Maintaining a clean home can feel like an arduous, never-ending job. With multiple rooms to clean, each with its own specific challenges, it can be difficult to clean your home without getting overwhelmed.
While it is easy to follow the dirt, many places can often be overlooked, resulting in dust build-up or, in some cases, bad odors and mold.
Creating an achievable cleaning routine involves careful planning and realistic goal-setting to ensure consistency and effectiveness.
How to create an achievable cleaning routine
Follow these steps to establish a cleaning routine that suits your lifestyle and helps you maintain a clean and organized home:
1. Assess & establish your schedule
‘Consider your daily and weekly schedule, including work, family commitments, and personal activities,’ says Angela Rubin, owner of Hellamaid. ‘Determine the time you can realistically allocate to cleaning without feeling overwhelmed.’
Identify key areas in your home that require regular cleaning. Focus on high-traffic areas and spaces that tend to accumulate clutter. Prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance to maintain a balanced routine.
Allocate specific days for cleaning tasks. For instance, Mondays can be dedicated to floors, Tuesdays to bathrooms, and so forth. Having dedicated days makes the routine more manageable.
2. Breakdown your daily and weekly tasks
Divide cleaning tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. This prevents you from feeling overwhelmed and allows you to tackle specific areas or tasks each day.
Spend 10-15 minutes tidying up high-traffic areas and putting away items. Start by making the bed each morning to set a positive tone for the day. Wipe down kitchen surfaces after meals to prevent the buildup of grime. Quickly declutter living spaces, putting items back in their designated places. Consistency is key to preventing small messes from turning into major cleaning sessions.
Schedule weekly tasks for more thorough cleaning, including vacuuming, mopping floors, and dusting. Reserve monthly tasks for deeper cleaning, like washing windows or cleaning appliances.
3. Monthly deep cleans
Parveen Garg, manager at Ola Clean, suggests you should allocate one weekend a month for deeper cleaning. This can include tasks like dusting blinds, cleaning windows, and organizing closets. Having a monthly focus ensures that no area is neglected.
Incorporate seasonal deep cleans to address specific challenges. For example, spring can be a time for thorough dusting and purging, while fall might involve winterizing your home and preparing the house for holiday gatherings.
4. Invest in supplies
Assemble a portable cleaning caddy with essential supplies like all-purpose cleaner, microfiber cloths, and scrub brushes. Having your tools easily accessible streamlines the cleaning process and saves time.
Also, consider investing in storage bins and baskets to help you organize your home. These sliding drawer storage bins from QVC will help turn chaos into order in your closets and cabinets, contributing to the overall harmony of your space.
5. Declutter regularly
Regularly decluttering spaces helps prevent a buildup of items and makes cleaning more manageable. Before deep cleaning, declutter each room. Donate or discard items you no longer need. Less clutter means less cleaning and more organized spaces.
Break down tasks into manageable time blocks. This prevents feeling overwhelmed and makes it easier to squeeze in cleaning during busy days. Set a timer for each task to stay focused and avoid spending excessive time on one area. This also helps maintain a sense of accomplishment as you complete tasks.
‘Life is dynamic, and schedules may change,’ says Shayne Jeramos, cleaning specialist at Bright Cleaners. ‘Be flexible and adjust your cleaning routine as needed, but strive to maintain consistency.’
FAQs
What is the 20:10 rule for cleaning?
The 20:10 rule for cleaning was created by Rachel Hoffman and is very simple. Dedicate 20 minutes of hard, uninterrupted cleaning and then take a 10-minute break. Whilst you may not think you can do a lot of cleaning in 20 minutes, you would be surprised by how much you can get through.
Consistency is key when creating a cleaning routine, so aim to stick to your schedule and avoid procrastination. It's also helpful to enlist the support of other household members, so encourage your family to declutter with you and delegate tasks to share the workload.
