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Cleaning Timetable

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Cleaning Timetable. What are the rules?

Here are the average daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal and yearly chores - and when to tackle them.

1. Daily duty.

In the kitchen:

  • Wash dishes.
  • Damp-mop any spills.
  • Rinse sink clean after each use.
  • Put dishes in dishwasher (or hand-wash after use.)
  • Wipe clean kitchen table, counters, and cook top or range.
  • Wipe down interior of the microwave.

Sweep or vacuum the kitchen floor.

In the bedroom:

  • Make bed.

In the bathroom:

  • Squeegee shower (or sponge-clean the tub).
  • Wipe down counter tops after use.
  • Hang up towels.

2. Weekly.

Throughout the house:

  • Dust furniture, shelves, and lamp shades.
  • Wash out kitchen trash container and surrounding area.
  • Wipe leather furniture with a soft cloth.
  • Shake area rugs, depending on size.

Kitchen:

  • Clean telephones, computer and laptop screens, TV screens, video-game controllers and remote controls.

Bedroom:

  • Change bed linens.
  • Empty garbage can.
  • Hang up clothes, tidy the closet.

Bathroom:

  • Mop floors.
  • Wipe chrome fixtures, clean mirrors.
  • Put out fresh towels and soap.

3. Monthly.

Throughout the house:

  • Vacuum furniture and curtains.
  • Wipe down walls of fingerprints, spills.

Kitchen:

Bathroom:

  • Wash shower curtain.

Bedroom:

  • Organize closets and clothes.

4. Seasonally.

Throughout the house:

  • Sweep the patio and porch.
  • Clean the dryer's exhaust vent.

Bedroom:

  • Turn and vacuum mattresses.

5. Yearly timetable.

  • Scrub or strip and wax floors.
  • Wash and polish wood furniture.
  • Change furnace filters.
  • Dust and vacuum corners and crevices from high point to low.
  • Remove dust ruffles from beds to wash or dry-clean.
  • Check washing machine hoses. Replace if they're older than two years.
  • Vacuum heating vents and ducts.
  • Reseal wood floors.

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From Timetable: Return to Coming Clean

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About the Author

Tara Aronson is a native Californian. Having grown up in San Diego, she studied journalism and Spanish to pursue a career in newspaper writing. Tara, whose three children - Chris, Lyndsay, and Payne - are the light of her life, now lives and writes in Los Angeles. She also regularly appears on television news programs throughout the U.S.