CLEANING HABITS FOR A BEAUTIFUL HOME
Do you love having a clean home? I know I do! There’s something so satisfying about walking into a space where everything is in its place, neat, and tidy. That said, I’ll admit – I don’t love cleaning. Not at all. But I do it every single day because keeping our home clean, orderly, and calm gives me peace of mind and helps me focus. A messy home makes me feel anxious and scattered, so staying on top of chores is essential for me. Of course, there are a lot areas I can always improve on – and some I avoid like the plague – but over the years, I’ve learned that regular cleaning habits make managing our home so much easier. For me, maintaining a clean home is a big part of how I care for our family – I pour my heart and soul into keeping our home not only beautiful, but clean, comfortable and welcoming.
I’ve shared my best daily tips to keep life organized in the past, and today, I’m sharing my best cleaning habits for a beautiful home. I’ve broken it down for you room by room as well as daily, weekly, monthly and seasonally, to make it a little less daunting. These routines will help you achieve a cleaner, more organized, and inspiring home – and make the whole process feel manageable (and even a little enjoyable!). Keep in mind, this is what I use for our home – and trust me, I don’t always get to it all, but I try my best, especially the daily cleaning habits. You may find a different routine and schedule that works better for you, or maybe this seems like a lot to manage – don’t stress! Focus on one thing at a time and slowly build it into your own cleaning routine…make it work for you!
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CLEANING HABITS IN OUR KITCHEN
The daily workhorse of most homes is right here. A lot happens in our kitchens, so it’s crucial to stay on top of keeping them clean, tidy and mess-free – and it’s very doable! My day starts in the kitchen when making coffee – I need this space clean to start my day off right!
DAILY CLEANING HABITS IN OUR KITCHEN:
MORNING: Empty dishwasher, clean up any dishes, clean sink, wipe counters, wipe stove if used, wipe island/table, vacuum if needed, wipe handles, clean coffee pot/maker.
EVENING: Clean dishes, clean sink, wipe counters, wipe stove if used, wipe kettle if dirty (I also like to empty and air it out after use so water isn’t sitting) wipe table/island, empty garbage and recycling if needed, vacuum, wipe handles, change dishcloths and towels (sometimes depending on how much cooking I’m doing, this is done a few times during the day), sponge and drain stoppers go in the dishwasher.
KITCHEN CLEANING TIP!
I always like to keep clean washcloths and towels in our kitchen, as they can get full of bacteria pretty quickly, so I change them regularly. I also like to use white washcloths for my counters and our island (I use a bleach spray to keep them fresh) and a sponge/scrubber for the dishes. We run the dishwasher every night and the sponge goes in there as well – this kills bacteria since we use a high temperature setting. You can pour boiling water on them or even microwave them as well. We also put the drain stoppers in the dishwasher to sanitize them and clean them.
WEEKLY CLEANING HABITS IN OUR KITCHEN:
Wash floors and baseboards, organize/clean refrigerator (throw out expired food), wash cupboard doors and drawer fronts and hardware, wipe inside dishwasher door, wipe down and/or vacuum chairs and/or barstools, wipe down jars, canisters, lamps and any countertop items, wipe backsplash and pot filler, clean sink brush with bleach.
KITCHEN CLEANING TIP!
The inside of the dishwasher can get very dirty full of grime and buildup! If you look at the base of the door, just inside, you’ll find a lot of yucky buildup in there. Wipe it down regularly. You’ll also want to clean around the door and where the door closes as well, as grime can build up there too.
MONTHLY CLEANING HABITS IN OUR KITCHEN:
Clean range hood – it gets a lot of grease buildup if you cook regularly. Wipe down and shine stainless steel appliances, clean toaster (empty those crumbs!), clean microwave (it gets minimal use in our home, so you may want to clean it more often if you use it often), wipe stand mixer, coffee maker and any other appliances. Anything that gets used often will get wiped down as needed as well, which might be weekly for you.
SEASONAL CLEANING HABITS IN OUR KITCHEN:
Clean light fixtures (dust and vacuum), vacuum window treatments, clean walls, clean inside of oven – which I hate to do and avoid it at all costs, so I am terrible at doing this regularly! Clean out and wipe drawers and cupboards, replace anything that’s broken or doesn’t work anymore, organize/clean pantry and freezer – throw out any expired food items.
KITCHEN CLEANING CHECKLIST
- DAILY MORNING – Empty dishwasher, clean dishes, clean sink, wipe down faucet, wipe stove, wipe surfaces and handles, vacuum.
- DAILY EVENING – Clean dishes, clean sink, wipe faucet, wipe surfaces and handles, clean stove, empty/air out kettle, empty garbage/recycling if needed, vacuum, spray and change towels and cloths.
- WEEKLY – Wash floors and baseboards, clean fridge, wipe dishwasher, wash cupboard doors/drawer fronts and hardware, wipe backsplash and pot filler, clean seating, wipe countertop items, clean inside of dishwasher, bleach sink brush.
- MONTHLY – Range hood, shine stainless appliances, clean small appliances.
- SEASONALLY – Light fixtures, window treatments, wash tiles and walls, inside of oven, organize/clean pantry and freezer.
CLEANING HABITS IN OUR BATHROOMS
Bathrooms get messy fast! You may not have time for all of this every day, that’s ok! I don’t always either. Just wipe up and put away what you can, and try to do these weekly if you can’t daily.
CLEANING OUR BATHROOMS DAILY:
Wipe down counters, spray and wipe toilets and handle, spray and wipe sinks and wipe down shower glass and walls, wipe tub surround, vacuum daily – my hair gets all over! Wipe/dust towel rings/bars, mirrors, toilet paper holder and all fixtures, wipe any items sitting on the counter and toilet – it’s a breeding ground for germs and dust! Hang up towels and bath mat.
CLEANING OUR BATHROOMS WEEKLY:
Scrub sinks and fixtures, clean toilets inside and all around, scrub shower inside and clean door track – it gets a lot of buildup, scrub bathtub and walls, spray and rinse shower curtain liner with a bleach spray or bathroom cleaner, wash floors, baseboards and vanity/cupboards and hardware.
BATHRROOM CLEANING TIP!
For less germs in the bathrooms, get in the habit of putting the toilet cover down before flushing. This avoids the germs and bacteria spraying into the air and settling on surfaces. I also use the back of my wrist to flush – less germs on the handle! I even use the back of my hand for the faucets to keep them cleaner as well.
CLEANING OUR BATHROOMS MONTHLY:
Wipe/dust doors and windows, window sills, door trim and casings and wall moldings, dust/wipe picture frames.
CLEANING OUR BATHROOMS SEASONALLY:
Wash/wipe walls, clean light fixtures, vacuum window treatments, wash shower curtain or change if needed, change shower curtain liner if needed as well, clean vent fan.
BATHROOM CLEANING CHECKLIST
- DAILY – Do whatever you’re able to! Wipe counters, spray/wipe toilets, sinks, shower/tub, vacuum, hang towels and mat, wipe fixtures and items sitting on counters and toilet.
- WEEKLY – Scrub sinks and fixtures, toilets, scrub shower and/or tub and walls, bleach spray and rinse shower curtain liner, wash floors, baseboards and vanity/cupboards.
- MONTHLY – Clean doors and windows, sills, trim and casings, moldings, clean frames.
- SEASONALLY – Clean walls, light fixtures, window treatments, change or wash shower curtain and/or liner, clean vent fan.
CLEANING HABITS IN OUR BEDROOMS
Keeping the bedrooms clean and tidy is the easiest part of the house to upkeep for me. A made bed starts the day off right and keeping clutter to a minimum is key for a restful bedroom. We start and end each day here, so make it a serene space you love!
CLEANING HABITS IN OUR BEDROOMS DAILY:
Make the bed – every day! It is so important and easy to do once it’s a regular habit! Put away any clothes lying around and any items on the nightstands, dressers and floor. A clutter-free bedroom is so crucial for a stress-free space.
CLEANING HABITS IN OUR BEDROOMS WEEKLY:
Change and wash sheets and light blankets, vacuum rugs, dust nightstands, dressers, lamps and any accessories.
CLEANING HABITS IN OUR BEDROOMS MONTHLY:
Vacuum underneath all furniture, pull out anything under the bed and vacuum – it gets dusty quickly – this is an area I need to get better at! Clean wall moldings and picture frames, wipe/dust doors, window sills, door trim and window casings, wash/ fluff mattress covers, duvets and pillows. I’ll use the steam refresh cycle on our dryer to fluff items, our mattress pad is too bulky for the washer – it’s a great alternative to washing.
CLEANING HABITS IN OUR BEDROOMS SEASONALLY:
Vacuum mattress. If you have a regular mattress, you should flip it over, if you have a pillow top like we do, you should rotate it. We’re due for a new mattress so we’ve actually stopped doing this! Clean window treatments and light fixtures, change bedding for lighter weight or heavier weight depending on the season.
BEDROOM CLEANING CHECKLIST
- DAILY – Make the bed, put away any clothes and items on the nightstands or dressers.
- WEEKLY – Wash sheet/blankets, vacuum rugs, dust nightstands, dressers, lamps and accessories.
- MONTHLY – Vacuum underneath everything, clean wall moldings, picture frames, wipe/dust doors, windows, sills, trim and casings, clean/fluff mattress covers, duvets and pillows.
- SEASONALLY – Vacuum and flip or rotate mattress, clean window treatments, light fixtures, change seasonal bedding.
LAUNDRY ROOM CLEANING AND LAUNDRY HABITS
Or laundry room is also somewhat of a ‘mudroom’ since we use it as our entrance on a daily basis, through our garage and it has a door leading to the side of our home, which we use frequently. That said, all shoes stay outside in the garage, and coats and bags get hung on the hooks.
LAUNDRY ROOM CLEANING HABITS DAILY:
Do one load a day, or as often as you can, to avoid laundry piling up. I’ll try to do one, even two loads daily if I have time. Fold and put laundry away so it doesn’t accumulate, clean dryer lint trap with each load, vacuum in the evenings (this is a high traffic space in our home), spray and hang wet kitchen towels and cloths to dry.
LAUNDRY CLEANING TIPS!
As I mentioned above for my kitchen cleaning habits, I change kitchen towels and cloths daily (or more often sometimes), so I’m washing all of our towels every 2 or 3 days as well. I use a stain remover on any dirty kitchen towels and cloths and hang to dry before throwing them in the basket that sits atop the counter (not shown here).
IMPORTANT: If you have a front loading washer, make sure to keep the door ajar until it’s dry inside to avoid musty smells mildew buildup. Also be sure to clean the dryer lint trap with each load as it’s a fire hazard!
LAUNDRY ROOM CLEANING HABITS WEEKLY:
Clean washer and dryer, the soap and water dispenser can get very grimy and if you’ve ever taken it out, it can get moldy quickly inside as well since it’s always wet. I like to remove it completely, wipe it down and let it dry, spray some bleach inside the compartment and wipe it down inside as well. Wipe the rubber seal (and inside the seal also) regularly as well, it gets very grimy fast. Wipe the door inside and out, and the outside of both machines.
The dryer vent gets cleaned with every load (it can be a major fire hazard if you don’t do this) and we just bought a vacuum attachment that helps to clean the lint trap deep down inside as well. I also wipe down the counter on top of the machines regularly as it gets very dusty quickly.
LAUNDRY ROOM CLEANING HABITS MONTHLY:
We use cleaning tablets to clean the washing machine as recommended by the manufacturer, wipe/dust the shelf and accessories above the bench, remove baskets under the bench and vacuum.
LAUNDRY ROOM CLEANING HABITS SEASONALLY:
Clean above the shelving, vacuum bench and behind all of the baskets with vacuum attachment or dust mop. This is another task I am horrible at and hardly ever do it…time to start getting better at it! Cleaning behind the machines is probably also a good habit to get into!
LAUNDRY CLEANING CHECKLIST
- DAILY – Do laundry regularly to avoid getting overwhelmed – fold and put away right away if possible or the same day, vacuum, clean lint trap with each load.
- EVERY 2/3 DAYS – Wash towels.
- WEEKLY – Wipe/clean machines as they get used, water/soap dispenser, seal inside washer, vacuum inside lint trap.
- MONTHLY – Clean washer with tablets, wipe shelf and accessories, vacuum behind baskets if any.
- SEASONALLY – Clean above shelving, vacuum upholstery if you have any and behind all baskets and machines if you’re able to.
CLEANING HABITS THAT KEEP OUR HOME NEAT AND TIDY
The rest of our home is very tidy, I need to stay on top of messes and clutter to keep from getting stressed. The below cleaning habits are easier to do than you think! Give yourself a few extra minutes whenever you can to stay on top of things. It’s just a matter of putting them into practice – once you start, you won’t go back.
CLEANING HABITS IN OUR HOME DAILY
Vacuum floors, pick up and put away any items that aren’t being used, hang up coats and bags, sort mail, fluff and straighten sofa cushions and throw pillows, fold any blankets and put them away each night before bed – we lounge in our living room every night, so everything gets tossed allover! I need a clean space in the morning when I have my coffee and prayer time – it starts my day off with clarity!
SHOP OUR LIVING ROOM
CLEANING HABITS IN OUR HOME WEEKLY
Wash floors, wipe baseboards, dust and/or wash/wipe hard surfaces, under furniture, wipe mirrors, dust home decor accessories, clean door handles, vacuum rugs, wash/change sheets and light bedding. I need to get better at the floors – I often put it off! Same with dusting, it’s not my favorite thing to do at all!
CLEANING HABITS IN OUR HOME MONTHLY
Wipe and/or dust doors, door frames, window frames, picture frames, shelving, wall moldings, vacuum upholstery, vacuum floor vents and wall vents, dust/wipe televisions. Again – I don’t always do these each month, but I try to as much as I can!
CLEANING HABITS IN OUR HOME SEASONALLY
Clean light fixtures – wipe and/or dust and vacuum fabric shades, wipe/wash crystals (I do this more annually – it’s a huge task with our dining room fixture), vacuum window treatments, wash windows inside and outside, glass on doors, clean exterior door thresholds.
HOME CLEANING CHECKLIST
- DAILY – Vacuum floors, put away any items not in use, hang up coats and bags, sort mail, fluff sofa pillows and cushions, fold and put away blankets.
- WEEKLY – Wash floors and baseboards, wipe/dust hard furniture surfaces, under furniture, mirrors, home decor accessories, door handles, vacuum carpets, wash bedding.
- MONTHLY – Clean doors, door frames, window frames, picture frames, shelving, wall moldings, vacuum upholstery, vacuum vents, clean tv’s.
- SEASONALLY – Clean light fixtures, vacuum window treatments, wash windows, glass on doors, clean exterior door thresholds.
Our homes are our sanctuaries – I truly believe that a beautiful home (whatever that means to each one of us) brings us peace, comfort and true happiness. I’m a homebody and I love being home. For me, a clean home is a must for my own sanity! That said, cleaning our homes can be so daunting and overwhelming and it’s just not that much fun. What I’ve learned over the years, is that if I take pride in my cleaning, and I’m grateful that I have a home to clean and a beautiful family that I’m doing it for, it’s so much more gratifying. I hope you’ve found these cleaning habits that I use helpful! Remember – do what you can and what works for you. This is just a guideline that can help if you need it! xo
