While a lot depends upon how busy your household is, and how quickly it gets grubby, it can be helpful to think about which areas of your home the experts say you should clean more frequently than others, and with this short guide, you should be able to focus your cleaning energies in the right places:
Are there some tasks that should be performed every day?
Unfortunately, yes! Again, this will depend upon your individual home, how many people are living in it and how messy they are collectively, but the general rule of thumb is that such tasks as
- sweeping the kitchen floor
- wiping down kitchen counters
- sanitizing sinks (both in the kitchen and bathrooms)
- making the beds
- cleaning the coffee maker
- wiping down bathroom surfaces
- laundry
- squeegeeing the shower stall
What tasks should be carried out every week?
It’s generally considered adequate to carry out the following tasks on a weekly basis, provided it is every week without fail:
- change the bedding (on all beds being used within the home)
- mop kitchen and bathroom floors
- dust furniture and clean mirrors
- vacuum floors and furniture
- get rid of expired food items in the refrigerator
- clean/scrub bathroom surfaces
- wipe down kitchen appliances
- sanitize cleaning sponges (while it’s okay to do this from time to time, every sponge has a lifespan and there will come a point when you should replace it)
- clean inside the microwave
How often should you clean everything else not included above?
You can be as flexible as you wish with the remaining chores listed below, although ideally you should try to complete them once a month, at least. Some task such as cleaning out the refrigerator, cane be done as infrequently as every six months, depending on how clean you keep it on daily and weekly basis, and even your oven may only require a deep clean once a year. Many of these tasks are subjective, and for messy or multiple resident households, they may need to be tackled more frequently to ensure that hygiene levels are maintained.
Monthly tasks include:
- vacuum vents and woodwork
- dust and clean light fixtures
- dust blinds and wash drapes
- clean your dishwasher, laundry machines, vacuum etc.
What tasks can be completed the most infrequently?
You might even have skipped all the way down this article to locate these tasks! And that’s okay, cleaning isn’t everyone’s bag, and if you really do find it a struggle to keep a clean home, you could always consider hiring professional help from a cleaning company.
If you can manage to complete the following tasks every 3 to 6 months, give yourself a gold star!
- Cleaning the inside of the refrigerator and freezer
- Clean the kitchen range hood
- Wash shower and curtain liner
- Clean behind and under furniture
- Wash pillows and comforters
- Vacuum mattresses
- Freshen drains and garbage disposal
A few cleaning tasks can even be done on an annual basis, such as deep cleaning carpets and upholstery, windows, fireplaces and chimneys, and for all the rest, hey, just pay someone else to do it for you!
