I know you’re busy and every second of your day counts. That’s why this daily cleaning schedule will streamline the most important cleaning tasks to help you get more done in less time.
What is a daily cleaning schedule? Simply put, it’s 5 (or fewer) chores you do every single day that keeps your home tidier but can also be completed in 15-20 minutes total.
These will be the tasks that you will still be able to get done on busy days or when you’re out of the house all day. But they are also tasks that you’ll eventually combine with your weekly and monthly cleaning schedule to keep your whole house clean and tidy.
For me, my five daily tasks are:
- Make the bed.
- Do one load of laundry.
- Clear the kitchen counters.
- Clean up any obvious messes on the floors.
- Fill and start the dishwasher at night.
Each of these items only takes a few minutes to complete but will also keep your home from going from calm to chaos. Although clearing the kitchen counters doesn’t include washing the kitchen counters, it makes it easy to do so once I have a few extra minutes.
Some of these tasks I usually do in the morning include making the bed and throwing in a load of laundry. Others I tend to do at the end of the day such as clearing the kitchen cabinets and vacuuming the living room rug.
And now it’s your turn!
Here’s How to Create Your Daily Cleaning Schedule
1. List every cleaning task you can think of that is necessary to keep your house from falling into chaos each week.
Or as an alternative, list cleaning tasks that give you a sense of peace that they are done.
For instance, making my bed doesn’t necessarily affect the rest of the house but it affects my mental state. When I’m ready for bed I like to climb it signals to my brain it’s time to sleep, as well as provides a feeling of calm every time I have to be in my bedroom during the day.
What tasks can you commit to every day that will help you feel like your house is still maintained and yet you can still squeeze in on the busiest days?
Martha Stewart wrote a whole guide to a daily cleaning schedule that may also give you some inspiration.
2. Edit your list.
Which tasks will only take a few minutes to complete? Cross off tasks such as mopping the floor because it not only takes longer than a few minutes but is not sustainable to do every single day. Keep going back between tips #1 and #2 until you get your tasks down to the five most important.
Disclaimer: I don’t worry about the five daily tasks on days such as when my whole family is sick. That’s survival mode! But hopefully, if you’ve been keeping these tasks up your house still won’t get too out of control.
3. Now, I want you to practice your five daily tasks for at least a week until they become second nature.
This is the time to give yourself plenty of wiggle room to change your tasks. Only by putting them into practice will you discover which items keep your home the tidiest with the least effort.
After these tasks become second nature, you’ll begin to put together your weekly cleaning routine. Here is a sample of mine to get you started.
And if these five tasks feel overwhelming it might simply be because you’re trying to manage too much “stuff” in your home. If that’s the case, grab my eBook, “Minimalism for Beginners: How to Create and Maintain a Clutter-Free Home for Good”
This book will set the foundation you need for a tidy home going forward.
Best of luck and happy cleaning!
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