Does annual fall housecleaning send shivers of dread up your spine? It doesn’t have to! Divide those tasks into smaller, daily and weekly chores, and add in the larger jobs as you have time. Here’s a room-to-room example.
Kitchen – Every Day/Week
Start from top to bottom:
Wipe down large appliances
Clear and wipe off counters
Scour kitchen sink and use a cleaning product on your garbage disposal as needed
Sweep up crumbs
Mop floor
Kitchen – Monthly/Seasonally
Clean out refrigerator/freezer and throw out old items. Wipe off shelves and bins.
Clean oven
Wipe out the microwave
Clean cabinet fronts
Run the cleaning cycle on your dishwasher
Do you need to replace dishcloths or sponges?
Clean and disinfect your trash can
Bathroom – Every Day/Week
Start from top to bottom:
Wipe down the shower walls – right after you shower is a good time
Clean the mirror
Clean off the counters, getting into the corners where dust can gather
Wipe out the sink
Clean the toilet and floor around the toilet
Bathroom – Monthly/Seasonally
Wash your shower curtain, bath mat and shower floor mats
Mop the floor
Scrub or soak the showerhead in a solution to remove lime or hardwater buildup
Is your sink or shower draining slowly? Use a product to clean the drain
Clean out the linen cabinet, medicine cabinet and under the sink…get rid of that clutter!
Living Room – Every Day/Week
Invite each family member to play “pickup” – pick up items and put them away at the end of the day to prevent clutter
Spot-clean any spills before they have a chance to stain
Plump up the sofa cushions and throw pillows
Freshen the room with an air sanitizer or fragrance
Wipe off surfaces and clean TV screens once per week
Living Room – Monthly/Seasonally
Sanitize the TV remotes
Wash the covers on throw pillows and blankets (don’t forget the dog or cat’s blanket!)
Dust the ceiling fan (Do you need to change the fan’s direction for cooler weather? In the fall, the fan should spin clockwise)
Arrange to have your fireplace cleaned and checked for winter use
Your upholstered furniture gets dusty too! Give it a good vacuum, then spray with fabric refresher
Dust lampshades and check for loose lightbulbs, and worn cords or plugs.
Have carpets cleaned
Bedroom – Every Day/Week
Mother was right to nag: Make your bed every day!
Change and launder sheets and blankets weekly
Put away clean clothes, and put dirty ones in the laundry
Use a fabric refresher
Dust surfaces each week
Bedroom – Monthly/Seasonally
Wash curtains and/or dust the blinds
Flip or rotate your mattress
Wash mattress pad – check for wear
Clean all flat surfaces, behind books, inside drawers, mirrors
Declutter! Do you need to have all that on top of your dresser or night stand?
Clean out your closet and donate items you no longer wear
Clean carpet
Dust ceiling fan and make sure it’s rotating the proper direction for cooler weather: clockwise