Having a strict cleaning schedule has definitely changed my life for the better! I used to procrastinate like crazy when it came to cleaning and then I would feel even worst because of all the dirt and tasks piling up. A realistic approach to my cleaning routine changed not only the state of my apartment but also how I was feeling inside. When people say "you are what you are surrounded by" that's actually true. I feel so much lighter and peaceful once my apartment is taken care of. And dare I say, I actually enjoy cleaning now. Granted not every part of it & not on every day, but mostly I do. I love to take care & cherish things I love and I do love my apartment so it only makes sense for me to take good care of it.
Why a cleaning schedule matters?
So why do you need a cleaning routine? Can't you just clean as you go whenever you recognize something being dirty? Well you could, but that wouldn't be very effective (speaking from experience here!). You'll probably get overwhelmed by everything being dirty at once, you'll also forget tasks all together and then feel bad after it's too late to bring your bathroom fugues back to life! Setting up a schedule that you can actually follow will help you to prevent cleaning-burnout! So be realistic with it, don't be the girl that plans to workout everyday for a year on January 1st! Be real and strategic. Some tasks are more important than others! For example your kitchen & bathrooms are more important than your closet being 100% organized & tidy all the time.
My Daily Cleaning Routine
- Bringing the kitchen to bed every night
- Vacuuming
- Making the bed
Bringing the kitchen to bed every night is a concept I find fascinating. We live in an open-concept apartment, meaning our kitchen is in our living room. So having random cups, glasses & table wear just laying around in the kitchen is really distracting.
By bringing the kitchen to bed i mean:
- cleaning all surfaces that have been used with a wet microfiber cloth
- loading up or unloading the dishwasher
- put away everything that's not supposed to be on the kitchen counter
- wipe the dining table
Vacuuming is pretty self-explanatory. I vacuum every single day! We do have a dog which makes this more necessary - but you'd be surprised how much dirt can pile up in just 24-36 hours! Depending on the size of your home this can be a really quick task. I spend just 10 minutes vacuuming our apartment, for example.
And lastly, make your bed people! This is especially true for your mind & mental health. Let me tell you, when my bed is made and looking all tidy I FEEL ready for the day! It drives me insane when it isn't properly made. I might be a bit crazy about this topic, but I will show you how I style my bed and what pillows & bedspreads I'd recommend in a future blogpost!
My Weekly Cleaning Routine
- Clean kitchen
- Clean bathrooms
- Vacuuming
- Dusting all surfaces
- Swiffer under bed/couch
- Mop the floors
- Switch bedsheets
- Do laundry
- (Washing my make-up brushes)
My weekly standard cleaning routine usually takes me 2 hours max. And it doesn't have to be done all in one day too! I usually clean my kitchen, bathrooms, floors and surfaces on a weekday or Saturday. Then on Sunday I focus on changing the bedsheets, doing laundry, cleaning my make up brushes etc. This prevents me from getting overwhelmed and annoyed at having to clean for 6+ hours 😅.
Monthly & Seasonal Tasks
- Deep clean all rooms
- Disinfect all Doorknops
- Clean all electronic devices
- Clean the windows
- Wash the curtains & couch pillows/blankets
- Deep clean the carpets
- Change out decor with changing seasons
- Declutter "the drawer"
By deep cleaning all rooms I mean really clean them! When I am doing my weekly cleaning I don't go into every cabinet in the kitchen or fridge and clean it. But on my monthly or bi-monthly cleaning schedule I do! Again to prevent cleaning-burnout I don't deep clean all rooms in one day! I usually do one room every other week! I use the Apple Reminder App to schedule those cleanings.
Everyone has "a drawer" where they place everything they might need someday and don't feel like throwing away. That drawer overtime turns into a monster - where you don't know what's inside anymore! And let's be real, most of the time it's junk that could be thrown out! Going through that drawer on a monthly basis prevents the monster from building 😉!
FAQ
Q: What can I use to build a cleaning schedule?
A: I use the Reminder App from Apple. You can create custom lists and set segments like daily, weekly, monthly etc. It has leveled up my cleaning-game & life in general and it's free with your IPhone. Highly recommend!
Q: How often should I clean?
A: This depends on your situation. Do you live alone or with a big family & pets? I know people who do my weekly routine twice a week because their situation is way different than mine. The list above will help you set up your tasks. Ultimately you have to make the decision how often a clean is necessary.
Q: How long should a weekly clean take me?
A: This is highly personal and depends on how big your home is and how many people or pets live there. I would say between 2-5 hours in normal and realistic.