How to Build a Foolproof Cleaning Routine

As a woman who owns her own cleaning business, you might think, "Her house must be spotless!"... Well, not exactly. After spending my entire day cleaning other people’s homes, the last thing I want to do when I get home is clean my own. But, of course, it has to be done! Like many of you, I sometimes struggle with the motivation to tackle my own home—especially when the chores start piling up. And trust me, they can accumulate fast! One minute, everything is neat and tidy, and the next thing I know, the sink is full of dirty dishes, the trash is overflowing, and pet hair has once again taken over the corners of the room. The tasks just never seem to end!

You might think about putting off the cleaning until the weekend, but honestly, your weekends should be for relaxing, making memories, and enjoying life. After working hard all week, do you really want to spend your precious time off cleaning your house? Life’s too short for that! Instead, why not tackle a few tasks throughout the week? That way, by the time the weekend rolls around, you can actually enjoy it without a never-ending to-do list hanging over your head!

To kick things off, I like to sacrifice one day over the weekend to get my house in order and start with a clean slate. But don’t worry, this isn’t a requirement! You can absolutely start the process step-by-step and work your way up to a clean home, maintaining it from there. The key is to find what works best for your mental health and schedule. If you prefer to spend one day deep cleaning your home before diving into the routine, I recommend getting your family involved or even hiring a housekeeper for a one-time deep clean to set you up for success!

Start Fresh – Deep Clean or Hire a Professional (Optional): Begin with a clean slate by deep cleaning your home or consider hiring a housekeeper for a one-time deep clean to set yourself up for success.
Create a Task List: Write down everything that needs to be cleaned, breaking it down by rooms or individual chores. This will give you a clear roadmap of what needs attention.
Take Inventory: Make sure you have all the necessary supplies for each task—things like laundry detergent, dish soap, dusters, and any other cleaning essentials.
Build a Schedule: Align your cleaning schedule with your workweek. Consider how much free time you have each day, how many tasks you want to tackle, and how long you’d like to spend cleaning. Keep it realistic!
Assign Tasks: Break your list into manageable chunks by assigning specific tasks or rooms to each day, along with the time you plan to start. Set an alarm on your phone to stay on track.
Delegate Tasks: If your partner is available, enlist their help to share the load. For kids, assign age-appropriate chores with a set schedule and reminder alarms. This not only keeps things running smoothly but also helps teach them valuable time management skills and responsibility.
Follow Through: Stay committed and hold yourself accountable. Over time, this will become a natural part of your routine, and before you know it, maintaining a clean home will feel effortless.

ADDITIONAL TIPS:

Once you pick something up, don’t set it down—put it back where it belongs.
If it's trash, dispose of it right away.
Before leaving a room, do a quick scan and return any items that can be put back on your way out.
After using dishes, have each person rinse theirs immediately and either load them into the dishwasher or place them in the sink.
Keep items accessible and easy to find.
For example, store small bags at the bottom of the bathroom trash can, place the toilet scrubber and cleaner next to the toilet or under the sink, keep brooms and vacuums in a designated, easy-to-reach spot, and have disinfectant wipes readily available on the kitchen counter or under the sink.
If you spill something, wipe it up right away! If you drop something, pick it up immediately! If the toilet paper runs out, replace it! If you empty a trash can, put in a fresh bag! If the dishwasher if full, run it!

Examples of a Realistic Cleaning Schedule: These schedules can be tailored to fit your household’s unique needs, so feel free to experiment until you find a routine that works. Once you’ve found the right one, stick with it—frequent changes can make it difficult to establish a consistent habit.

Don’t stress if you fall behind on your new routine or need to start from scratch a time or two—life happens! We all get sick, face unexpected challenges, or simply have days when things don’t go as planned. The key is to not be hard on yourself. Just dust yourself off, get back on track, and keep moving forward. Remember, progress is progress, no matter how small!

Below are some helpful items to keep you on track, with links to purchase them.