It’s essential to come to terms with the fact that keeping our homes impeccably clean requires additional work, no matter how much we wish it were otherwise. That’s why I’m here every week, to guide you through the essential tasks needed to maintain a home that’s both welcoming and notably clean.
So let’s get started – let’s learn how to make our homes shine!
P.S. Need help cleaning your house? We can help. Our team of professional cleaners is ready to assist you with any type of cleaning needs. Get in touch with our team today!
Kitchen
Cleaning your kitchen on a regular basis is key to reducing mess, spreading of germs and keeping your food safe to eat. Here are some of the items you should clean in your kitchen every single week:
- Countertops: To avoid germs, use an all-purpose cleaner or an antibacterial wipe on your countertops every week.
- Appliances: Wipe down all appliances, including your refrigerator, range, dishwasher and microwave with a cleaning product approved by the manufacturer. Pay special attention to handles and knobs which have been touched recently.
- Sink: Scrub behind the faucet and underneath the sink with a disinfectant cleaner or scrubbing pads to keep food particles from collecting and germs from spreading.
- Floors: Sweep or vacuum your kitchen floor a couple of times each week to remove debris that can settle there from everyday activities like cooking or eating meals. Mop according to directions using a cleaning solution appropriate for the type of flooring you have installed.
- Cabinets and Drawers: Periodically clean inside cabinets, drawers, shelves and other storage areas as needed with an all purpose cleaner or disinfectant wipe. This will help reduce pests that may be attracted by crumbs or sticky spots in these areas.
Bathroom
Your bathroom is a place where dirt and bacteria can proliferate if not regularly cleaned and disinfected. To ensure your bathrooms stay fresh, it is important to give it a thorough cleaning weekly.
Surfaces: Start by wiping down all the surfaces in the bathroom with a multi-purpose cleaner and a damp microfiber cloth, including shelves, countertops, vanity cabinets and the outside of any containers like soap dispensers or trash bins. Pay particular attention to faucet handles, which you should keep clean with an old toothbrush or cotton swab. Don’t forget to wipe overlook doors and door frames too!
Mirrors: Clean mirror surfaces using window cleaner and again a damp microfiber cloth for streak-free results. You can use different flavored vinegar cleaners for even better results on tough stains. Avoid regular household glass cleaners as they often leave spots behind on mirrors.
Tub & Shower: Empty the bathtub of items like toys or bottles of shampoo then spray it with an all-purpose cleaner or showerhead cleaner. Wipe clean with a sponge or cloth, starting from the top edges working your way down to prevent streaks caused by running water; this will also help avoid having to go over missed areas again and again due to dirty water dripping over them from up above! Clean tile walls in the same way finishing by scrubbing out any mold growth in grout lines before rinsing with warm water.
Toilet Bowl: Use an all-purpose bathroom cleaner formulated specifically for toilets; these usually contain bleach which will help whiten both bowl & seat while also fighting germs & mildew buildup. Apply foam according to instructions as directed then let sit for 5 minutes before scrubbing all sides of the bowl including under rim – use a toilet brush here if needed! Remember not just close areas but also reach behind tank parts inside of it and around bases below toilet itself too before flushing away remaining foaming product when done (do not mix other cleaners here). Lastly use paper towels or older rags dipped into bucket filled with clean water afterwards so they remove any leftover traces successfully without making matters worse than they are initially.
Bedrooms
When it comes to cleaning bedrooms, it is important to focus on both cleaning and maintenance. Set aside around 30 minutes a week for a deep clean of your bedroom, including areas like dusting, vacuuming and wiping down surfaces with household cleaners or disinfectants. To keep your bedroom extra clean, make sure to do the following tasks each week:
- Strip and wash bedding. This includes sheets, blankets, duvets or comforters and pillows. Do this at least once a week during the high-traffic months (winter) and monthly during the low-traffic months (summer).
- Vacuum carpets and furniture. Make sure to vacuum twice per week to remove pet hair and dust that can settle in the carpets or on furniture surfaces over time. Vacuuming helps prevent allergies as well as eliminate odors from family members’ activities such as eating snacks in bed!
- Declutter. In addition to vacuuming and washing bedding, you should also take 15 minutes a day for each room in your house (including the bedrooms) to remove any items that are not necessary for daily living. Donate or discard any items that you do not use regularly so that you can enjoy an organized space without unnecessary mess!
- Dust exposed surfaces like shelves, dressers, nightstands, window sills and other flat surfaces weekly with either a dry cloth or dampened with all-purpose cleaner or disinfectant wipes. Pay particular attention to areas where food residues could accumulate such as nightstands next to beds where nighttime snacks are frequently consumed!
Living Room
A living room is an important gathering place in any home and it should be well kept. Mopping, dusting, and vacuuming are essential to maintaining cleanliness in the living area. As such, here are some things to do in order to keep your living room looking its best week after week:
- Remove all clutter – The first step when cleaning your living room is to remove any dust or debris which may have accumulated on the surface of your furniture or carpets. Make sure to vacuum behind and underneath furniture as well as sweeping away pet hair, dirt and crumbs.
- Dust surfaces – Dust ceiling fan blades, light fixtures, artwork and other surface areas with a damp cloth or duster. Vacuuming can help capture lighter particles of dust which settle on carpets and upholstery.
- Clean soil spots – Address any spots that have collected on furniture upholstery (especially around arms), carpets or drapery. Use an appropriate cleaner according to the material instructions before you begin spot cleaning. Check for stains from candle wax or other spills and use the appropriate method for removal before proceeding with regular cleaning activities.
- Mop flooring – Hardwood, laminate tile or stone flooring should be mopped regularly using a damp microfiber mop cloth coated with a cleaning solution designed for flooring type. This will help preserve its longevity while also removing stubborn dirt particles that get lodged in small cracks between tiles/grout lines of stone flooring surfaces. For added protection, consider investing in an area rug that is easy to remove for periodic cleaning every few weeks/months depending on usage frequency and lifestyle demands.
- Vacuum rugs & mats – Vacuuming rugs/mats helps remove soil and allergens embedded deep within their fibers; this should be done once a week (or however often needed) depending on how much foot traffic the rug receives throughout each day’s routines in order to keep it looking fresh & smelling good! Vacuuming’s suction power helps break down food particles that may become stuck inside of area rugs; additionally this helps reduce static electricity buildup caused by static cling carpet fibers which collect airborne dust & dirt quickly over time if not actively managed through regular home care practices like vacuuming daily/weekly for small area mats & monthly for larger insulated rugs covering larger living rooms so always bear this mind when planning ahead of time!
Hallways and Stairs
Hallways and stairs can be quickly forgotten, but they often get the dirtiest and need regular cleaning. Depending on the kind of floor you have and how much traffic goes up and down your hallways or stairs, you may need to clean every single week.
Here are some tips for keeping your hallways and stairs clean:
- Sweep your floors regularly: Start with a visual inspection to see which areas need attention. Sweep up any dirt or dust that has collected in corners, or underneath furniture such as tables, chairs or sideboards. Vacuuming can be effective, but is not always necessary. If needed, spot clean spills immediately to prevent them from damaging furniture finishes or leaving permanent stains.
- Mop your floors: Use a mild detergent diluted with water, adding a few drops of essential oil if desired for extra fragrance. Mop along the grain of the wood flooring in smooth strokes to avoid streaks and lines being left behind after cleaning is complete. Rinse with clean water afterwards, however this may not be feasible on carpets; simply allow them to air dry after vacuuming instead.
- Remove cobwebs and dirt from corners: A damp cloth can usually do the trick here – lightly draping over ceilings before wiping away cobwebs makes for an easier job than crawling around on hands and knees! Use a dustpan to sweep up tiny particles of dirt that have accumulated in corners but don’t require you to actually mop those areas entirely; just make sure they are free from visible debris. If your home has high ceilings it may be worth investing in extending dusters that allow you to reach higher spots easily and safely!
Outdoor Spaces
Five regular cleaning tasks for outdoor spaces that should be done weekly include:
- Sweeping the Entrance: The entryway to your home serves as a welcome mat of sorts, where friends and family can be greeted with a clean entryway. Sweeping or vacuuming up dirt and debris from this space helps keep your entry tidy while also helping to keep dirt, leaves, and other debris out of your home’s interior.
- Rinsing Out The Rain Gutters: Regularly clearing out your rain gutters helps to prevent clogs resulting in water not properly running off away from your home’s foundation. This is particularly important during fall when trees are dropping their leaves with great frequency – making sure that these aren’t clogging up the gutters can help protect against costly water damage over time.
- Washing Down Outdoor Furniture: Washing down any exterior furniture – such chairs or tables – on a regular basis helps remove debris as well as any dirt or dust which may have collected over time. Doing so can make these pieces look like new for an inviting atmosphere when used for entertaining guests outside.
- Hosing Off The Patio: Hosing off the patio surface on a weekly basis – either with a garden hose or even pressure-washing – helps to remove dirt and leaves from this surface as well as dislodge any grime which may have built up over time due to foot traffic in or around this area of your home’s exterior. Doing so will help make this space look fresh and welcoming time after time once again throughout its lifetime of use.
Windows and Blinds
When cleaning windows, begin by dusting the window first with a soft cloth, using circular motions until all of the dirt and dust have been removed. Then, use a damp cloth or a window cleaning brush specifically designed for windows to clean the glass in an up and down motion, removing any fingerprints or smudges. To finish off and get that streak-free shine, buff your window dry with an absorbent microfiber cloth.
For your blinds, use a soft bristled brush or vacuum cleaner attachment to remove dirt and dust from each blade and then rest them back in place. If you have aluminum or plastic blinds, try using a specialized window cleaner to spritz the surface of each and wipe down with a damp cloth for best results. Wood blinds may require more detailed care. Before you begin wiping them down it’s important to ensure there is no standing water that can cause damage over time. Use only a mild detergent mixed lightly with warm water when wiping each blade and then dry immediately afterwards with clean kitchen roll or a microfiber cloth.
Conclusion
Cleaning your home properly is an important part of a healthy and well-maintained home. A weekly cleaning schedule ensures that you keep up with the dirt and grime in your home, rather than letting it build up until cleaning becomes an intimidating task.
Depending on the size of your home and how active your lifestyle is, you may need to adjust the frequency of cleaning some areas. But by regularly tackling those necessary chores, like:
- Washing sheets and window treatments
- Doing laundry
- Dusting surfaces
- Vacuuming carpets
- Mopping floors and bathrooms
- Wiping down countertops and appliances
- Tidying clutter
- Disinfecting areas like doorknobs/light switches in between regular deep cleanings
You can maintain a clean environment for your family free of allergens and bacteria.