Simple Cleaning Schedule: How to Have a Clean Home Every Day
A simple cleaning routine that really works. Find all the details, and cleaning schedule printable below that’s editable for any customizations you need.
One of the things I get asked about most is my cleaning schedule and regimen. I love having a clean home, and not just once a week, but every day. I can manage the rest of my life so much better when my house is clean and organized, and there’s something about an orderly home that provides a more calming atmosphere. Everyone is just happier in a clean home, especially me! Over the years as we’ve added more children to our family, it’s become even more essential, because there are so many more people contributing to the mess and chaos.
Years ago, I developed a routine that has worked wonders for me, and loved it ever since. It’s worked without kids, with kids (I have six), working in the home, and working outside the home. I’m going to share my secret with you today! It works, and if you follow it, you WILL have a clean house. It all boils down to just one word. MAINTENANCE. I’m a big believer in “maintaining” a clean house. It actually will take you less time overall if you do some every day, instead of saving it up for one big day or weekend. For example, it takes me less than 20 minutes to deep clean three bathrooms, because I do a quick 3 minute wipe-down of those bathrooms on a daily basis. The same applies for every section of your house.
Find all the details below–what I do every day, week, and month–to keep my home clean and organized. If you’re looking to get into a new cleaning regimen, get your home in order, try this schedule. It’s made my life so much easier to manage as a whole!
Table of contents
What do I actually do, and how does it work?
There are certain things that I do every. single. day. and these daily tasks are the key to to the whole maintenance process. I also have weekly and monthly tasks that I work into my daily schedule, and I can do all of that in about an hour or so a day, PLUS my folding laundry time in the evening. There are days where it takes a little longer than an hour, and other days where it doesn’t. Â I will switch things around depending on my schedule, and if there’s a day where I’ll be home all day, and other days I’ll be gone or busy a lot, I’ll put more on that one day. Â Some of the tasks I do all at once, and others are fit in throughout the day as I go about my routine.
I’m also a list girl, so having a checklist is a big part of my routine. It keeps you on track, and gives you a visual reminder of what you’ve accomplished, and what you need to do. Here’s my checklist…print it, then slide it into a sheet protector, in a frame (use a dry erase marker), or even laminate it…then you can use it every day, week, and month! (You can download the checklist at the bottom of the post.)
This is MOST definitely a family effort. All of my kids have chores, depending on their ages. Many of these they are doing, or helping to do. Keeping it clean together, makes a big difference, and we all work together to get it done. My husband also is a part of these tasks, they are not mine alone. We each have our own contributions to the household. If we are both home, we are both working to keep it in order.
Daily tasks
Daily tasks are at the crux of your success…they make everything else so much easier, and really make your home look and feel clean! These take about an hour (or less) total in my day, not counting folding and putting away laundry. I have a laundry routine that works really well for me–I’ve used it for years.
Just doing these things will make it so much faster and easier when you’re ready to do a more thorough cleaning. Have your cleaners and cleaning supplies in one place, or in several places in your home (I use a cleaning caddy) to make it easier.
3 minute wipe down of each bathroom (glass, counters, toilet, floor around toilet)
I keep Clorox wipes under the cabinet, and when I’m finished getting ready, I quickly wipe everything down. I make my way to the other bathrooms and the same thing. My kids are responsible for their own bathrooms, which they’ve done as soon as they were old enough to do it.
Make beds
It’s the first thing I do in the morning, and I require all of my kids to make their beds before leaving for school. My little ones need help, but this is one of their very first chores. It makes a TON of difference in the way your home looks and feels.
Sweep after each meal
It only takes a minute–literally, I timed it! It’s amazing what adds up on the floor during the day, but if you’ll take the minute or two to sweep after each meal, it’ll be a breeze to keep up!
Wipe down the kitchen counters after each meal
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and when it’s a mess, it feels like the whole house is a mess. Wiping down the countertops after each meal eliminates the crumbs, plus clutter that can add up during the day. I keep cleaning spray under the kitchen sink for fast and easy access.
Keep up on the dishes
The dishwasher is loaded immediately after using any dishes. My kids know to load their dirty dishes rather than putting them in the sink. You have to do it at some point, and it’s way faster to do a few at a time, rather than a bunch of them later. Load the dishwasher throughout the day, run it at night, and put them away in the morning!
Open all mail, go through school papers, junk mail, and file
Oh, how paper can quickly take over our lives! Staying on top of it is the key, so each day go through mail and school papers and file them where they go. Controlling paper clutter will make a HUGE difference in both appearance, and as a time saver…since you won’t have to look for anything! Dedicate a place to filing papers you need to keep, and shred or throw away everything else. Just a couple of minutes will save you a pile!
Vacuum main living area
I vacuum our family room every night, or at some point during the day. It’s the main room of our home, and we all spend a lot of time there. It takes just a minute, but oh my goodness, it makes a huge difference!
*Laundry: I personally prefer to do laundry every day. I do a lot of loads every week, and when you add in towels and sheets, it’s at least 15 loads. There’s no way I’m doing that all in one day! I wash and dry during the day, and stack the clean laundry in baskets in my room. Each night I fold the laundry, put it back in the basket folded, then put it away in the morning. It breaks up my time, doesn’t make it seem as overwhelming, and I can stay on top of it much more easily so it doesn’t pile up.
*Entire house pick-up: I’m constantly picking up during the day, and having my kids pick up after themselves. I have baskets on the stairs for items that need to go up, and places for everything to go. The house gets picked up every night–there is nothing better than waking up to nice, clean house! Each night right before dinner, we all help quickly pick up the house. They each have a buddy, and that team is assigned a different area of the house to tidy it up. (Family room, playroom, etc.) House rules also call for rooms to be clean before dinner. It works wonders! Not only does the house get cleaned, but it teaches them about being responsible for their messes what’s necessary to maintain a home. It sounds like a lot, but when you do it every day, it really doesn’t take long at all!
Weekly cleaning tasks
Where the daily tasks help control clutter, and maintain general cleanliness, the weekly tasks are at the core of a really clean home. These tasks will tackle the dirt and grime, and make your home truly clean. Work them into your daily tasks where they make sense–when you’re wiping down kitchen counters, go ahead and wipe down the cabinets. Instead of your 3 minute bathroom wipe down, deep clean the bathrooms.Â
For your laundry one day, make it towels and sheets. Some of the weekly items, I admit, I do more often than once a week. Depending on the type of flooring I’ve had (hardwood, tile, LVP), the upkeep has been slightly different, and some required a little more maintenance. I also vacuum more than once a week, but in the high traffic areas that get grimy quickly.
Vacuum entire house, and under couch cushions
Dust, then wipe down all furniture with damp cloth
Wash sheets and towels
Mop floors
Empty all trashes (or more if needed)
Wipe down kitchen cabinets
Wipe down kitchen chairs
Deep clean kitchen:Â burners, stovetop, microwave
Deep clean bathrooms
Monthly cleaning tasks
The monthly tasks are even more of a deep clean, but if you do them every month, they don’t take nearly as long. I divide the monthly tasks into four sections, and then try to add those to my weekly tasks over four weeks. Some of these are great jobs for kids to help with–cleaning out garbage cans, washing down switch plates and doors, washing baseboards (my kids’ love this!) I will say that this is MY GOAL.  Some of them are easier, and don’t take much time, like dusting the ceiling fans. Â
I’ve only ever had a few fans, so less than 10 minutes, and they’re done. Â I also have a self-cleaning oven, so I’m not scrubbing it out like I used to, so it doesn’t take as long. Â If I don’t get them all in one month, I’ll try for two months. Â Things happen, and life happens, but I know that if I wait too long, it will be so much harder, and take so much longer, so that’s my motivation to try and stay on top of it as much as possible.
Each day’s schedule includes the daily tasks, and then I add in weekly tasks so they’re sprinkled throughout the week. I’ll also add in one or two monthly tasks, usually on the weekends.
Sweep out garage
Vacuum out windowsills
Dust ceiling fans
Wash baseboards, and walls as needed
Clean oven
Clean refrigerator & freezer
Wash light switch plates and all doors (exterior and interior)
Clean out garbage cans
Wipe down vents
Wash bed quilts
Wash windows – I usually try to do some each weekend, instead of doing it all at one time
How it fits into my week
I have certain things on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, but these aren’t set in stone. Â They can be moved and switched around to fit your own daily schedule, and what makes sense for you. I also move things around if I know based on daily schedules.
As far as the time of day goes, it’s totally personal, as to when it fits into your schedule. For me, the morning works best. I make the rounds of the house–checking beds, wiping down bathrooms, and general straightening, which is about 10 minutes total. Then I tackle my list items for the day…I can get my floors (sweeping and mopping) done in about 30-45 minutes. If I have more time, then I’ll squeeze in one more item from my list. If not, I’ll wait until nap time or another time during the day. I also get stuff done after my kids go to bed. That’s when the house is quiet, and I can do it uninterrupted.
During the course of the day, I’m sticking to my daily tasks. Wiping counters, keeping up dishes, and sweeping after each meal make a lot of difference. I’m a HUGE multi-tasker, and I’ll straighten the kitchen while feeding my kids. I would be in the kitchen anyway, and this lets me get more than one thing done at once. I apply this concept very often during the day.
General pick-up happens a couple of times during the day. If my boys are getting too crazy with toys, then we’ll stop and put a few away, saving time later. I check and sort the mail in the afternoon, and try to have that done before kids come home from school. Once kids are home, it’s time for homework, piano, ballet, sports, etc. I’m either in the car or busy helping a child. I require all backpacks to be cleaned out, and hung up as soon as kids come in the door, and shoes in the basket. No snack until it’s done! I’m really strict on this, because it’s one way the house can get crazy…fast! I do go through their school papers as I’m helping them with homework, which has worked really well for me.
Right before dinner it’s time for our stations, and everyone quickly gets the house straightened. After dinner we clean up the kitchen together, and it’s family time until kids are ready for bed. Once they’re settled, I vacuum the family room if I haven’t had time that day. Then I sit down with a basket of laundry or two while I watch a movie or favorite show. Three baskets takes 30 minutes, so I still have plenty of time for other projects, reading, or relaxing.
I do have to add, lest anyone think that there is never a speck of dirt in my house, that it isn’t always perfect. I do have six kids and a husband, and we do live in our house. Like everyone, there are lots of crazy moments–when the kids have their homework out, they’re practicing the piano, while I’m making dinner, and we’re dashing out the door to violin or soccer. I have days where my kids are sick, or I’ve had an extra busy day It’s LIFE! But I do make a concerted effort to keep everything straightened, picked up, and clean. That’s how I function best–our family does better, I do better.
So…if you’re ready to take this on, I know you can do it!! You will need to start with a clean house in order to maintain it. You can use all of the checklist items to get to that point. Then you’re ready! Clean your house for YOU, not for just company. You and your family will get to reap the benefits on a regular basis of having clean home.
Working moms
First of all, all moms work! It’s the job that never sleeps, no matter your circumstances. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom and working mom, both in and out of the home. They are all different, and each come with their own unique challenges. As a stay-at-home mom, my kids were home with me, and the house got a lot messier, a lot faster. Working outside of the home meant my kids were also not home, and the house stayed as it was all day. If I could get it clean, and then just maintain the basics, it made all the difference being gone all day. Working in the home (which I’ve predominantly done), my kids have been home with me while I worked and it’s trying to balance all of it at the same time.
Whether you’re at home during the day or you’re not, trying to fit everything in that we can is HARD. I wrote this post to share what has worked for me, and has helped get me through the toughest times. My intent was to share this in the hopes that it could help someone else. Â
We’re all trying to find something that works for us, for our families, and for our lives. Â It’s really the method I’m sharing–that of maintenance–that when things are less dirty, they take less time to clean. That’s it. Nothing fancy or too profound, but just something that has saved me a lot of time and energy. Â Â
Morning:
2 minute wipe down of bathrooms: Â Clorox wipes and glass wipes under the counter work great for this! Â Wipe off the counter, sink, mirrors, and around the toilet as necessary. When I deep cleaned them on the weekend, it made it so much easier and faster.
Put clean dishes away, put dirty ones in. Wipe off all counters.
Evening:
Sweep after the meal, clean up the kitchen, and start the dishwasher
Have kids tidy up their rooms and play areas before bed
Kids responsible for putting all belongings where they go–backpacks, school papers, shoes, etc.
Quick vacuum over main floor or living area–family room, etc.
Start a load of laundry — aim for 2 per day
After kids were in bed (or with older kids after you’re home from running them around!)
Laundry! Seriously.  I wish there was a magic answer for it, but I haven’t found one yet. As soon as I’m in the doorAlmost every night I’ve folded at least one load of laundry, but usually 2-3. But I always do it while watching a favorite show or movie.
Go through mail and file it away
Any tasks that need to be complete for the next day, and organizing for the morning – packing lunches, signing notes, etc.
Weekends:
Deep clean bathrooms
Mop kitchen floor
Vacuum the house
Whatever else I had time for! Rotate through some of the weekly and monthly items.
Basic maintenance tasks during the week means it doesn’t take as long to deep clean them on the weekend. This saves time, and also means more time with my family. We could take 1 or 2 hours in the morning, then still have the rest of the day.
Keeping a clean home is a FAMILY effort at our house. Everyone is a part of the family, and need to take care of our home. Starting from a young age, my kids have chores. They make their beds, clean up their toys, help put away the dishes, take out trashes, and learn to clean and wipe down bathrooms. They have an extra chore every day, and they are wiping down baseboards and cleaning light switches. It teaches them responsibility, how to clean, and what it takes to maintain a home. Â We are all in it together, especially when things are busy and crazy.
I know it can look overwhelming. Keep in mind that these tasks take a MUCH shorter time to complete when you are just maintaining them, and not deep cleaning them. Clean your house top to bottom, then start the maintenance process. You’ll see what a difference it makes, and how much time you can save!!
If you have any more questions, please let me know. kierste@oldsaltfarm.com
Download checklists & schedules
Editable Template Link: Daily, Weekly, Monthly Schedule
Click on the link to edit this template and customize your schedule. You’ll need a free Canva account to do so.
Download PDF (as is): Daily, Weekly, Monthly Schedule
Editable Template Link: Weekly Schedule
Click on the link to edit this template and customize your schedule. You’ll need a free Canva account to do so.
Download PDF: Blank Weekly Schedule
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Favorite cleaning items
More organization & cleaning ideas
- Declutter List: What to Throw Away, Recycle, or Donate
- Kitchen Drawer & Cabinet Organization Ideas
- 30-Minute, 30-Day Organization Challenge
- How to Organize Kids’ School Papers & Memories
Thanks so much for stopping by! Join me on Instagram for even more ideas and inspiration…I’d love to see you there. 🖤
*Originally posted 2013
