Cleaning your home is an inevitable duty, but it shouldn’t be a tiresome chore.
We divided awhole-home cleaning routineinto amonth-long scheduleof quick, doable tasks.
and refer to the instructions below for each day’s task.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
Or make cleaning something to look forward to by listening to your favorite podcast or playlist while you work.
Be sure to share your checked-off challengeswith us on Instagramso we can cheer you on.
Now grab that cleaning caddy and get ready for a sparkling home!
Credit: Erin Kunkel
Week 1: Living Areas
Day 1: Prep cleaning supplies.
Brushes, brooms, vacuum cleaners, buckets, and mops all need an annual cleanup.
Hose out buckets and air-dry in the sun.
Credit: Annie Schlecther
Empty the vacuum cleaner and wipe down all parts with a dry cloth or disinfectant wipe.
Day 2: Dust light fixtures.
A gloomy-looking living room might be a sign that your light fixtures have collected too much dust.
Credit: John Bessler
Brighten your space by giving them a once-over.
Before cleaning, turn the fixture off and wait until it’s cool.
Take a minute to wipe off lightbulbs with a feather duster or a soft, lint-free dry cloth.
Credit: Michael Partenio
Day 3: Clean bookshelves.
Books, pictures, and treasured objectsdisplayed on bookshelvescan become dust magnets.
Pull out the crevice tool on a vacuum to reach into tight spots.
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Wipe the spines of leather-bound books with a clean, soft cloth.
Day 4: Polish picture frames.
To refresh framed pictures and prints, lay them flat on a table or counter.
Credit: Brie Williams
Lightly spray an ammonia-free glass cleaner on a microfiber cloth or one that’s made for cleaning glass.
Never spray cleaner directly onto the glass; it could leak in and damage the photo or artwork.
Gently wipe the glass in a circular motion, making sure to get into the corners.
Credit: Annie Schlechter
Dust the frame with a microfiber cloth.
Rehang once the glass is clean and dry.
Day 5: Refresh sofas.
Credit: Annie Schlechter
Like allupholstered furniture,sofas need occasional fresheningto look their best.
Start by getting out the vacuum.
Use the same motion on the cushions (all sides if removable).
For delicate fabrics, like linen or silk, set the suction on low.
Swap in the crevice nozzle to vacuum under and around all seams.
Spray a bottle of compressed air around tufting or buttons to blow out dirt.Spot-clean any stainsfollowing the care label.
Day 6: Wipe down walls.
Then dust the trim with a feather duster or microfiber cloth.
Day 7: Vacuum under furniture.
Getting rid of dust mitesand pet hair under furniture will helpreduce the number of allergensin your home.
Grab another person to help move large pieces of furniture to another part of the room.
Pick up any items that were hiding underneath and return them to their rightful place.
Toss any trash or unwanted items.
Then vacuum up dirt, dander, and other remaining debris.
Let dry and move furniture back into place.
Week 2: Kitchen
Day 8: Clean dishwasher filter.
Often overlooked, aclean dishwasher filterensures spotless dishes whiledecreasing the chances of a breakdown.
Take it to your sink, then use a soft scrub brush and warm water to scour it clean.
A toothbrush can help remove any caked-on gunk.
If your model has two filters stacked on top of each other, double-check to clean both.
Shake off excess water and dry off, then twist to lock back into place.
Day 9: Deep-clean microwave.
Take a few minutes to wipe out any crumbs, spills, orsplatters from your microwave.
Fill a microwave-safe bowl with warm water and a squirt of dishwasher soap and place it in the microwave.
Wipe off the microwave walls, door, and turntable with a wet sponge.
Dry with a paper towel.
Day 10: Degrease vent hood filter.
A yucky vent hood filter can lead to fumes filling your kitchen or even a fire.
Let sit until the water cools.
Then rinse the filter, dry, and replace.
Day 11: Get a spotless stove top.
A stove top is one of the most visible, hardworking surfaces in your kitchen.
To create a clean cooking space, it’s important to remove any food residue or stains.
Before replacing grates and burner caps, scrub with scouring pads.
For an electric/smooth-top surface, wet a dish towel in hot water and spread it over the range top.
Let it sit for 15 minutes, then use thetowel to wipe the surfaceclean.
Apply a nonabrasive cleaner to remove any water stains.
Day 12: Deodorize garbage disposal.
Ensure your garbage disposal stays freshwith a quick deodorizing treatment.
Turn on the disposal with cold water running until the ice has cleared.
Day 13: Wipe down cabinets.
Wipe down kitchen cabinetsincluding the insides, doors, and topsto restore their gleam.
Disinfect the hardware with a sanitizing wipe.
Have some time for a deeper clean?
Empty one cabinet at a time of its contents.
Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe down shelves and the inside of the door.
Use a clean toothbrush to treat the corners and other small crevices.
Let dry completely before restocking.
Day 14: Scrub countertops.
(Avoid vinegar, which could etch the surface.)
Spray and wipe the counter and backsplash with a microfiber cloth.
Week 3: Bathrooms
Day 15: Remove grime from showerhead.
Place the bag around the showerhead and use a rubber band or twist tie to hold it in place.
Let sit overnight to get rid of buildup.
Remove the bag and turn on the water to flush.
Day 16: Sanitize shower curtain and liner.
Air-dry plastic or rubber liners.
Day 17: Clean shower walls and door.
Bring out your shower’s sparkleby removing grime on the doors.
Clean the edges of shower doors with a toothbrush.
Scrub the metal frame with a larger brush if needed.
Day 18: Dust baseboards.
Day 19: Disinfect toilets.
Spray the toilet’s exterior, including the top and handle, with a general-purposebathroom cleaningproduct or avinegar-and-water solution.
Wipe with a paper towel or microfiber cloth until clean.
Use a toilet wand to scrub every nook and cranny.
Let the cleaner sit in the bowl for several minutes, then flush away the suds.
Day 20: Deep-clean floors.
Use the cleaning method best suitedfor yourtype of bathroom flooring.
To clean ceramic tile floors, use a mix of warm water and mild detergent or liquid dish soap.
Use a rag or chamois-throw in mop so water doesn’t get pushed into the grout lines.
Apply the paste to a soft bristle brush to scrub the grout lines.
Rinse to remove the baking soda and dry with a microfiber towel.
For wood-look and other laminate floorings,lightly mop with a gentle cleanser.
(To make your own laminate floor cleaner, mix a small amount of vinegar with water.)
The mop should be damp but not too wet to prevent water from seeping behind baseboards.
Dry with a microfiber cloth so you don’t get a cloudy finish.
Never use wax, acrylic products, or bleach because they can damage the floor’s finish.
Day 21: Wipe down washing machine.
Week 4: Bedrooms
Day 22: Dust ceiling fans.
Keep ceiling fan blades spotlessby spraying the interior of a pillowcase with a multisurface cleaner.
Slip the pillowcase onto one of the fan’s blades and wipe, trapping the grime in the case.
Repeat with the other blades.
This simple technique stops dust from falling onto the floor or furniture as you clean.
Day 23: Refresh curtains.
Check sewn-in care labels first forrecommended curtain-cleaning instructions.
Dusty drapes that are lined can be tossed into the dryer on an air-only/fluff cycle for a quick refresh.
Dust curtain rods and other hardwarebefore rehanging curtains.
Day 24: Polish wood furniture.
Help your wood furnishings shineby wiping down with a damp microfiber cloth.
Remove excess moisture with a dry terry towel, then dust with a dry soft cloth or feather duster.
Apply the mixture to the surface with a soft cloth, then buff with a clean cloth.
Day 25: Clean air vents.
Breathe easier by dustingyour air vents.
Dry off the covers and reinstall.
Day 26: Wash pillows.
Clean your bed pillowsto keep them fluffy andfree of allergens.
First, read care labels to check that they don’t require special attention, such as dry-cleaning only.
Most down and synthetic pillows can be machine-washed at 140F or higher to kill dust mites.
Run an extra spin cycle if needed to squeeze out excess water.
Toss in the dryer and put on low heat.
check that they’re completely dry before placing them back on your bed.
Day 27: Deep-clean under beds.
Clean out dust, dirt, and debris lurking under beds.
Set aside anything that needs to be cleaned, stored elsewhere, or donated, and toss any trash.
If you have hardwood floors, run a flathead mop over the surface.
Day 28: Vacuum area rugs.
To clean underneath, roll up the rug and move it out of the way.
Vacuum the rug pad and roll it up too.
Then vacuum the floor to clear away pet hair, dirt, and other debris.
Mop wood floors with a wood-floor cleaner to get any remaining dust and let dry.
Then roll everything back into place.
Day 29: Remove grime from window tracks.
Use a stiff-bristle utility brush to loosen dirt and cobwebs that have collected around your windows.
Day 30: Test batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Check all yoursmoke alarmsand carbon monoxide detectors at leasttwice a yearto keep your family and home safe.
Set a semiannual reminder on your phone so you don’t forget.
If you test your detector and it’s no longer working even with fresh batteries, replace it immediately.
