Cleaning & Organizing Cleaning Cleaning How-Tos

A Realistic Weekly Cleaning Schedule to Get You Started

Check off your chores every day of the week

Illustration of a weekly cleaning schedule

The Spruce / Candace Madonna

When you're busy, finding a weekly cleaning schedule that works can be difficult. A cleaning schedule that's easy to remember and follow is a necessity to prevent clutter but it can also help you simplify your day and keep you from feeling overwhelmed with a dirty home.

Review this realistic schedule set up for every day of the week. It'll help you get your cleaning on track, letting you do a little each day instead of cleaning everything all at once.

Monday's House Cleaning Schedule

Make it Mop Monday because your floors likely took a beating over the weekend. Between the dog's muddy paws and the kids eating crackers as they ran through the house, there's no better place to begin your weekly cleaning schedule than with your vacuum and mop.

If you don't have time to vacuum or mop the entire house, fit these high-traffic areas in between full cleanings:

  • Foyer
  • Stairs
  • Family room/den
  • Mudroom
  • Bedrooms
  • Under the kitchen table
  • Bathrooms
person mopping the kitchen
The Spruce / Daria Groza 

Tuesday's House Cleaning Schedule

Grab your gloves and the scrub brush. It's all about the bathrooms today on Toilet Tuesday. How often you clean your toilets depends on use, but weekly is a good place to start.

It might not be your favorite day of the week, but now you'll have the rest of the week and the weekend to enjoy your clean bathrooms. Chores to do today:

  • Scrub toilets.
  • Clean bathtubs and showers.
  • Disinfect bathroom sinks and counters.
  • Spray plastic shower curtains with disinfectant.
  • Change out the towels.
  • Take bathmats outside, and give them a good shake.
  • Check toiletries to see what you're running low on.
Person cleaning tile in a shower

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Wednesday's House Cleaning Schedule

Wipe It Wednesday erases dust, germs, and grime. Items to dust or wipe down:

  • Microwave
  • Toaster
  • Counters
  • Tabletops
  • TV
  • Toys
  • Mirrors
  • Ceiling fans
  • Doorknobs
  • Refrigerator handles
  • Stove
  • Refrigerator shelves
  • Windowsills
  • Mini blinds
  • Light fixtures
  • Telephone
  • Furniture
A person wiping down a countertop surface

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Thursday's House Cleaning Schedule

Today is Throw It Out Thursday. Do it every week, so you don't end up with a daunting pile of stuff. Reduce the clutter. Get your home completely organized. And kick these outdated, unwanted, or expired items to the curb:

  • Junk mail
  • Magazines
  • Catalogs
  • Newspapers
  • Food
  • Clothes with holes
  • School or craft projects you don't plan on keeping
Paper clutter

The Spruce / Daria Groza

Friday's House Cleaning Schedule

Fold It Friday is all about the laundry. Whether it's kids' school clothes or your work clothes, now is the time to get everything clean and folded or hung up. Today you will:

  • Soak clothes with tough stains.
  • Make sure the kids' sports uniforms are ready for weekend games.
  • Strip sheets from beds and launder.
  • Clean blankets.
  • Wash towels.
  • Fold clean laundry.
  • Iron.
  • Hand-wash delicate items.
  • Put clean clothes away.
  • Wash bed skirts and mattress protectors (once a month).
  • Get dry clean-only items ready to go out.
folding fresh linens
The Spruce / Daria Groza 

Saturday's House Cleaning Schedule

You've worked hard all week, so today is Slow It Down Saturday. Set a timer for just 20 minutes, and clean the areas that need it most. Enlist the help of anyone who lives with you, so you get more done in less time.

Setting a timer for cleaning

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Sunday's House Cleaning Schedule

Take a break for Self-Care Sunday! There won't be any housekeeping for you today. Your weekly cleaning schedule restarts tomorrow, so enjoy your day off.

Weekly Cleaning Tasks

Since you've been following the list of daily chores, weekly chores are simply a more thorough job of the quick daily tasks you've been doing.

These tasks don't all have to be done on a single day. Spread them out during the week so that you may just have a nearly chore-free day to relax.

In the Kitchen

  • Use a disinfectant wipe to go over every surface (counters, sinks, appliance handles, touch screens, cabinet doors, and hardware) to kill bacteria.
  • Take the time to review the contents of the refrigerator and toss leftovers and spoiled foods. Wipe down shelves and bins with a disinfectant wipe.

In the Bedrooms

  • Organize clothes, shoes, and accessories in the closet and dresser drawers. Be sure all dirty laundry has made it to the hamper and clean clothes are put away.
  • Gather any items that need to go to the dry cleaner.

Clean Electronics

Clean remote controls and electronic equipment like laptops, screens, earbuds, and phones to remove dust and bacteria.

Monthly Cleaning Tasks

Some monthly tasks require a bit more time and effort. These deeper cleaning tasks make daily upkeep easier, help home furnishings look better, and prevent expensive repairs around the house.

In the Kitchen

  • Check the stovetop drip pans, the oven, and the range hood and filter, and give them a good cleaning. Descale small appliances that use water like a tea kettle or coffeemaker for better tasting beverages.
  • Give the dishwasher a thorough cleaning monthly and you'll see better results and cleaner dishes. Do the same for your washing machine.
  • Trash cans and recycling bins can get pretty grimy. Give them a good scrubbing with a disinfectant.

In the Bedrooms and Bathrooms

  • Take some time to organize closets and drawers to keep clothes neat and wrinkle-free. Pull out any garments that need mending, sent to the dry cleaner, or donated to charity.
  • If you haven't been vacuuming under the bed and all of the furniture weekly, now's the time to get rid of dust bunnies.
  • Clean and disinfect make-up and grooming tools.

Living and Entry Areas

  • Give upholstered furniture a thorough vacuuming including under the cushions. Dust and polish wooden finishes and condition leather to keep it supple.
  • Check fan blades, corners, and light fixtures for spiderwebs, dust, and dead insects. Take the time to move furniture and clean beneath and behind pieces.
  • Light switches and the wall around them get lots of smudges and grime. Don't forget to dust door jambs, window ledges, and baseboards.
  • Check the doormats both inside and outside of the entry areas. Give them a good cleaning to prevent dirt from being tracked into living spaces.
  • Air purifiers do a great job, but the air filter must be checked, cleaned, or replaced for top performance. Don't forget HVAC filters and vents around your home.

Tasks to Add to Your Routine

To maintain an organized and clean home, add these tasks to your routine.

  • Once or twice a year, go through the pantry and cabinets discard expired foods and donate items like dishes and small appliances that you seldom use.
  • Vacuum mattresses each season to remove dust and dust mites. Clean bed pillows, bed coverings, and window treatments well.
  • Go through beauty and first aid supplies and toss any expired products. Dispose of unused medications properly.
  • Check under the sink and around fixtures to catch any small leaks or drips to prevent bigger issues.
  • Clean carpets and large area rugs, then rotate area rugs for even wear.
  • Do a thorough cleaning seasonally of couch and chair upholstery to remove stains and odors.
  • Wash windows inside and outside and clean window screens.
  • Fireplaces and chimneys, especially gas fireplaces, should be checked and cleaned yearly.

Fireplaces and chimneys, especially gas fireplaces, should be checked and cleaned yearly. It's good to check dry vents as well for lint build-up.

FAQ
  • How long does it take to do a weekly cleaning?

    A typical weekly cleaning, including wiping down the counters, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, and laundry, will take approximately three to five hours for a three-bedroom house. You will spend around 30 to 50 minutes daily if you split the cleaning chores up six days a week.

  • Should you dust or vacuum a room first?

    When cleaning, always dust before vacuuming, as dust particles that you've stirred up while dusting will float down to the floor, and the vacuum will pick them up.

  • How do professionals clean a house?

    Services vary between companies, but professional cleaners typically tackle a house from top to bottom. That means first they dust everything from high (ceilings and walls) to low areas, such as furniture. Then they wipe down surfaces to eliminate more dust and dirt, and finally, they vacuum the entire house, including upholstered furniture, after the dust and dander have settled down.