Making a Game of Cleaning
I try to make a game of cleaning and look for the joy in it vs the drudgery. I used to have a cleaning person but that all chanced with Covid. Now I actually prefer cleaning my own house. I think I do a better job, and it gives me a chance to organize along the way. I do need to be careful with the organizing because I can never get done cleaning because I keep gutting things!
Bathrooms to me are the biggest challenge as they always need to be cleaned. So this is what I do. Monday - Thursday are bathroom cleaning days. I set a timer for 5 min for each bathroom and I’m allowed to stop after 5 min even if I haven’t met my goal. If I’m done before the 5 min - I can keep going if I’m in the mood to organize something.
Monday: Sinks and Mirrors
Tuesday: Toilets and Trash
Wednesday: Floors and Fixtures (light)
Thursday: Tubs/Showers
In the 5 min I take everything off and do it all. Not just a surface clean. Toilets are a full clean - inside and out and the surrounding floor too. Weekends are for fun - so no work or if in the mood - clean a drawer.
Kitchens are a daily task. After each meal, clean up, wipe down counters and floors. I try to put away, clean as I cook which makes a big difference. Rule is to not leave stuff on counters and table. Deal with the mail.
Laundry is a daily task with at least one load a day, folded put away - beds changed weekly.
Rest of the house - set a timer for 15 min and do as much as possible:
Monday: Dusting Day
Tuesday: Floors Day
Wednesday: Beds Day
Thursday: Catchup Day
The house has a “deep clean” list for 2x a year (windows/ceilings/walls/floors/vacuum furniture/review things stored etc). I have split the list to be about 6 areas each month that can be done at any time that month. Plus I have a chart for each room and when I did it last.
example:
Deep Clean Focus - 2025
Deep clean monthly focus-Lake
- Jan
- Treetop - 1/1/25 except windows
- Closet - 1/9/25
- Nature bathroom - 1/25/25
- Shower - 1/2/25
- Take down Xmas deco - 1/9/25
- Pally Bath - 1/10/25
Example of each rooms tracking as rooms are vacuumed, beds changed - updated whenever I clean. I have a list for each room.
Paddle Guest Room
- Vacuum - 6/22/25
- Walls/door dusted - 6/22/25
- Ceiling dusted - 6/22/25
- Screen - 6/22/25
- Window Washed - 6/22/25
- Bed changed window - 7/5/25
- Bed changed door - 7/5/25
- Mattress pad - window side - 2/21/25
- Mattress pad - door side- 2/21/25
- King Pad - 2/24/25
- Last Guest window - 7/5/25
- Last Guest door - 7/5/25
Keeping it fun is the goal. By setting timers and creating little rewards for myself - I can get it done and not be stressed. So nice to keep everything to my standards! Then when I'm in the mood to entertain - I can easily!
