I got sick and tired of hubby griping at me, so I decided to devise a cleaning schedule and share it with all of you too!
By 9 am:
- Start load of laundry (we like an empty hamper so we try to do a load every day)
- Set out something for dinner
- Unloaded Dishwasher (from night before)
- Loaded breakfast dishes into Dishwasher
- Walked through house gathering up all the dirty clothes
By 11 am:
- Moved laundry into dryer
- Straighten up master bedroom and bath
- Cleaned off collect all (the place in your house all your stuff seems to end up. The table in the hallway, the bar in the kitchen, etc)
- Walked through house gathering up all the trash
By 1 pm:
- Clean up lunch dishes
- Put up laundry
- Tidy kid’s bathroom
- Spend 15 minutes cleaning a trouble area in the house (something you want to organize, declutter, etc.)
By 3 pm:
- Tidy up family room
- Tidy up kids room (ideally they should be the ones doing this)
- Spot clean Kitchen and start dinner
By 5 pm:
- Spot dusted
- Vacuumed
- Wiped surfaces
- Tackled Weekly chores (this can be done at any time during the day but must be done by 5 pm)
By 8 pm:
- Cleaned up kitchen after dinner
- Loaded Dishwasher
- Prepared lunches for the next day
- Emptied Trash Can
Monday
Day off
Tuesday
Bathrooms
Wednesday
Change/Wash Sheets
Thursday
Deep dusting
Friday
Kitchen – Cleaning out fridge, polishing appliances, clean microwave, organizing pantry, mopping the floor, etc
Saturday
Throughly clean a room in the house
Sunday
Yard work
You can find my daily posts that keep you on track with the cleaning schedule here.
Ashley says
I love this list. I plan to print it out and use it myself! I am a stay at home mom and this fall my baby will start school. The issue I run into is my husband works third shift so I find it difficult to get anything done while he sleeps. Our laundry room is inside our master closet so laundry is out while he is sleeping too. Maybe with this schedule I can get busy on the quite things while he sleeps and do everything that requires being in our room later in the day! Thanks!
Shawn S. says
Hi! I think this is a great. I was laid off about a month ago and my husband works and we have 2 daughters 15 and 11. Well it’s kinda been overwhelming being at home again. I do make a list of “To Dos” every morning and it does feel good to cross them off one by one and at the end of the day I can see how much I’ve accomplished. Good luck to everyone in their de-cluttering, cleaning and organizing endeavors!
Kelly K says
We were on vacation when you posted this so I’m just catching up now. Oh how I need this!! Hubby works out of the house later hours than “normal” people. I am home all day BUT… I babysit, usually 12 out of 14 days. (I have 4 little ones ages two 7 month olds (not twins), 1 yr old and 2 yr old… they all have odd schedules so no more than 3 on any given day) Several days a week for me are 7am-9:30pm. Naturally, they don’t all nap at the same time. I’m lucky if some of them nap at all some days! Days like today I didn’t even get to really eat anything let alone try to clean. I am a very, very lucky girl because my Hubby *likes* to clean! He does 99% of the laundry. He comes home and catches up on the dishes, straightens up, cleans… and cooks on his days off! I need to get better at keeping up with things but… sigh… I get over-whelmed, lazy and worn out!
I will try!
Kim says
I work out of my house and I think I could do this when I need those 15 min. breaks.
Starla says
Thanks so much for this! Its so simple it might actually work for me! LOL
So what time are we supposed to get up?
Cathi Carpenter says
Let me say I LOVE your plan, but I have to ask, with kids, when do you fit the in between time with the kids in? It looks like you are cleaning all day….or am I reading it wrong….just looking for plan that I can do in the summer but then adapt when I go back to work in the school year. Thanks!
Candice says
I am so happy to see that other people have a hard time keeping up with all this stuff. I stay at home with me kids and it amazes me that I can keep my house super clean and organized. I used to think it would be so easy if I was a stay at home mom, but I soon realized I am still busy just busy doing other things. Hopefully this plan will help me stay motivated and get my house clean. Thanks
shay says
i love this feature! i have been trying for a while to ‘simplifying’ my life and using coupons is a part of ‘simplifying’ our budget but i know we need to work on our house before i can get the peace that i want. i really have no excuse to have a messy house, no kids and only one very old dog that really does not make that much of a mess. but, like you, i HATE to clean. And i too get that guilty feeling when i realize how much i haven’t done today. so i am going to try my hardest to stay on track with you. only problem is i work nights so i wont be updating along with everyone else most of the time. BUT i think its awesome that your tackling this job along with us. makes me feel better about the dirty dishes i hid the other day when the in-laws came by. :P
Marle Fleming says
I love this list! I tried to organize somethng like this a year or so ago, didn’t get very far! I think this will help me not be so overwhelmed seeing that hubs is never home, kids schedules keep me busy and there is an extra one coming! Yes I think I need to re plan out my cleaning list!
You need to add in some “mommy time”! Time to yourself!
My husband has never been home much, so I tried to make a list of things for him to do with both kids. And so I would make sure each kid got alone time with daddy during the week. For instance Wednesday nights we would make pizzas as a family and play games, but Tues and Thurs evening one of the boys had dad to themselves for hopefully 30 minutes to an hour!
Kris says
This is a good idea. Glad I’m not the only one whose husband gripes, but you know I never realized how time consuming being home with 2 kids is. By the time I finish feeding, bathing, and taking care of them, I don’t even want to think about cleaning the house. I just want to sit.
I’ll have to try this approach. I tried FLYLady.net but just couldn’t hang with the “just do one thing” approach. I need results fast because my kids will make a mess at a faster rate than I can clean it using that approach.
Lauren says
That was my problem i couldn’t justify cleaning for 15 min then sitting on my computer right in the middle of the rest of the mess
Thrisha says
I am with you, too. I have so much going on at times, I neglect the house. Yesterday, I came home and realized we had basically a whole lawn (exaggerated, of course) in our house. We have tile floors (I hate them) and they collect grass like crazy. Between the kids and the dog, grass has gotten everywhere over the last week.
Marti says
Love this! Now I can feel really good about hanging out on your blog half the day! Hahahahaa
Kathie M says
I need a plan! There are parts of this that don’t really work for me but I’ll move a few things around and see how well I can do. Thanks!
CarolSue says
If I could get my daughter to clean up her toys more often, then my house would look alot less cluttered. I am going to switch things up and try this cleaning plan w/ you. No dishwasher but me though.
Hilary says
Love it!
carmella says
Love it! This seems so much more manageable than me walking in circles not actually getting anything done….this plan will help me focus and stay on task. Thanks so much!
Heather M says
I think this great. I am off work till August so when the kids go back the house won’t beas messy when they are not here. an’t wait I knowmy hubby will be happy!!
Anna D says
I’m going to do this task with you! Yeah! I’m going to do this!
ok, that was my little pep talk :)
Jen says
You are going to change people’s lives even more with everything you are/have implemented! I’m hoping to do “Let’s Clean the House” at my house! Maybe my husband will actually “learn” to pick up after himself and I would feel like a slave :)
Jen says
*won’t feel like a slave….oops :(
jan says
this sounds great. however, after 27 years of doing everything, and i do mean everything in the house and also the gardening i have given up on everything. it has been 5 weeks since i have done anything. i do take care of my laundry, cause i do not trust anyone else, but nothing else. they, husband and 16 year old daughter, want something, they can get it. i, done…..
Tanya in Carolina says
I wish I was a SHAM but I have to work in order for us to get to Disney!!! But it does give me some ideas!!!
Michelle says
I could use a little help getting organized in this area, so thanks
Linds says
I need this- so awesome! Except there’s no way I could take a break on Monday cause that is our biggest cleaning day of the week- we really take it easy on Sundays!
Jen says
I need to get better about this kind of stuff too. I like this feature!
Careen says
I like the routine. Will have to modify it to fit into our electricity and water “rationing”/useage guidelines but I think, for the most part, I will be right there with you.
Leslie says
Love the routine!
Kim N. says
Love your routine!
amanda johnson says
Oh I am so sticking to this plan. Although I work 9-6 so everything up until 8 has to be done when I get up. Oh boy I better start getting up at 5. LOL~!
Shelly says
If you all like really organized systems for keeping up with the clutter, you should check out Flylady.net also. I have been FLYing now for many years and I am sooo pleased with the way my house looks at all times. Before it was clutter here, clutter there, you name it…it was clutter!!! :D
Lisa says
This looks fabulous! I always appreciate a plan. I always have a hard time going into a room and JUST dusting or JUST vacuuming. I get distracted and keep going in the same room. Perhaps a room a day focus is more a plan for me?? Anyone else out there like that??
Ericka says
I really like this system. It looks really great and not so overwhelming.
Jodi says
I admire you!! You have so much energy!!! I work 40 hours a week and I am exhausted by the day’s end.
Yetta says
Love it, I work 10hr days….but always come home to do something. I can’t just sit down and watch TV (grew up without one)…so this will give me something organize my madness. Thanks :)
Mary Price says
This looks great to me. My husband is a stay at home dad but never does as good as I think I can..:) I am going to try your plan minus fri, sat, sun when I work 12 hour shifts!
Becca Filley says
haha Stephanie we are one in the same!!
Monique Rizzo says
Wow you have a great looking system here!! I may adopt it!
Stephanie says
I also am a bad house keeper. I rush around just before hubby gets home frantically straightening up so it appears I did something. Hopefully I can follow your plan and do better.
Whitney @ Coupon Wonder Mom says
LOL Stephanie! I do the same thing!
Melissa says
I totally do the same thing! Just a few things different and my husband thinks I’ve been doing a lot with my day.
Jennifer says
Love love love this….I am adopting starting today!!!! Only, I have got to find some time to IRON….UGH!