No matter if you’re a parent with a bunch of kids, or a single person, maintaining a house can be quite the task. Not that it’s hard, exactly, just that it requires such consistency. It’s too simple to take it easy for just a day or two, and then suddenly the entire house is a disaster!
As I transitioned into adulthood, I definitely had a difficult time figuring out how to get to all that had to be done once I had an entire apartment without roommates. In fact, it wasn’t until I was pregnant the first time that I finally figured out how to keep things shipshape the way I wanted. Thankfully, over the years, that plan has continued to serve me well. Working out how to keep a house clean seems to be a pretty common problem, so I want to share what I do with you.
First, a note: what works for me and my situation and headspace may not work for you (though if it does, by all means, use it), so here’s a couple of things to keep in mind:
- What recurring things happen during your week, and what can you reasonably—and not just ‘technically’—do on those days?
- What chores are the most annoying to you? Get them out of the way first, or plan to only tackle those on their own day
I break down chores into three types: daily, weekly, and monthly.
Monthly chores are things that help keep your home extra tidy, but could easily be overlooked. Now, don’t confuse this with Spring Cleaning—it’s not that intense. Mostly I just clean baseboards and windows, see if any walls need wiping, and wash our duvet cover. The goal is to get rid of extra dust or dirt, but you don’t need to go crazy. Unless you want to; your call.
Daily chores encompass anything that ought to be done to keep the house running smoothly, so this can vary from house to house. For me, it’s misting plants; loading, running, and emptying the dishwasher; keeping the kitchen clean-ish, and just making sure things are put back where they need to be. I also like to keep an eye on my couch, and rotate the cushions every day or two if they are starting to show dents where we sit.
My weekly chores consist of those things that ought to be done regularly so they don’t end up taking way longer after being neglected for too long, but don’t need to be done every day either. Here’s how I space it out:
MONDAY – Nothing. I personally don’t want to have a laundry list at the start of the week. It’s pesky enough by itself.
TUESDAY – Laundry. I prefer to get it over with earlier in the week. Usually I can get it all done in one day, but, if not, I can fold or do another load on Wednesday. It’s still over with before the weekend.
WEDNESDAY – Finish any laundry. Also, plan a grocery list. I find that planning, shopping, putting away groceries, and cooking dinner on the same day is overwhelming to me (and I used to just end up going out when I did that), so I plan a day ahead.
THURSDAY – Grocery shop, and dust. If the day is also otherwise free, I might get a head start on the weekly house chores, like cleaning bathrooms, and floors. Or, I might simply tidy up any area that’s become a dumping ground (that’s the small countertop in our kitchen).
FRIDAY – This is when I finish everything up. I clean bathrooms, vacuum, and take out all the bathrooms’ trash. It’s my ‘big’ cleaning day, but I really like to have my weekend free for family time, fun with friends, or a project. If I did do some of my Friday chores on Thursday, then I take the opportunity to relax, or get a little finicky with a monthly chore.
SATURDAY – Just house projects, and Todd often cleans floors. I like having everything else tidy and put together, so it’s easy for Todd to get some of his chores done.
SUNDAY – Water plants. That’s it.
For ease, I have a framed list on my command center. Handy if you like checking off lists, or are looking to give those you live with a sense of what still needs to be done. This can be particularly useful if you have kids who can read and help out more; or even postpartum, so your partner knows how to keep things in order.
Of course things will come up: I wipe down the outside of the toilets every other week; our curtains have to be de-cat-haired every so often…but I find that keeping a certain level of shipshape-ness allows you to have the time to tend to those things, because the most pressing items don’t take as long, because they are well-maintained. And if you do get behind for some time? Well, you know exactly where to start, because you know what you want done each day.
Before creating a schedule, things were so hit and miss for me. I’d prioritize certain things, and rarely get to others. Having an actual schedule—as opposed to just a to-do list—also helps me, because I know things will get done. If I have free time on a Monday, I don’t need to trouble myself with chores that I have set for the end of the week. Also, if I do, say, skip laundry day, I can get it the next day, or know that I will be doing in on Tuesday. Overall, it just gives our home life a sense of rhythm, and allows us to take comfort in the predictability, and reliable cleanliness.
I really hope this helps anyone whose is trying to get their own cleaning schedule down. I know it can be difficult to sort out. The payoff of a clean, fresh home—a relaxed atmosphere—is worth it, and it’s attainable with just a bit of planning.
Good luck!
*If your home still feels like too much to clean, even after creating a schedule, perhaps less stuff could help. I’m a huge KonMari advocate, and it’s completely changed our home.
