How to Keep Your Home Sparkling Clean in 15-30 Minutes a Day

Isn’t it nice to come home to a clean house? A fresh, unsoiled home environment makes life more enjoyable and provides numerous health benefits. Keeping it clean, however, can be a substantial challenge for busy homeowners.

One solution is to break the job down into small tasks that only require 15-30 minutes of effort each day. That way, your house can maintain a fresh appearance. Plus, inviting friends and family into your home sounds more enjoyable if you don’t have to tackle a substantial cleaning job first.

Check out this basic home cleaning schedule or modify it to meet your needs!

Monday: LINENS

Strip the sheets and pillowcases off the beds and gather up any used bathroom towels. Depending on the size of your household, you may need to run two or more loads through the washer and dryer. Start early and set a timer as a reminder to change loads.

As sheets and towels come out of the dryer, remake the beds and rehang the linens. Your total hands-on time should be under 30 minutes, and you’ll sleep well tonight on clean sheets!

Tuesday: BATHROOMS

Today’s job is cleaning all the surfaces in your bathrooms: toilets, sinks and countertops, tubs, and mirrors. It shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes or so for each room.

Streamline the job by pouring toilet cleaner in each bowl and letting it sit while you spray down all the other surfaces with an all-in-one cleaner.

Once all bathroom surfaces are sprayed down, go back and use your toilet bowl brush to scrub down the bowls in each bathroom. Then, do another lap to wipe down all the surfaces with a microfiber cloth.

Don’t worry about the floor. You can save that for another day!

Wednesday: DUSTING

Use a dust-trapping microfiber dust cloth and go from room to room, dusting all your surfaces. The fewer knick-knacks you have on tables and shelves, the faster this can be done.

If you have blinds on your windows, be sure to wipe them too with your dust cloth or a microfiber mini blind duster designed for this task. It’s the best way to prevent grime from accumulating and creating a more extensive cleaning chore.

Thursday: FLOORS, PART 1

Today’s chore is sweeping the floors and steps (if you have any). Use a vacuum cleaner or a broom, depending on the type of flooring in your home and the equipment you own.

If you have a second floor, begin in the upper rooms farthest from your stairs and work your way down the steps to the ground floor. As you move from room to room, gather up any garbage in waste cans.

Lightweight cordless vacuums make this a fast and easy job and will keep your floors looking great in a few short minutes a week.

Of course, you’ll still need to clean up any unexpected messes that occur between floor days, but overall your floors will look great!

Friday: FLOORS, PART 2

Today, concentrate on any floors that need a good mopping, including your bathrooms, kitchen, entryways, and other hard-surface floorings that receive substantial foot traffic.  

There are plenty of useful equipment choices. Old fashioned string or sponge mops will get the job done. Or, you may prefer one of the newer mopping tools that incorporate built-in sprayers, washable microfiber pads, or disposable wet cloths.

Regardless of the type of mop you select, be sure to grab a hand cloth too. Use it to reach tight spaces and corners, so all your floor surfaces stay clean.

Saturday: KITCHEN

Your kitchen sees a lot of action, with many small clean-ups occurring after each meal. Once a week, however, it’s a good idea to dig deeper and make sure your kitchen stays as clean and welcoming as possible.

Your first week tackling the kitchen may take longer. However, once it’s clean, it should require less than 30 minutes to keep it that way.

Give all your surfaces a good cleaning to eliminate germs. Remove any grease that has accumulated in the oven or on the burners. (Grease build-ups are unhealthy, unattractive, and pose a fire hazard.)

Discard any food in your refrigerator and freezer that isn’t good. Wipe down refrigerator shelves and drawers. Organize any remaining food to simplify meal preparation.

Put a wet sponge in the microwave for one minute, then wipe down the interior surfaces. Scrub the sink. Clear and disinfect all countertops.

Sunday: REST!  

Take a day off! Make plans with your family and friends. Include a little “me” time for something you enjoy.

Rest easy knowing that your commitment to a weekly cleaning routine means your house will always be a welcoming place for you, your family, and any guests that might pop in.