ air conditioning unit
- Scrub stovetop
- Clean and deodorize the microwave and fridge
3. Materials Needed & Task Assignee(s)
Most weekly home cleaning schedules don't contain information on materials needed and task assignees. But including these two pieces of information can help you organize your cleaning tasks even better, especially if your family members are involved in doing the chores.
If you're thinking of switching to eco-friendly cleaning products, feel free to check out this guide by Homes to Love.
How to make a cleaning schedule that works
1. Create your Cleaning Schedule Format
When making your cleaning schedule, the first thing is to create your preferred format. Check out this free printable cleaning schedule.
2. List the Cleaning Tasks and Subtasks
List down the cleaning tasks and subtasks on a sheet of paper before writing them on your cleaning schedule template. Seeing all the tasks will give you an overview of what you need to do and help you assess how to distribute the heavy chores throughout the week based on your daily schedule.
3. Fill in the necessary information according to your format.
Based on your format, fill out all the necessary information, such as the frequency, cleaning supply requirements, and assignee(s). If you want, you can also include a section for special instructions if you're leaving some of the chores to your kids.
The key to sticking to your house cleaning routine is to create a cleaning schedule that works for you. But if you ever need specialized cleaning services like carpet and upholstery cleaning, Effly is just a few clicks away.
Gain further understanding by reading our related blog content on Bathroom Cleaning Routine: A Bathroom Cleaning Routine for Busy Homeowners
Julie is a passionate writer a mother of three kids and a dedicated cleaning enthusiast, eager to share valuable insights and practical tips on maintaining a clean and organized home. With a deep understanding of the challenges of maintaining a tidy living space, Julie has spent years honing its expertise in cleaning methods, organizing techniques, and sustainable practices.