house cleaning timetable 

How to Create a Family Housekeeping Routine

How often should you tackle various house cleaning chores? 

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

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

This is because it's a very individual choice. Your family's chore list is sure to be very different from my family's list. 

Your family's chore list will differ depending on so many factors, such as 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. But to give you a guide to create your own house cleaning timetable, I'd like to offer you mine.

House Cleaning Timetable 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 essential done daily. And exactly what those essentials are in your home is entirely your call!

However, for the record, here's what we do at my house:

Kitchen Chores

• 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.

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

Bedroom Chores

• Make bed.
  

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

Bathroom Cleaning

• Squeegee shower (or sponge-clean the tub).

• Wipe down counter tops after use.

• Hang up towels.

Bathroom chores for kids. 

Weekly Cleaning Chores

Here are the chores that I feel should be done once a week. Because these are a bit harder, I've exempted the 2-and-under crowd from some of these weekly chores. 

• 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 window blinds and curtains.

• Clean lights and lighting fixtures.

• Scoop and clean out the cat's litter box. 

• Shake area rugs, depending on size.

Kitchen Cleaning

• Mop floors, and dry or damp-mop wood floors.

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

• Surface clean the refrigerator.

Bedroom Cleaning

• Change bed linens.

• Empty garbage can.

• Hang up clothes, tidy the closet.

Bathroom Chores

Bathroom chores for kids by age. 

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, spills.

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

Kitchen Chores

• Check expiration dates on foods in the fridge, discard as needed.

Bathrooms

• Wash shower curtain.
  

• Organize closets and clothes.

Seasonal House Cleaning Chores

Some chores need to be done only in certain seasons.

Here are a few examples:

• 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.
  

How kids can help with seasonal chores by age. 

Bedroom Chores

• Turn and vacuum mattresses.
  

Yearly House Chores

These chores need to be done only once a year:

• 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 your medicine cabinet and toss expired medications.

• 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. 

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