I have had quite a few people ask about my cleaning schedule because I am so ocd about my house and, with five kids, people want to know how I keep it up.
Tools:
Lots of cleaning rags(paper towels, if you prefer)
Your preferred cleaning supplies. I like to use mainly natural.
A bucket to carry your things room to room
A large scrub brush and a few small ones to be able to scrub cracks and corners(I have one small one for the sinks and one for toilets)
A bathtub scrubber, a toilet scrubber, trash bags
A broom, a mop, a vacuum
Weekly:
Kitchen first-always start high to low. Wipe out cabinets if needed. Wipe out refrigerator of anything visible. Clear each counter you are working on of any appliances or items that may be sitting there. I wipe the counter down, then wipe each thing before returning it. Wipe the table and chairs down. Do any dishes that are in the sink. Wipe out the microwave. Wipe down the stove top and front, then the hood. Clean the sink out, using the scrub brush to get around the faucet and outside of the sink, if needed. Pull rugs to be washed. Sweep the floor thoroughly.
If you have a laundry room, do this next. Wipe down the washer/dryer. Put things away. Sweep.
Next move to bathrooms. I always start with the mirrors and the sink. Remove items from the sink. Wipe down counter, sink, and faucet. Use your brush if needed around the faucet and in any corners you can't reach. Spray the tub with your cleaner and use a sponge to scrub it out. I like the kind that comes on a wand so I don't have to bend over. Spray your toilet, working from the tank, the lid, the seat, the underneath of the seat, the the bowl, then the area behind the seat. I use multiple rags in this process because I am try to get rid of as many germs as possible. Use a scrub brush to get into the cracks and areas the rags won't go. Scrub out the inside of the bowl, then flush. Pull rugs and shower curtains to be washed. Sweep out your bathroom.
Move on to the living room, family room, office. Whatever you have. Start by dusting from top to bottom. Check baseboards, light switches, walls, outlets, a/c intake to see if they need cleaned. Move onto cleaning windows and glass in the room(s). Remove any trash or anything that is unwanted from the room. I usually have a basket and pile things in it as I go around the room so I can get done quicker and put them away as I go. If you have a tile or hard wood floor, sweep.
I do bedrooms last. I always start by pulling the sheets and pillow cases to be washed. Next, I clear off dressers/nightstands of things that need to be put away. Put away anything out of place. Then dust. Clean any mirrors and windows.Remake the bed with fresh sheets.
I then vacuum the entire house, then mop all rooms. If needed, I scrub the grout on tile floors with my large brush. In the bathrooms, I usually use the scrub brush and rags instead of a mop.
After washing rugs and shower curtains, place them back in their appropriate spot.
Daily:
When I get up in the morning, I usually have to access the damage done the night before after I go to bed. My kids are late-nighters and like to leave me something to do in the morning. I usually start in the kitchen as I am waiting for my husband to make coffee. I unload the dishwasher from the previous night, then reload, if needed. I wipe down the counters, then sweep the floor. In the living room, I straighten up anything that may have been left out-fold blankets, put pillows in their place, put toys away. I make my bed every morning. It makes me feel like my room is clean. I grab a basket for any stray toys and do a quick sweep of the room. I check the bathrooms and bedroom for daily laundry and get the first load going. I then vacuum. I am a daily vacuumer, although I know not everyone is. I usually do a sweep for toys a few times a day, then before my husband gets home, I do a final sweep so the house will look nice when he comes in. Also, I am a clean-as-you-go kinda person while cooking.
Monthly:
Wash comforters, curtains, throw blankets, and throw pillows if needed. Clean refrigerator thoroughly. Clean oven out. Check ceiling fans for dust. Check ceilings for cobwebs.
I know not everyone has the same method of cleaning, but hopefully, this will help some of you to manage your time better when cleaning house.
