How to Make a Cleaning Schedule That Actually Sticks

Rose Morrison

Feb 19, 2023

how-to-make-a-cleaning-schedule-that-actually-sticks

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Cleaning is always at the front of everyone’s mind, especially if they notice a little more clutter around their home. While some people might know how to make a cleaning schedule that works well for them, others may struggle to find something flexible or rigid enough for their lifestyles. Building the right plan might take some time, but it’s possible. Once you know how to align your cleaning routine perfectly with your other responsibilities, upkeep will be simple.

1. Figure Out the Frequency of Tasks

It might take some time to write down and categorize all the chores that need to be done around your house, but knowing what should be done at what point throughout the week can help you organize a cleaning schedule that will work for you. For example, you might want to wipe down appliances once a week rather than every day. That way, if you don’t get to the task on a certain day, you can always do it on another day, when your schedule is freer.

You may want to implement a daily chore: wiping down your kitchen counters. Warm, soapy water is enough to keep your kitchen countertops clean between uses, especially if you’re used to cleaning up spills or messes as soon as they happen. When you work these easy chores into your daily routine, keeping high-touch areas clean will be much easier.

2. Manage Daily To-Do Lists

Having a different cleaning to-do list each day might motivate you and any other individuals in your household to get tasks done as soon as possible before enjoying free time. The last thing you may want to do after a long day at school or work is to come home and clean, but when you have tasks scattered throughout the days of the week, cleaning suddenly becomes more manageable.

To-do lists can be fun for family members who feel accomplished crossing things off a list. Because you cross an item off, it gets to leave your mind freely, without you worrying about it anymore — something that doesn’t happen when you procrastinate for too long. Merely completing chores is a reward in itself for many people. You may even want to get a headstart on tomorrow’s list.

3. Use Solutions That Excite You

Just because most people clean a certain way doesn’t mean you have to. Whatever you use to disinfect your home is up to you, as long as it can actually clean. You can make your own if you don’t want to use store-bought cleaners in your home. You may also find it more exciting to use an all-natural solution you made yourself. For example, fresh-squeezed lemon juice can get rid of bacteria and leave a nice scent behind once you’re finished cleaning.

You may also want to look up “cleaning hacks” to make your cleaning schedule more fun. These hacks won’t take up too much time, but they could make you look at your least favorite chores in a new way. A fresh perspective could be just what you need to spice up your cleaning routine.

4. Find Rewards

Some people just don’t have the motivation to do something unless they’re paid adequately with a reward. People love having instant gratification. Small rewards for a little job well done can motivate people to continue working toward their ultimate goal. Give yourself small rewards for working hard, and it’ll motivate you to continue cleaning — even on the days you don’t feel like it — because you’ll get a treat once you finish some of your tasks.

5. Look for Motivation

Sometimes, you may need the motivation to clean, but treating yourself to something after every little task is impractical. In this case, you have to look for motivation other than a reward-based system to help you maintain the cleanliness of your home. One motivation might be to keep your house tidy for guests. If you have an open-door policy with your loved ones, where they can come over whenever they want, you can use it for motivation to keep your home tidy. Think about your situation and what motivates you to clean. Once you figure it out, you can use it to your advantage.

Build a Cleaning Schedule Perfect for Your Household

While learning how to make a cleaning schedule might seem daunting, you should know that it is possible to find a routine that works for everyone in your household. Individually, you should learn what motivates you and divide your tasks evenly. If you live alone, you may have to work a bit harder to keep things clean, but with the right motivation, you’ll have no problem following a cleaning schedule tailored to you.

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