What Does Your Cleaning Routine Look Like?

Let's start from the top!

Pick a manta for your month--mine is always the same: I reclaim this space for rest, order, and peace. Add in a goal: February is a threshold month of building quiet, strong habits. Cleaning is stewardship--not obligation. Write this at the top of wherever you are planning your routine. This is your why, your motivation, your driving force!

There are only 5 things in your room!

Don't look at me that way, I'll prove it! KC Davis wrote a fantastic book called: How to Keep House While You Are Drowning (Affiliate https://amzn.to/4brH9t5), In which she explains her 5 things method. There is 1) Trash, 2) Dishes, 3) Laundry, 4) Items that have a place, and 5) Items that do not have a place.

So, you really only need to do five things! Pick up the trash in this room, return any dishes to the kitchen, put away any laundry, put away items that go into this room but are out of place, and remove any items that do not belong in this room. I added a 6th category, putting away out-of-place items. So when you clean a room, I want you to grab a trash bag, a bin, and 2 laundry baskets (or substitute bags or boxes--whatever you have on hand).

Go once around the room, putting any trash you find into the bag. Do they say with dishes, placing them in a bin? Laundry in one of the baskets and place these outside the door. Doesn't the room already look better! Now start putting away the items, and when you come across an item that belongs in another room, place it in your second laundry basket.

Items that don't belong or are left out are data. Use your notes to record any items that are out of place and brainstorm why you think the storage system for these items are failing. Your solution goes in your project section for when you clean this room next time.

Now you've put away all the items cluttering up the place. This is tidying, now you can clean what you need to clean (ie, dust, vacuum, wipe surfaces, etc.) Don't forget to put away the items in your second laundry basket, your laundry, and return the dishes to the kitchen. Whew...but you know what, the more often you do this tidy the faster it will go. The first time, you may find yourself taking a half hour, but as you do it each week, you are going to notice things don't pile up and get out of hand.

When do I do this magical routine?

Pick a day to focus on one room a week. Mine looks like:

Monday - Bedrooms

Tuesday - Laundry Room

Wednesday - Office

Thursday - Kitchen & Dining

Friday - Living Room

Saturday - Bathrooms

Sunday - Family Room

Once you have your week divided into areas, you will add those special projects to your calendar--only one per day. If you don't have any special projects yet, you can use some of mine!

• Wash rugs (I have ruggable rugs because...dogs and kids! Affiliate: https://amzn.to/4t5JNLx)

• 21 Item toss (From Cassandra Aarssen's Real Life Organizing Affiliate: https://amzn.to/3LVJ3b6)

• Vacuum Furniture (Again...dogs), you can also use a lint roller made for furniture...I use this on my stairs too! (Affiliate: https://amzn.to/4rrpI0F)

• Organize one shelf

• Organize one drawer

• Wash windows

• Deep dust (where you get those cobwebs in the corners and move those knick-knacks to dust under them)

Now the Once a Month Items:

These are things you want to make sure you do at least once a month, like:

• Change the fish filter

• Change air filters

• Clean out your purse

• Clean out your car

• Wash your car

• Deep clean your dishwasher

• Deep clean your washing machine

• Vacuum out your lint trap

• Dust your fans

• Dust your blinds

• Wash your baseboards

Everyone's list is going to be different...just try googling "things you should clean once a month" and see the amazing suggestions! Add these items--only one per day to your calendar.

Now For the real fun!

Now for maintenance, I've built an AM and PM routine that supports keeping things tidy in the more egregious offenders of areas. It looks something like this:

AM Routine:

• Make Bed (I do this while I get dressed)

• Empty Dishwasher (I do this while I brew coffee)

• Reset Kitchen (I do this while I'm packing up my things and my daughter's things to head out for the day)

• Reset Bathroom (this is the last thing I do before I turn the light out in the bathroom after I'm finished getting ready for the day)

• Trash out (this is easier during this part of my day because it's on the way while walking my daughter to the bus, but perhaps evening works better for you. Obviously, if the trash isn't full, skip this step)

• Start a Load of Laundry (This is what you will fold in your PM Routine)

PM Routine:

• Run Dishwasher

• 10-minute Clutter Pick up (get your family involved, make it a race! Ready, set, GO!)

• Put away laundry

• Bathroom Reset

• Kitchen Reset

You'll notice I included when I do these in my AM Routine and with what actions I do them. This is called Habit Staking. When you use and build upon already established habits to create more habits. You are probably familiar with this technique if you've read James Clear's Atomic Habits, and if you haven't, you should! (affiliate: https://amzn.to/49OFVae)

So now what?

Your house is tidy! Congratulations! Are we done...you can be. But if you've got some energy left lets do some cleaning!

• Wipe surfaces

• Vacuum

• Mop

Now you are done! :)

What does your routine look like?

My planner: I use Silk and Sonder's Monthly planners; email me for a $10 dollare discount if you are interested! Alternatively, you can use a calendar, a piece of paper, or a napkin; just get started today!