Stick to these 10 laws when cleaning any room and you’re golden.
Insider Insights
Keeping a cleaning schedule is key to staying ahead of dirt, clutter, and general messiness.
We checked with many cleaning experts who have both feet solidly planted in the real world.
Here’s how often you should perform the most common, general cleaning tasks (in addition to the room-by-room action plans that follow).
EVERY DAY
• Put things away when you’re finished using them
• Wash dishes, wipe kitchen counters, clean up stove spills, and empty the trash as needed
• Towel down showers after use to prevent mineral deposit buildup and mildew
• Wipe out sinks
• Tidy up bedrooms and make beds
TWICE A WEEK
• Dust-mop hardwood floors to prevent scratching from dirt
• Declutter rooms
• Vacuum if you live in a dusty region or have children and pets that track in lots of dirt. Otherwise, weekly vacuuming should suffice.
ONCE A MONTH
• Wipe or vacuum baseboards and blinds
• Sweep the garage, patio, and walkways
• Vacuum upholstered furniture with the brush attachment
• Thoroughly clean the ceiling fixtures in one room (rotate)
• Wash throw rugs
• Dust ceiling fans
EVERY THREE MONTHS
• Remove cobwebs from high up in stairwells or vaulted ceilings
• Change or clean furnace and airconditioner filters (less frequently in low-use seasons)
• Clean the oven
EVERY SIX MONTHS
• Wash windows inside and out. Do this quarterly for windows near work spaces (the kitchen sink or desk, for instance)
• Declutter storage areas in the basement, attic, and garage
• Vacuum, flip, and rotate mattresses
• Polish silver
• Air out pillows
ONCE A YEAR
• Move heavy furniture to clean behind and underneath
• Vacuum rug pads and the backs of large area rugs
• Clean drapes and carpets (may require dry cleaning and steam cleaning)
• Turn area rugs 180 degrees to even out wear
• Wash walls
• Clean chandeliers
