Let’s admit it: Cleaning your home might not be at the top of your to-do list. Just the thought of removing grime from the bathroom, grease from the stove, and dust from windows might make you panic. However, handling these cleaning tasks on a regular basis will save you time—and you'll feel less stressed.
To help you out, we’ve compiled a handy checklist full of pointers from the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab. They break down how often you should tackle important jobs around the house, whether it’s cleaning your Keurig or deep cleaning windows.
The Definitive Cleaning Schedule
How to Tackle Everything on Your List
Now that you've got the schedule, read up on our time-saving tips and all-time favorite products that will make these jobs as painless as possible.
Tips for Cleaning Every Day
Tackle these daily tasks and you'll find yourself scrubbing and scouring much less. Plus, you'll prevent harmful germs and bacteria from building up in your space.
Clean Keurig (or coffee maker): Wash removable parts with warm, soapy water or stick dishwasher-safe pieces in the machine. Wipe down the outside and warming plate to remove spills.
Clean air fryer: To prevent food residue from building up in your air fryer, thoroughly clean the basket after every use and wipe down the exterior as needed.
Clean dirty dishes: Skip pre-rinsing. Today's machines and detergents make it unnecessary—and a waste of water and time! Enzymes in your dishwasher detergent actually work better when they can attach themselves to food particles.
Sanitize sinks: Use an eraser-type sponge (like Mr. Clean Magic Eraser) to remove marks, then sanitize by plugging the drain, filling the basin with warm water, and swishing a tablespoon of bleach around. Let it sit for five minutes, then rinse.
Tips for Cleaning Every Week
Rather than letting your cleaning tasks pile up, make it more manageable by tackling one room or job every day. Try Monday for changing sheets, Tuesday for handling kitchen messes, Wednesday for vacuuming floors, and so on.
Clean inside of microwave: Heat a microwave-safe bowl filled with 1 cup of water and several tablespoons of vinegar on high power for several minutes until the window is steamy. Let cool for 5 minutes before opening the door, then remove the bowl, and wipe the inside clean with a sponge.
Scrub bathroom surfaces: We like CLR Bath & Kitchen Cleaner for grout and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath for glass, tile, and tub surfaces.
Sanitize sponges: Mix 3/4 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water and soak the sponge for five minutes, then rinse–that's it.
Tips for Cleaning Every Month
Again, these don't have happen all on the same day, so split up your tasks and delegate jobs to your partner (and kids!).
Clean a washing machine: Use the special washer cleaner cycle on the newer models, or add a specialty cleaner like Affresh and run a normal cycle with hot water.
Clean dishwasher: Descale your machine by filling a large glass measuring cup with 2 cups of vinegar and placing it on the top rack. Then run the machine without detergent or heat dry.
Clean vacuum: Change your bag when it's three-quarters full to keep the suction strong and replace the filter if it's very dirty or torn. Snip threads snarled in the brush with scissors or a seam ripper.
Tips for Cleaning Every 3-6 Months
It's easy to overlook these tasks, so don't let them sneak up on you!
Wash pillows: Put down and fiberfill pillows in the washer and launder two at a time in warm water on a gentle cycle. Add an extra cold water rinse and spin cycle. Then tumble dry on low heat with a few rubber dryer balls.
Clean inside of oven: Wipe loose bits of food with a damp sponge. Then use the self-cleaning function on your oven to remove burnt-on grime. Wash your racks in the sink with warm, sudsy water and a heavy-duty scrub sponge.
Wash shower curtain liner: Launder plastic or vinyl curtains in the machine on the highest water level with a couple bath towels for extra agitation.
Tips for Cleaning Every Year
Consider this your two-minute refresher on deep cleaning.
Deep clean carpets: If your home has a lot of wall-to-wall carpeting, rent or invest in a special cleaner like the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro Carpet Cleaner to remove tracked-in dirt and stains.
Deep clean windows: Choose a dry, cloudy day to prevent streaks. Remove dirt and dust first, then spritz Invisible Glass Cleaner With EZ Grip on the panes and wipe with a microfiber cloth.
Clean around dryer and vents: Use the the crevice tool on your vacuum to suck up debris—a lot of excess fuzz can cause house fires!
Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay.com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com. Her book club, ramen, and jean jackets are a few of her favorite things.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
