Organizing and Cleaning Checklists
- You should clean the counters and other surfaces and wash and put away dishes everyday. This keep your kitchen relatively neat until you can devote time to a more thorough cleaning.
At least once a week, sweep and wash the floor and wipe down all your appliances. Remember to take out the trash weekly to avoid smelly garbage.
Once a month, clean out your refrigerator and toss any expired food or leftovers. Clean up any food spills in the refrigerator or freezer.
Once or twice a year, you should clean your kitchen from floor to ceiling. Wash your curtains, and dust window treatments like blinds or roman shades. Clean your oven according to the manufacturer's instructions. Inventory your pantry or dry goods, and discard any spoiled or expired food. Sweep down any cobwebs. Wash walls, windows and woodwork to remove any lingering scents, oils or stains from cooking. - The bathroom is one of the easiest rooms to get dirty, but it can also be one of the quickest to clean. One trick is to rinse your sink, shower or bathtub with water everyday. This will help to remove soap scum and other residues that build up during the day so that it is easier to clean later in the week.
At least once a week, you should scrub and sanitize the toilet, sink, bathtub and shower. Make sure to remove any soap scum or hard water stains. Once you have finished cleaning the bathroom fixtures, sweep and wash the floor. You should complete this task last so that you don't end up with dirt or hair sticking to a clean floor.
Once or twice a year, machine wash any fabric shower curtains or liners. Replace any plastic shower liners if desired. Brush down any cobwebs and wash walls if needed.
You should also make time to organize your toiletries and cosmetics. Discard any expired medications or cosmetics older than six months. According to CBS News, most cosmetics should be discarded after a maximum of six months, but you should never keep mascara for more than three months, as air drives bacteria back into the tube. - Before going to sleep at night, put away any clutter than has accumulated in these rooms like empty cups, toys or clothing. It is easier to tackle clutter daily than to have a larger mess to take care over the weekend, and waking up to a messy house will create stress in the morning.
Once a week, vacuum and dust the rooms thoroughly. For pet-owners or busy households, you may find it necessary to vacuum more often. Tidy bookshelves or magazine racks. Discard any old magazines that you no longer need.
Once a month, move the furniture and vacuum or sweep the flooring underneath. Also vacuum your furniture, cushions and pillows to remove dust, crumbs and pet dander.
Once or twice a year, clean any window treatments. Wash curtains and drapes if possible to remove dirt and dust. Dust ceiling fans or light fixtures if needed. Sort through bookshelves, toy chests and other shelves and remove any items that are no longer useful. You can donate the items to charity or try to sell them at a garage sale or online. Clean the carpet or rugs, if needed. Depending on the type of carpet, you may need to have them professionally cleaned. - Bedrooms may be for sleeping, but they usually double as a dressing room. To keep your room tidy throughout the week, put away clean clothing and put dirty clothing in your laundry area or hamper at least once a day. Once a week, sweep or vacuum the floor and dust the furniture. Change the sheets and pillow cases on your bed. Pick up any clutter and return to its proper location.
At least once a year, you should clean out your closet and dressers. If you are located in a region that experiences all four seasons, make sure to rotate your wardrobe and store clothing and items that you do not need. For example, store coats, sweaters, snow boots and other heavy clothing once winter is over. This will help you manage your closet space and reduce clutter.
Periodically, sort through your clothing and accessories. Remove any items that are stained or damaged, you do not wear or that do not fit. This will free up space for things that you actually use. You can donate cast-offs that are in good condition.
You should also wash your bed pillows and mattress pads once a year. This will remove dust and dead skin cells that have collected on your pillows. It is also nice to have a fresh-smelling, clean pillow to lay your head on at night. Check the labels on your items before washing. Foam or feather pillows may need special care or need to be dry-cleaned.
