A Yearly House Cleaning Timetable

Woman washing exterior windows of home.

A yearly house cleaning timetable. If it's been a while since you've considered the work to be done around the home daily, weekly, monthly, seasonally, and yearly, you could use a cleaning primer. 

In just about every section of this website, I've discussed which chores kids can do and how old they need to be to do them. I've been less specific about which chores need to be done and when. 

This is because your family's chore list depends on how many kids you have and how old they are, the layout of your home, whether or not you have pets, where you live, how much (or how little) your family is home, and how meticulous you and the family intend to be with your housekeeping routine.

To give you a guide for creating a yearly house cleaning timetable, I'd like to share mine.

A Yearly House Cleaning Timetable For Daily Chores

Let's come clean here. The daily grind is challenging enough - and I'm just talking about the kids, carpools, and errands here - so don't let this daily cleaning list ruffle your feathers as you create your house cleaning timetable.

After all, now that you've rallied the troops, you'll have plenty of help getting the essentials done daily. And precisely what those essentials are in your home is entirely your call!

In the Kitchen

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

Here's how the kids can help with daily chores by age.

Bedroom Bliss

  • Make bed.

Check out how kids can help with this list of bedroom chores for kids. 

Bathroom Basics

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

Weekly Cleaning

Here are the chores that should be done once a week. 

  • Sort, wash, and fold laundry.
  • Vacuum carpets.
  • Dust furniture, shelves, and lampshades.
  • Wash out the kitchen trash container and the surrounding area.
  • Wipe leather furniture with a soft cloth.
  • Scoop and clean out the cat's litter box. 
  • Shake area rugs as needed.

Kitchen Sync

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

Here's how the kids can help with kitchen chores by age.

Bedroom Bliss 2

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

Here's how kids can help with bedroom chores.

Bathroom

Woman scrubbing toilet bowl.A yearly house cleaning timetable.
  • Mop floors.
  • Wipe chrome fixtures and clean mirrors.
  • Put out fresh towels and soap.

Monthly Cleaning Chores

Here are chores that should be done once a month:

  • Vacuum furniture and curtains.
  • Sweep and tidy up the garage.
  • Wipe down walls of fingerprints and spills.
  • Organize closets and clothes.

Here a how kids can help with monthly chores by age. 

Kitchen Chores

Bathrooms

  • Wash the shower curtain.

Seasonal House Cleaning

Man sweeping fireplace ashes.A yearly house cleaning timetable.

Some chores need to be done only in certain seasons. A few examples:

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

How kids can help with seasonal chores by age. 

Bedroom Chores

  • Turn and vacuum mattresses.

A Yearly House Cleaning Timetable: Annual Chores

These chores need to be done once a year:

  • Scrub or strip and wax floors.
  • Dust and vacuum corners and crevices from high point to low in each room.
  • Remove dust ruffles from beds for washing or dry cleaning.
  • Check washing machine hoses. Replace if they're older than two years.
  • Vacuum heating vents and ducts.
  • Reseal wood floors.

Here are some yearly chores kids can help with.  To add home maintenance chores to your house cleaning timetable, check out the preventative maintenance schedule.