Cleaning Timetable
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:
- Sort, wash and fold laundry.
- Vacuum carpets.
- Dust furniture, shelves, and lamp shades.
- Wash out kitchen trash container and surrounding area.
- Wipe leather furniture with a soft cloth.
- Clean windows.
- Clean lights and light fixtures.
- Scoop and clean out the cat's litter box.
- Shake area rugs, depending on size.
Kitchen:
- Mop floors, and dry or dam-mop wood floors.
- Clean telephones, computer and laptop screens, TV screens, video-game controllers and remote controls.
- Surface clean the refrigerator.
Bedroom:
- Change bed linens.
- Empty garbage can.
- Hang up clothes, tidy the closet.
Bathroom:
- Disinfect the toilet.
- Clean the shower or tub.
- Mop floors.
- Wipe chrome fixtures, clean mirrors.
- Put out fresh towels and soap.
3. Monthly.
Throughout the house:
- Vacuum furniture and curtains.
- Sweep and tidy up the garage.
- Wipe down walls of fingerprints, spills.
Kitchen:
- Check expiration dates on foods in the fridge, discard as needed.
Bathroom:
- Wash shower curtain.
Bedroom:
- Organize closets and clothes.
4. Seasonally.
Throughout the house:
- Take indoor plants outside for a gentle washing.
- Sweep the patio and porch.
- Wipe down patio table and chairs.
- Clean the fireplace and tools.
- Clean the dryer's exhaust vent.
Bedroom:
- Turn and vacuum mattresses.
5. Yearly timetable.
- Deep clean carpets and upholstery.
- 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.
- Clean out the medicine cabinet and toss expired medications.
- 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.
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