This post was written by veteran TIDY Homekeeper Anita M, who likes to share her tips on keeping a clean home.

House Cleaning Schedule

Keeping your home clean can sometimes feel like an impossible task, but one great way to make it feel less daunting is to set a schedule. Creating a house cleaning schedule will help ensure that you keep every part of your home clean, even the parts that you'd typically pay less attention to. When you're ready to make a cleaning schedule for your home, follow these tips to make sure you get the job done right.

YOUR DAILY FOCUS: KEEP DIRT AWAY

A daily cleaning schedule attacks the messes and dirt that accumulate in your house every day. It will keep your home tidy but doesn't do much about serious grime. By following this schedule, you'll have a house you can relax in after a long day at work. In fact, living in a clean home may even make you a happier person.

Try accomplishing these tasks to prevent messes from getting out of control:

• Make your bed
• Put dirty clothes in hamper
• Do a load of laundry when you have enough dirty clothes
• Wipe counter tops after preparing meals
• Wash dishes (or load dishwasher)
• Spend 10 minutes picking up and putting away clutter
• Wipe out the kitchen and bathroom sinks

YOUR WEEKLY FOCUS: CLEAN COMMON AREAS

The easiest house cleaning schedules only ask you to spend a little time each day focused on household chores. If you truly do not have time to do these tasks during the week, you can reserve them for the weekend.

Keep in mind that a weekend-heavy cleaning schedule could seem like a taxing chore that makes you tired during your days off from work. Many people who think they don't have time to clean during the week just need to learn new habits.

Here's a sample cleaning schedule you can follow during the week:

Sunday: Vacuum all carpets and rugs. Mop tile floors.

Monday: Wash bed sheets.

Tuesday: Wipe interior windows.

Wednesday: Clean stove.

Thursday: Wipe away smudges and dirt from walls.

Friday: Vacuum furniture.

Saturday: Clean exterior windows.

YOUR SEASONAL FOCUS:DEEP CLEANING

Your home doesn't need a deep clean very often. You should, however, work hard to remove grime from all areas of the house at least once per year. Don't try to force all of that cleaning into one weekend. You'll get better results by spreading out the tasks with an annual house clean schedule that tells you what to focus on each month.

Here's a sample schedule that you may want to follow:

Winter

Winter is a good time to clean out-of-the-way areas that often get neglected.

December: Empty and wipe down all cabinets. Dispose of unused medications.

January: Clean behind the refrigerator, washer, dryer and large furniture.

February: Steam clean all carpets.

Spring

March: Empty closets to find and donate unwanted items. Re-organize for the upcoming spring and summer seasons.

April: Clean window exteriors and screens.

May: Wash blankets, comforters, duvets and other large bedding.

Summer

June: Clean and organize the garage and basement.

July: Empty dressers and drawers. Clean insides and donate unwanted items.

August: Clean walls and retouch paint where necessary.

Fall

September: Reorganize closets and dressers for the upcoming cold seasons.

October: Give freezers, refrigerators, stoves and ovens a deep clean.

November: Consolidate and organize personal files.

These house cleaning schedules will make it relatively much easier for you to keep all areas of your home neat and clean. You don't have to follow them precisely, though. Feel free to create a schedule that matches the needs of your home and lifestyle. As long as you accomplish the tasks on these lists, you'll have a home you're proud to show your friends and relatives.

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