Effortless Home Cleaning: Simple Routines for Every Room

Your Guide to Streamlining Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Cleaning Tasks for a Tidy, Stress-Free Home

To make cleaning as effortless as possible, frequently cleaning specific areas of the house is the best bet. Cleaning tasks can be seperated into as many catagories as you like, but I generally seperate them into 3 or 4, for simplicity.
The frequency at which you clean certain areas of the house will depend on several factors. And this differs from room to room. For example, a busy kitchen that is used to cook several times a day will likely require more attention than say a bedroom or study room.

Daily & few times weekly
Weekly & few times monthly
Monthly & few times yearly
Yearly

The frequency at which you clean certain areas of the house will depend on several factors. And this differs from room to room. As a general rule, the main areas of the house that require daily cleaning will be the kitchen, bathroom, and main lviing room, again, depending on the usage. If someone lives alone and doesnt cook much, the kitchen wont require as much cleaning as a busy kitchen used to cook for 4 children and 2 adults every day. This leads us into the main room of the house, known by many as the heart of the home, the kitchen.

 

Kitchen

 

Daily (or few times weekly)
 

  • Dirty pots: This is the main part of cleaning in the kitchen that holds people back from cleaning the rest of the area. It's very difficult to clean counter tops and sinks around dirty pots. Most people know it but not everyone does it, but washing pots ASAP after cooking a meal will definitely benefit you in the long run. They're easier to clean, and you don't have to think about the dreaded pots to wash later. I generally clean pots and pans after I've used them, and I use a draining board as opposed to drying them with tea towels, as using anything but a perfectly clean tea towel to dry them could cause the pots to have a slight odour to them, not to mention the little fibres that get all over plates and glasses. I put cleaned pans back on the hob and heat them up for a minute or so, so the excess water evaporates before putting them away. Bulky things like steamers or cullenders I rest on the side on a tea towel so they're not taking up all the space on the draining board. Putting cleaned pots away whenever you see that they're dry makes it a lot easier to wash pots later when you need to cook again.
  • Counter tops: If they're dry, you can use a hoover to suck crumbs off the counter tops (useful around a well used toaster) or scrape them into a pile and straight into the bin. Then a quick spray with cleaning solution of your choice and wipe them down.
  • Sink: Could potentially be done a few times a week, depending on how its used, shape, material etc. I have a designated cloth under the sink and some stainless steel cleaner and give it a quick go over either every night or every other night.
  • Hob: Depending on it's usage, shape and type, it may benefit from daily or weekly. If you're cooking burgers and sausages every day and oil is spitting everywhere, you're probably best to do it daily. To minimize spitting, patting foods dry before frying and using splatter guards can help reduce the mess and risk of burns. Most hobs could be cleaned a few times a week to stop that greasy food smell.

Weekly

  • Fridge: Again, depending on usage, and if you have fresh vegetables in the crisper.
  • Floor: I tend to hoover the kitchen floor every day when I'm doing the hoover round. But every week or so I will mop it when I see it needs it. The easier you make this process for yourself the more likely it is you'll do it. I use a quick mop instead of filling a bucket with soapy water etc.
  • Cabinets & Drawers: It’s easy to forget about the cabinets and drawers, but over time, dust, crumbs, and even grease can build up inside and on the outside of your cabinets. Every week or two, take a quick pass over the handles and cabinet faces with a damp cloth or a cleaner suited for your cabinet material (especially important for wood). For drawers that hold cutlery or utensils, a quick wipe inside can help prevent dust and crumbs from building up. Remember, the less you let it accumulate, the easier it is to keep things tidy.
  • Bins: A well-maintained kitchen requires attention to waste management. Trash bins can harbor unpleasant smells if left unattended. Each week, make sure to clean the bin area. A quick rinse with hot water and soap or a disinfectant will keep smells at bay. You can line the bottom of your bin with baking soda or a deodorizing liner to absorb odors. This practice ensures that even when the trash builds up, it doesn’t leave a lasting odor in the kitchen.

Monthly or Bi-monthly

  • Appliances: Larger appliances like the oven, microwave, and dishwasher benefit from less frequent but still regular attention. If you use the microwave daily, spills and splatters should be wiped down every week, but a deeper clean can be done monthly. For the oven, a good deep clean every couple of months, especially after a big baking or roasting session, will prevent grease buildup that can smoke or smell over time.
  • Dishwasher: Although it cleans your dishes, it can accumulate residue inside. Running a cleaning cycle with vinegar or a specialized cleaner once a month will keep it running smoothly and smelling fresh.

Monthly & Beyond

  • Range hood filters: These trap grease and can become clogged over time. A monthly clean (depending on how often you cook) can prevent odors and improve ventilation.
  • Pantry & dry goods: Once a month, go through your pantry. Check expiration dates, wipe down shelves, and discard anything stale or unwanted. Organizing as you go will make your kitchen feel more manageable.
  • Walls & backsplash: Grease and food splatters can slowly build up on your walls, especially behind the stove. Every month or two, take a cloth or sponge to your backsplash and walls for a quick wipe-down. You’ll be surprised how much fresher it feels.
  • Skirting boards and door surrounds: Potentially once a year or more if you find residue builds up quicky, these get overlooked and once cleaned definitely contribute to the overall feel of a clean kitchen.
  • Ceiling: Again, potentially yearly or maybe even more, but the ceiling often gets overlooked and collects grease, steam, smoke, and everything else in the kitchen and can begin to smell and even turn a funny colour.

By keeping up with these routines, the kitchen remains manageable and pleasant, making it a more enjoyable space to cook and relax in. With these small, frequent efforts, even the most daunting cleaning tasks will start to feel like second nature!

 

Bathroom
 

The bathroom is one of those areas that can quickly become a breeding ground for grime if not cleaned regularly. While it may not seem like it needs constant attention, small daily habits can go a long way in keeping it fresh and hygienic. Here's a breakdown of bathroom cleaning tasks based on frequency, to make sure it stays as low-maintenance as possible.

 

Daily (or a few times weekly)

  • Sink: Sinks tend to collect toothpaste, soap residue, hairs, and water spots. After your morning or evening routine, give the sink a quick rinse and wipe with a cloth or sponge. This keeps grime from building up and makes the sink easier to clean when you do a deeper clean later. If you have hard water, a daily wipe down of the taps will also prevent mineral spots from forming. A designated bathroom cloth and spray sleaner for this job will come in handy.
  • Toilet: Daily or every-other-day check of the toilet is helpful, especially in a shared household. A quick swish of the toilet brush with some toilet cleaner or a squirt of bleach all around the bowl takes less than a minute and keeps stains and odors at bay. 
  • Shower/Bathtub: This might not seem necessary every day, but if you live in a humid area or have a busy household, giving your shower or tub a quick rinse after use can make a big difference. Using a squeegee after each shower will make your life easier in the long run, as it keeps water from settling on the glass and tiles, reducing the need for deep scrubbing later. I personally keep one in the shower and spend a few seconds squeegeeing after every shower.
    Depending on you use of the bath it might need a clean after every use or few uses. Using bubble bath, soap, and especially oil or butter in the bath will build up on the walls once the water drains. I spray the bath with a cleaner, leave for a minue or so, then wipe it down and swill it away after most uses. having a small cup next to the bath definitely helps with this.

Weekly (or bi-weekly)

  • Mirrors: Bathroom mirrors easily get spotted with toothpaste and water droplets, especially if you have kids. A quick spray with glass cleaner and a wipe-down will make them sparkle again. Do this weekly or whenever you notice the smudges. For light cleaning, a few pieces of toilet roll will get most water spots off and only takes a few seconds.
  • Toilet: Even if you give it a quick clean throughout the week, once a week it’s a good idea to do a more thorough clean. Clean under the rim, and seat, wipe down the exterior and floor surrounding the toilet, and disinfect the handle, especially if it’s a high-traffic bathroom.
  • Shower Curtain or Glass: Shower curtains, especially fabric ones, can harbor mould and mildew over time. Wash them every couple of weeks, or if it’s plastic, give it a good scrub down or replace it as needed. For glass shower doors, a weekly wipe with a vinegar-water solution will help prevent soap scum buildup and keep the glass clear.
  • Countertops & Surfaces: Wipe down all surfaces weekly with a disinfectant spray or your cleaning solution of choice. Countertops, shelves, and any ledges where dust and product residue tend to gather. Keeping these surfaces clean also helps prevent clutter, as wiping the surfaces down tends to force you to reorganise in the process and you’ll be more inclined to put things away after you use them.
  • Bins: Just like in the kitchen, the bathroom bin can fill up quickly, especially if you use pads, tissues, or other disposable items daily. Empty the bin at least once a week and give it a quick wipe-down with a disinfectant wipe to keep odors and bacteria in check.
  • Floor: While a quick mop or wipe down may be needed more often, especially in larger or busier households, a deep clean of the bathroom floor should be done at least once a month. Pay special attention to the corners and under the sink, where dust and hair tend to accumulate. Use a disinfectant to ensure the area stays hygienic.

Monthly & beyond

  • Showerhead: Limescale buildup can be a real issue in the bathroom, especially on showerheads and taps. Every now and then, soak or spray the showerhead in vinegar to dissolve any mineral deposits that might affect water flow. Taps can benefit from the same treatment, a quickly spray with vinegar.
  • Grout & Tiles: Grout lines in the shower or on the bathroom floor can get grimy over time, no matter how often you clean the surfaces. Once a month, or whenever it starts looking dingy, give the grout a scrub with a stiff(ish) brush and a paste of baking soda and water. If the tiles are prone to mildew, use a grout cleaner or bleach solution. This will keep them looking fresh.
  • Cabinets & Drawers: Similar to the kitchen, bathroom cabinets and drawers can collect dust, spilled products, and hair. Every month or so, go through and wipe them down, discarding old or expired products as you go. It’s also a good time to check for any cleaning supplies or toiletries that need to be replenished
  • Walls, skirting boards & door surrounds: Walls of the bathroom suffer from similar issues to the kitchen, steam, sprays and other chemicals end up building up on the walls, ceiling and skirting boards and begin to look unsightly and can even smell. A quick wipe down every month or so will keep the rest of the bathroom looking and smelling fresh.

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