The key to a clean, decluttered, tidy home is to stick to a regular cleaning schedule. As with most things in life, that is easier said than done! An excellent monthly cleaning checklist that is easy to follow should break tasks into daily, weekly, and monthly categories. Staying on top of the tasks in each category can spare you from having to tackle an hours-long cleaning marathon. With the holiday season fully upon us, let’s see how we can help you get into a cleaning habit so that family and friend gatherings aren’t a hectic cleaning challenge! Of course, this list can be customized to fit the needs of your household.
Daily Cleaning Checklist
> Straighten up the bedroom, including making the bed (it helps set a positive tone for the rest of your day).
> Do a quick wipe of the bathroom counters, sink, and toilet. Keeping a stash of pre-moistened cleaning cloths nearby allows you to complete this task quickly.
> Load the dishwasher and run if necessary. Wipe off the kitchen countertops and the eating area to catch all the crumbs. Sweep this area and take out the kitchen trash if needed.
> Do a load of laundry. If you have children, this is pretty much a daily task. If not, you can probably cut back on doing laundry about twice a week.
Weekly Cleaning Checklist
> Strip all the beds and wash the sheets.
> Vacuum and dust in all areas of the home.
> In the bathroom, clean the mirrors, counters, sink, toilets, and shower/bath. Sweep the floor and empty the trash.
Monthly Cleaning Checklist
> Dust the ceiling fans. Cleaning them once a month keeps them looking nice, functioning well, and prevents all that dust from being dispersed into the air. Using a pillowcase to catch all the dust is a great hack!
> Wipe down the air vents and air intakes. Keeping these items clean will prevent extra dust from blowing back into your rooms.
> Wash your home’s windows and clean and dust window treatments such as blinds and curtains.
> Dust all the things you skip over in your weekly dusting sessions. This is the time to catch up on areas like behind furniture and appliances, window sills, crown molding, and baseboards.
> Vacuum out from under all the cushions on your furniture. It is amazing how much dirt, grime, and lost items you can find in there! Make a note of any stains that you find while vacuuming to go back to spot clean those.
> At least once a month, do a deep clean on your hardworking appliances. Remove all the baked-on drips from your oven, scrub down the inside of your microwave, toss expired food from your refrigerator and freezer, then wipe down all the shelves.
> Remove lingering smells from your mattress with baking soda. Just sprinkle baking soda on top, let it sit for 20 min and then vacuum away with a vacuum attachment.
Consistent cleaning, decluttering, and organizing can help you feel more in control and more productive, especially during the holiday season! If you are looking for some additional tips when it comes to storing some holiday decor and seasonal items at the end of the holidays, check out these tips from Porch.com experts!
As always, 1-800-PACK-RAT is ready to partner with you if you need a storage solution for a renovation or the holiday season, or are looking at a local or long-distance move in the future. Give us a call today or go online for a free quote to see how we can make moving and storage simple for you!