Doing the laundry, wiping out the fridge, cleaning the windows or making the beds – cleaning and keeping the household tidy are among our least favorite everyday tasks. We would rather fill our free time with nice things – but we don’t want to live in filth either. The compromise is usually a jam-packed weekend doing all the housework that was left undone during the working week. But it can be really easy to keep your own four walls tidy! With a well-thought-out cleaning plan and a bit of a system, the chaos can be quickly tamed. Find out here how you can create your own personal cleaning plan to finally gain more (free) time for the finer things in life.
Why a cleaning plan makes sense
Ticking off completed tasks from a to-do list gives most people a good feeling. The joy of having completed a section of a larger whole motivates us to take the next step. Creating a cleaning plan can also motivate you to declare war on the chaos in your home.
Creating a cleaning plan has many advantages:
- It creates structure and an overview.
- Cleaning becomes a routine instead of a tedious major project at the weekend.
- Housework is spread over several days.
- You save time and nerves in the long term.
- Your home stays constantly clean.
How to structure your cleaning schedule
An effective cleaning schedule takes into account different time intervals, as there are household tasks that need to be done more regularly than others. The appropriate time intervals are defined by your personal sense of cleanliness. If fresh bed linen is important to you, you should change it weekly instead of just once a month. For small households, on the other hand, it may be sufficient to only take out the garbage once a week. The following overview can be a rough guide if you want to create your own personal cleaning schedule:
Tasks that should be completed daily (basic order)
You can keep the chaos in your home in check with just a few simple steps. You should do this every day:
- air and make your bed
- wash the dishes or load and unload the dishwasher
- wipe down the surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom
Tasks that should be done twice a week
This time interval is more of a rough guide. Depending on how many people live in your household, it may be necessary to vacuum more frequently, for example. You should vacuum every three days:
- clean the toilet
- vacuum the apartment
- take out the garbage
- do the laundry
- Wipe down all door handles (often forgotten, but they are a germ trap!)
Create a cleaning plan: Weekly tasks
These weekly tasks should also be included in your cleaning plan. You should do them once a week:
- Dust thoroughly
- mop the floors
- change the towels in the bathroom and kitchen
- clean the bathroom thoroughly
- clean the mirrors in the apartment
Tasks that should be done monthly
For basic hygiene, you should do this once a month:
- change your bed linen
- knock out the carpets
- vacuum the upholstered furniture
- clean the refrigerator
Quarterly household tasks
These household tasks are more time-consuming and are therefore often put on the back burner. However, they should not be missing from your cleaning schedule. Every three months you should:
- clean all windows
- clean the washing machine
- clean the oven
- Wipe down all doors
- Descale your kitchen appliances
- wipe out the kitchen cupboards
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Spring cleaning is due once a year
The term “spring cleaning” covers tasks that only need to be done once a year. These include
- washing curtains and drapes
- cleaning comforters, pillows and mattresses
- sorting out your clothes
- polishing your wooden furniture
- cleaning the extractor hood
- defrosting your fridge and freezer
- Thoroughly cleaning the carpets
Tips for a successful cleaning plan
Admittedly, that’s quite a long list! But instead of being demotivated by it, you’ll soon realize that the regular tasks will come easily to you. If you integrate them into your daily routine, they will no longer feel like housework. The following tips can help you implement your cleaning plan:
- Be realisticThink about how much time you can and want to spend cleaning.
- Consider your life situationHouseholds with children or pets usually need more intensive cleaning routines – but also plan enough family time!
- Divide the tasks intoIn multi-person households, it is worth dividing up the duties.
- Use technologySmart cleaning robots and cleaning schedule apps can help you stay on top of things.
- Have the right cleaning products ready: Everything goes faster with the right equipment.
- Schedule fixed cleaning times: Set specific days or times of day when you do the respective tasks. For example, you can wipe over the bathroom shelves and the wash basin tap while brushing your teeth.
- Reward yourselfAfter the work is done, you can be proud of yourself and do something good for yourself!
Creating a cleaning plan made easy
When creating a cleaning schedule, it is important that you pay attention to your individual needs and design it according to your personal taste. Whether you keep it digitally or prefer to hang a printed schedule on the fridge – the important thing is that it suits you and your everyday life.
With a well-thought-out cleaning plan, annoying house cleaning becomes a manageable routine. You’ll be amazed at how much time and stress you’ll save if you do small tasks regularly instead of putting everything off. So, get to work on your cleaning plan – your future, more relaxed self will thank you for it!
Source: wohnglueck.de
