I can’t believe I waited so long to create a cleaning routine schedule.

But let me tell you, it’s been a game-changer. I used to clean here and there but never felt like I could catch up. That’s when I decided to find a solution.

I wanted a routine that was easy to follow, didn’t take that long, and I could easily incorporate it into my daily life.

After some research, I stumbled upon Clean Mama. My daily cleaning routine schedule is loosely based on her suggestions although I’ve tweaked everything else to better fit my life.

So grab your apron. Get a pen and a planner. And let’s get started. (You don’t really need an apron. But how much more fun is cleaning with one?)

My Easy To Follow Cleaning Routine Schedule

(This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here. )

To begin with, I started writing out my daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks until they soon became a habit. The weekly and monthly ones will take longer.

Here’s a look at my daily cleaning routine schedule and then I’ll break it down.

1. Make the bed.
2. Do a load of laundry.
3. Keep Counters Clear.
4. Check Floors.
5. Run the dishwasher.

Making the bed is self-explanatory but just do it right when you get up and it’s done for the day.

1. LAUNDRY

There are only three of us right now so, although it may feel like I’m drowning in laundry, it’s still pretty manageable.

Here are examples of the kinds of loads of laundry I wash.

• My husband’s clothes and my clothes
• My toddler’s clothes
• Towels
• Blankets/Sheets
• Cleaning cloths/rags

I don’t (often) combine our clothes with our toddler’s clothes because actually getting a load washed, dried, and folded is more manageable the smaller it is. I use the “small load’ setting on my washer to save water and energy.

The more we shove into that washer, the more likely we are not going to want to fold it and it’s going to sit on our dining room chairs or guest bed for the unforeseeable future. You get me.

I  also do a load for cleaning cloths and rags. When possible, I prefer to use cleaning cloths and then just do them all together every other week or so.

I wash our sheets and blankets every two weeks.

Lastly, I wash the blankets and sheets in our guest room after every guest.

Check out this post on soap nuts that I wrote on why I like to use them instead of regular detergent.

For more inspiration, read about my favorite laundry hacks!

What about big families?

If you have multiple kids, you’ll likely have to do at least a load of laundry every day. Obviously, I’m no expert, but this article on laundry for large families can help you out. Also, God bless.

All I can say is if we have several more kids I’m going to need a house with a laundry room on the main floor. That basement laundry is no fun. Who else feels my pain? 😉

2.) Keep Counters Clear

Other than laundry, I try to keep my kitchen and bathroom counters relatively clean and clear. They are usually cleared off. I’m a big believer in putting things like the toaster and smoothie maker in a cupboard and not letting it sit on the counter.

Obviously, if you have knee or back troubles, please disregard that advice! But otherwise, having clear counters make it easier to keep them CLEAN.

Before I go to bed I like to do a quick swipe of the counters so I wake up to a clean kitchen. I either use my DIY multi-purpose cleaner or this non-toxic brand. 

3.) Check the floors.

I don’t vacuum every day, but I do a quick check of the floors in case my toddler spills a box of cereal or cat hair accumulates on the rug.

4.) Run the dishwasher at night.

Not only does running the dishwasher at night save money, but it gives them longer to dry too. In the morning, I can empty it pretty quickly and keep the dishes under control.

While this might seem like a lot at first, it really does become second nature once you start doing it.

What if I work too?

For my working friends, I’d recommend throwing in a load of laundry before going to work, cleaning up the kitchen QUICKLY after breakfast, and briefly checking the floors and counters at night. When you return from work you can throw the clothes in the dryer and fold them another day.

Unless they get really wrinkled. Then perhaps take out those few pieces before you go to bed but leave the rest for another day.

Weekly Cleaning Routine Schedule

Now that the daily cleaning schedule is set, here is a look at my weekly cleaning schedule! I only do one chore a day so it doesn’t get overwhelming. But it really does keep my house tidy and clean!

MONDAYS: Bathrooms

TUESDAYS: Dust

WEDNESDAYS:  Vacuum

THURSDAYS: Wash the floors

FRIDAYS: Catch up day or organize

SATURDAYS: Sink/ Maintain the House

SUNDAY: Day of Rest

Let me break it down further.

MONDAY

My least favorite chore is probably the bathrooms because it takes the longest. That’s another good reason to put it on a Monday to get it over with first.

My recommendation would be to put together a cleaning caddy of bathroom cleaners that you can easily take from one bathroom to the next.

Since I already keep my bathrooms clear of clutter or stuff on the counters, it’s really just about the cleaning.

My bathroom checklist:

1. Wash the counter with a non-toxic cleaner or my favorite homemade multi-purpose cleaner.
2. Clean the mirrors with a magic cloth.
3. Sweep or vacuum the floors.
4. Clean the inside of the toilet with a bleach cleaner. Yes, even “green Sarah” uses bleach in the toilet. I then clean the outside with my multi-purpose cleaner.
5. Lastly, I wash the floors.

Our upstairs bathroom has a tub. To simplify the cleaning process, I clean it with a magic eraser every time I shower. I then spray it with my multi-purpose cleaner or a non-toxic shower cleaner on Mondays.

TUESDAYS: Dust

Confession: I never dusted until I had a cleaning routine.

I invested in some good microfiber cleaning cloths and head upstairs. First I dust our dresser and nightstands. Then I dust my toddler’s room and the guest room. Don’t forget about the baseboards and top of the floors!

I then dust the stairs on my way down.

Downstairs, I dust the fireplace mantle, my desk, windowsills, and the coffee table. I use a wood cleaner on the coffee table though.

That’s it! Easy breezy.

Wednesdays: Vacuum

The great part about dusting on Tuesdays is that you can then vacuum any dust that blew around the next day. In full discloser, I do have a Roomba. It was a Christmas gift and I love it!

Every Wednesday while my toddler naps, I run the Roomba downstairs. Since we have an open floor plan, it gets the kitchen, dining room, and our living room. I then move it into the sunroom when it’s finished.

I’m normally not one to tell someone to go out and spend the big bucks, but the Roomba is worth it, especially if you have hardwood floors. You can even run it at night and wake up to a clean house each morning. Make sure to check out this post on how to keep your Roomba running in tip-top condition.

Moving on…

We have carpet upstairs and, unfortunately, I find the Roomba doesn’t do as good of a job.

So, I use my Dyson stick vacuum to vacuum the three bedrooms upstairs and the hallway in between. Thankfully, my toddler no longer cries when I do it. (Don’t worry, I wait until she’s awake again.)

Thursdays: Wash the floors

Since we vacuumed our floors the day before, it’s only fitting that we wash them the next day. I’ve heard great things about steam vacuums, and maybe I’ll get one one day. But for now, I use the OXO spray mop to get the job done.

I’m working on creating a homemade floor cleaner, but until it’s finished you can buy non-toxic floor cleaners on Amazon that you can just pour right in.

I then mop away. Not much more to say about this. And just like that, Thursday’s chore is done.

Friday: Catch-up day

I use Fridays to finish any chores I wasn’t able to the other days of the week. Sometimes I have a day of errands or a cranky kid, and I need that catch-up day.

But if I did complete my weekly checklist, I use Fridays to organize something. These can include coat closets, linen closets, under your bed, the junk drawer, kitchen cabinets, spice rack, etc.

The more organized our houses are to start with, the easier it is to keep them neat. By organizing these areas, we create a “place for everything” so, on a daily basis, we can put “everything in its place.”

The other great part is that it’s a good time to declutter those areas and you can just run the items to a thrift store the very next day.

Saturday: Sink/Thrift Store

I actually don’t clean much on Saturdays except to keep the house clean or do a load of laundry. I’m trying to get into the routine of scrubbing the sink that day though.

Once these become routine, they should only take you about 15-20 minutes to complete each day. Unless you live in a mansion, in which case, you’ll probably hire someone anyway!

Sunday: Rest Day

I’m learning to take the Sabbath more seriously. Practically, we all need a day to “rest” from our weekly busy schedules and that includes cleaning. Enjoy the day off!

Here are just a few other things I may do on a weekly basis:

• Check the fridge for spoiled food the day before garbage day so I can throw it out!
• Change the cat little box the day before garbage day so I can toss that too.

MONTHLY Cleaning Routine Schedule

Let’s talk about what I do on a monthly basis to keep my house clean.

I don’t have a set day or week to finish these. But I write them in my planner to complete them monthly when I can fit them in.

1. Vacuum the couch

2. Clean out the kitchen cabinets

3. Clean out the fridge

4. Deep Clean my Vacuum

I know this article seems like a lot, but I promise you, these are all very simple to follow once you get in the habit.

Here is a short-cut version for you to remember it all.

DAILY CLEANING ROUTINE SCHEDULE

1. Make the bed.
2. Do a load of laundry.
3. Keep counters clear.
4. Check the floors.
5. Run the dishwasher.

WEEKLY CLEANING ROUTINE SCHEDULE

• Monday: Bathrooms
• Tuesday: Dust
• Wednesday: Vacuum
• Thursday: Wash the Floors
• Friday: Catch-Up/ Organize
• Saturday: Scrub the sink

MONTHLY CLEANING ROUTINE SCHEDULE

1. Vacuum the couch
2. Clean out the kitchen cabinets
3. Clean out the fridge
4. Deep clean the vacuum.

My favorite cleaning product is The Concentrate from Branch Basics because not only can it clean everything from glass to your oven to your shower to your laundry (whew!) but it’s also non-toxic and safe for your pets and kids. Use code SARAHALTHOUSE for 15% off all starter kits to see if it works as well for you as it has for me.

Do you have a cleaning routine? I’d love to hear about it! I’m always trying to improve mine so the more tips the better!

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