Keeping your home clean and tidy can feel like an insurmountable task. The ongoing daily responsibilities of work, socializing, exercise and family often leaves little in the tank for cleaning.

By creating a cleaning schedule, you can make tidiness a habit that becomes second nature. Here are six tips for creating an effective cleaning schedule that you’ll stick to for years to come.

Organize Your Cleaning Supplies

Set yourself up for success by organizing your cleaning supplies in a way that makes sense. Consider creating a house cleaning kit with natural cleaning products in a portable bucket or caddy to make the task easier. This cleaning kit should include the basics: cleaning products, a toilet brush, sponges, gloves, along with clean rags or paper towels.

Having a kit ready to go means you’ll spend less time running around trying to find everything you need to clean. You can grab this bucket and tackle multiple rooms and floors with minimal time and effort. If you have a large home, consider having a cleaning kit on each floor.

Identify Your Daily and Weekly Chores

Doing a few simple chores every day can help you avoid being overwhelmed at the end of the week. Start by outlining a few daily duties that you’ll commit 10 to 15 minutes to each day. Some top contenders include:

• Washing the dishes and cleaning the sink
• Making beds
• Sweeping the floor
• Wiping down counters
• Tidying up clutter

Then, outline your weekly chores, such as vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, and so on. It can also be beneficial to break up some weekly tasks into your daily list. 

Divide Your Home Into Zones

Another strategy for creating an effective home cleaning schedule is to divide your home into zones. For example, one day you’ll clean the kitchen, another day will be dedicated to bathrooms, and so on. This approach is an excellent strategy for those with fluctuating schedules or who lack the desire to bulk clean their home.

Divide and Conquer

Delegation is the key to success when creating a home cleaning schedule, unless you live alone. Otherwise, it’s essential that everyone has a task and the expectations are clear. There should be no confusion about who is responsible for what jobs and when they should complete them.

If you have a roommate or significant other, talk about your expectations for each other and prioritize tasks. You can also get the kids involved with age-appropriate chores to build a foundation for essential life skills.

Housekeeping responsibilities often become a point of contention for couples and roommates. Clear communication, empathy, and respect are integral for success.

Be Realistic About Your Time

Don’t make the mistake of putting an elaborate cleaning schedule in place when you’re feeling motivated. This approach never works with cleaning, exercise, or any other extracurricular tasks as the “all in” mindset isn’t sustainable.

Instead, be realistic about your time and what you can commit to each day. You might only be able to commit 10 minutes per day to cleaning, so make them count. Schedule your 10-minute cleaning spree on your calendar, blast your music, set a timer, and make it happen. Consider scheduling this time for when you first wake up or get home from work so you don’t get distracted by other tasks.

Over time, you can scale up your commitment once the daily cleaning spree becomes a habit.

Create a Reward System

Finally, incorporate a small reward into your cleaning schedule to create positive connotations with the process. This reward can be something simple, like sitting down for a cup of coffee and listening to your favorite podcast. 

With time, planning, and dedication, you’ll build a sustainable, effective cleaning schedule that makes your home feel happier and healthier.